As is the case among mostly all practitioners found in the One and Only True Churches of God, the structure for one's belief system extends past mere low levels of faith, opinion, or hoping that they are in God's true church... these practitioners will tell you that they empirically "know" they are in God's One and Only True Church. Here are a few snips from various online exchanges I have had with Mormons who "KNOW" they have the Truth:
NOGGIN (that's me) wrote:
If you could concede that your ideology is an opinion, one opinion of many as to how a god outlined what we humans should do here on earth, then that is enough common ground for us to be civil and perhaps enter a rational dialogue.
Online Mormon poster GORDON:
I will definately not concede to such a thing! My ideology is not a matter of opinion to me, it is one of fact...gained through a witness given by the HG. Others will say it is my opinion (that is their right), but I could never concede that it is...just as I could never concede that Jesus was 'just a man'.
Online Mormon poster TOTALLYLDS:
Noggin would want me to concede that my testimony is an opinion...which I cannot do. Others seem to be aware of this, and would not expect me to do so....
testimony as an opinion? or, testimony as a fact? I'll define it to show you what I know
Definition: o·pin·ion (n.)
1. A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof: “The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion” (Elizabeth Drew).
Definition: fact (n.)
1. something that actually exists; reality; truth:
2. something known to exist or to have happened
I know that I asked god if the Book of Mormon was true. I know in direct response to that question, God told me it was. I felt a ratification inside me that resonated a positive response. I am duty bound to follow that. This is my reality. This is how I can tell you that, for a fact, I know the Mormon church is true.
Online Mormon poster SERIOUS:
Only those who receive an answer from God will actually know the difference between opinion and fact.
I know as a fact that the church is true. Those who don't know that, think it is my opinion
Online Mormon poster GORDON:
For me, my testimony is fact. For others, it is opinion. My fact is based upon knowledge of a real occurance that happened to me. It is not a fact for you, because that occurance did not happen to you. You can only see it as my opinion, and I do not require you to see it as a fact...just don't expect me to say it is my opinion for your sake.
Online skeptic poster COWBOY RAY:
Why do you suppose God is telling Catholics and Muslims different things than he tells you?
I find your second sentence deliciously ironic.
Online Mormon poster SERIOUS:
Would you like to direct me to a Muslim or Catholic who will testify they asked God if their church was true? They don't teach their people to ask. They are just raised to be what they are.
Online skeptic poster COWBOY RAY:
I am not sure what experience you have with Muslims and/or Catholics (I wont pretend to). However, my experience with them is very much the same as with LDS people. They believe that God has told them that their religion/church/belief system is "the one and only true one". [M]y experience with some of them (in addition to many evangelicals, born agains, etc.) was a real occurrence, so don't expect me to concede it as opinion for your sake.
Furthermore...the individuals I have spoken with believe that God communicates the absolute exclusive validity of their respective religions to them in a very personal way.
Don't get so hung up on the fact (or was it an opinion) that I only mentioned Catholics and Muslims. My intent was to mention some other religions that make some of the same exclusivity claims as the LDS church. The list could have just as likely been limited to the single category of "ALL OTHER RELIGIONS".
Online Mormon poster SERIOUS:
You are shooting in the dark, (not surprisingly so) and why would I expect you to concede? You're on a mission are you not? So your question is null and void
Commentary: Here we saw the classic evasion tactics employed by theists when they are caught making blanket assertions that do not hold water. Why is the question "null and void" now that the facts have been presented?
Earlier, the notion that a church being true, not in the sense of opinion, but in the sense of fact, was clearly displayed. This is how I traveled through Spain for two years as a missionary declaring how Mormonism is God's only true church on earth. The vast majority of Mormons hold the belief that Mormonism is exclusively true and that all other churches are false churches "trying their best without the Holy Ghost to guide them". In essence, the other churches might be good, but they are in grievous error... and completely incapable of saving a human soul.
