Recruitment strategy

Ask religious people their opinion of other religions and you will get a variety of responses. Some people are open, and honest, and say they believe that their religion is right and all other religions are wrong. Other people say that they are accepting and tolerant of other religions. Some, like the Mormons, even say that, “other religions have much of value to teach people.” SMART finds this response very interesting because Mormons also believe that the "only" path to salvation is through their religion.

If the only path to salvation is through the Mormon religion, then logically, all other religions must be false. In our experience most religious people believe that false religions were created by, or are at least supported by, Satan the devil. From the Mormons point of view what could a Satan supported religion possibly have “of value” to teach anyone?! If Jesus Christ was on Earth now, we wonder what would he have to say on the “value” of false religions!?

The Mormons’ declared attitude towards other religions has nothing to do with their true beliefs… and everything to do with recruitment. Their warm-and-fuzzy approach to other religions is a cynical strategy to increase membership. By hiding behind words like, “tolerance” and “acceptance” they think they will be more attractive to non believers and those in other religions whose faith is wavering. However, once recruited, those new recruits soon discover that the Mormons’ true attitude towards other religions is the same as all the others… “We’re right, and all other religions are wrong”!

The Mormons are not alone in their hypocrisy. Check the website of any religion that claims to be accepting and tolerant of other religions. Somewhere in their site you will find a list of beliefs that are apparently essential for salvation. No other religion would agree with everything on that list therefore the followers of those other religions will not achieve salvation and are destined for hell when they die! Some religious people may squirm on reading this but the logic is inescapable. See also All religions okay? and The hypocrisy of pluralism