http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=6&u=/ap/20040410/ap_o
n_re_us/baptizing_the_dead
If you aren't familiar with the practice, a person is selected (often a relative) and is baptized for a deceased person who was not a Mormon in life.
This particular group is up in arms about the practice---including people who were devout Jews all their lives in the rolls of the LDS Church.
If I'm not mistaken, many major historical figures who were not Christian have also been baptized for.
The Jewish group involved has threatened legal action to stop the baptisms.
My question to you is:
Would you care if another church baptized your dead aunt or uncle?
If baptism for the dead is not a legitimate practice, why worry about it?
On the other hand, wouldn't you have a right to feel violated? That someone you care deeply about, that had strong convictions about religion, is being included by some other church?
Additionally, how presumptious that they consider their baptism the key to heaven!
Also, what role should the state have in mediating a purely religious ritual like this? Can a judge settle a lawsuit of this nature without trampling on the 1st amendment?
What do y'all think?