PRI: Public Radio International

Polish Jewish community uses Mormon-produced archive to make family connections

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:30:00 -0500

In the 1960s, Poland was short on funds to digitize and maintain its paper archives. They approached the Mormon Church and got its help in doing just that. But somewhere in the intervening years, the Momon Church used those archives and other to posthumously baptize Holocaust victims. That's caused a rift between the Mormons and the Jewish community.

Derek W

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 01:18:16 -0500

Anyone who argues against the Mormons' baptism for the dead weakens their own argument by suggesting that it actually may be possible for dead to be converted (or in some arguments "forced") to another faith. If you believe it's all mumbo jumbo why get all offended by it?

I understand that the Jews, being a much -persecuted religion may not like the idea that another religion is hoping to make converts out their dead (with the implication that it may erase their "Jewishness"), but isn't it better to just laugh it off and say, "knock yourself out Mormons! Maybe all that baptizing for the dead will keep you off the streets."

Daniella

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:10:32 -0500

Derek W.
It's not about the fact that the Mormon Church is doing something that's fucking impossible. Do you not see the inherent anti-Semitism of these acts?

Basically, the Nazis found Jews unacceptable for their religion and culture. Their message was that Judaism (or homosexuality, disability, being a gypsy, etc.) is WRONG. They dealt with it by killing people.

Now the Mormon Church's message is that they think Judaism is WRONG and UNACCEPTABLE, even if their actions are ridiculous and impossible.

Is it any wonder that the Jewish community is upset by this? To someone who has survived the Holocaust, this is threatening behavior.