I swear, I find it amazing that they even half know what they’re saying, but they do. They know exactly what they’re saying, and for some bizarre reason they think it speaks well of them and their religion.

Who am I babbling about, you wonder? After all, that statement might be true of any number of persons, maybe even all of us at different points in time. So who, given the human ability to spout nonsense with confidence, might have done so to such a degree that Crip Dyke would be moved to post? Shocker: it isn’t anyone from the Trump administration.

This time.

In this case it’s the Mormon higher-ups. Speaking about ethics, Mormonism, and love. It was a train wreck, apparently, though I doubt many people actually present for the speaking recognized it as such … and thus the problem. If they noticed the train wreck, presumably they’re decent enough human beings to offer aid to the trapped and injured. But they have entirely failed to see the impact.

From ReligionNews.com:

A top Mormon leader reaffirmed the religion’s opposition to same-sex marriage on Saturday during a church conference … amid widespread social acceptance while trying to foster an empathetic stance toward LGBT people.

The Mormon church is one of many conservative faith groups navigating the challenges that arise from trying to strike the right balance.

“We have witnessed a rapid and increasing public acceptance of cohabitation without marriage and same-sex marriage. The corresponding media advocacy, education, and even occupational requirements pose difficult challenges for Latter-day Saints,” [Dallin] Oaks said. “We must try to balance the competing demands of following the gospel law in our personal lives and teachings even as we seek to show love for all.”

What, precisely is being balanced? Let’s look at that again, shall we:

We must try to balance

1. the competing demands of following the gospel law in our personal lives and teachings

even as

2. we seek to show love for all.

If you’re having trouble choosing between showing love for others and following your religion or if you find the sea separating “love for others” from “[insert your religion’s name here]” to be particularly difficult to navigate, then maybe, just maybe, that’s bad religion you’ve got there.

How is it, do you think, that people can embrace their own religions as good while consciously discussing the difficulties of adhering to their religion’s demands while simultaneously being nice or kind or loving or decent to one’s neighbor? Unconsciously, sure, but getting up to give a speech and talking quite explicitly about how hard it is to be loving while following one’s religion ought to be a clue that your religion isn’t loving, oughtn’t it?

My gast is thoroughly flabbered, and my ability to even just can’t.