Comments on: Wearing the Atonement

By: Daniel [Visitor]

Daniel [Visitor] — Wed, 11 May 2005 21:10:14 +0000

Anon, thanks for your post. I think it brings to light our present-day squeamishness. I agree that we often use the resources that God has given us carelessly, and interpret the “gave you dominion” scriptures in our own self-interest. Nibley has said the same thing in Approaching Zion. Having said that, however, D&C 59 is very clear that those who preach that we are not to eat meat are not teaching true doctrine. Further, we tend to forget that there will be one last sacrifice of blood when the sons of Levi offer again a sacrifice in righteousness– at least that is my understanding of the doctrine, though I do not remember which General Authority stated that.

Death, while certainly a negative effect of the fall, is also a positive effect, since it prevents us from having to live forever in our sins. Further, we tend to view death in far too negative a light. This reminds me of those who are opposed to capital punishment, foolishly forgetting that there is much more than this life (OK, OK, threadjack, I know). The animals that were killed in sacrifice are not only for this earth. As latter-day Saints, however, it seems that we should not view death the way the world views death — as the ultimate end, a period– but rather see it as the end of a chapter, a comma, so to speak. I understand that you are not arguing this, but it hit on something that I’ve been thinking about — namely, that there is nothing more beyond this life. To those who ascribe to this view, death is the worst possible thing, for any living thing, whether human or animal. But we know better. That knowledge should not be used to justify needless bloodshed (and it often is, as you point out so well), but rather should place death in its proper perspective. Once again, the gospel helps me understand things as they truly are, rather than seeing life at the extremes.

By: Anon [Visitor]

Anon [Visitor] — Tue, 10 May 2005 21:29:51 +0000

Well, no shock here, but I’m a strict vegetarian and don’t wear leather products. I’m morally opposed to killing animals. Our society has progressed sufficiently that we no longer need to kill them for food or clothing. Unfortunately, not many Mormons agree with me. So, keep on ripping out the guts of animals and wearing your leather products. You’re in good company!

By: Trenden [Visitor]

Trenden [Visitor] — Tue, 10 May 2005 18:03:38 +0000

Well gosh Anon, I donâ€™t think Adam and Eve got to shop at the local Walmart for food and clothing where all the meat was neatly packaged into little steaks and clothes were hanging on hangers fresh from China just waiting to be purchased. Iâ€™m pretty sure they would have had to kill animals for food and clothing. In fact, and this may come as a surprise to you, in most parts of the world people are still â€œripping out the guts of animals and wearing their bloody skinsâ€. Personally, Iâ€™ve been enjoying the leather jacket my wife bought me.

Anyway, what do you think the â€œcoats of skinsâ€ were made from? Plant skins maybe?

By: danite #18 [Visitor]

danite #18 [Visitor] — Tue, 10 May 2005 13:09:52 +0000

Steve (#7), I believe it was Elohim that baptized Adam. Which doesn’t explain how Jehovah made coats of skins. But if God created the earth by delegating, perhaps Jehovah could have done the same thing with Adam and the skins?

By: danite #18 [Visitor]

danite #18 [Visitor] — Tue, 10 May 2005 13:04:06 +0000

Stay away from the old testament. it’s also considered inappropriate. I also don’t like to think of all of the cotton plants that had to die for me to have garments.

By: Anon [Visitor]

Anon [Visitor] — Tue, 10 May 2005 04:21:05 +0000

No. I’m not joking. This kind of violent and barbaric imagery is inappropriate in a civilized society. Ripping out the guts of animals and wearing their bloody skins is absolutely horrific. That’s not what I think of when I wear my garments.

By: Trenden [Visitor]

Trenden [Visitor] — Tue, 10 May 2005 02:11:35 +0000

Anon,
Are you joking?

By: Lowell [Visitor]

Lowell [Visitor] — Sun, 08 May 2005 19:56:36 +0000

Nicely done and interesting. I’ve always enjoyed this sort of edifying speculation, which is based on plausible scenarios and openly admits its speculative nature. Good!

By: J. Max Wilson [Member]

J. Max Wilson [Member] — Sun, 08 May 2005 03:16:09 +0000

Danithew,

Mark Twain's The Diary of Adam and Eve is one of my favorites of his works. I have a copy on my bookshelf here next to my computer. My parents read it to us as children. There are actually two versions. In one version Adam is annoyed that Eve rejects the practical name he gave to the four-pronged-white-squirter and calls it instead a cow.

When I was at BYU I went to a stage adaptation of it in which a friend of mine played Eve.

Thanks for the links!

By: Anon [Visitor]

Anon [Visitor] — Sun, 08 May 2005 01:10:42 +0000

I find the imagery of brutally descrating animals in this manner disturbing. Horribly disturbing.

Yes, so is the Atonement of Jesus, but that doesn't mean we have to watch The Passion to understand it's value in our lives. I thought Mormons had denounced the practice of displaying bloody pictures of Jesus's earthly misery on the cross, and had moved on towards a focus on his love and great mercy.

This post is so disturbing to me. I feel sick after reading it.