Mormon Times columnist McKay Coppins recently wrote about a bit of misadventure endured by LDS missionaries as they headed off to begin their missions. Before they even got beyond the airport they had suffered two incidents of rudeness directed at them because of their identifying missionary badges. To Mr. Coppins’ credit, he wrote,

“I am not relating these stories in an effort to paint the LDS Church or its missionaries as poor, persecuted Saints in an increasingly cruel world. On the contrary, I have consistently used this column to condemn the persecution complex so many of our members seem to have.”

Instead, Mr. Coppins suggested that it might be helpful if Latter-day Saints sought to understand the attitudes that seem to drive negativity directed toward Mormons. Therefore, he asked (as he titled his column), “Why do they hate us?”

The following week Mr. Coppins’ column related some of the responses he received, including such things as:

• a perceived lack of respect from LDS missionaries as they seek contacts;
• a judgmental attitude from Latter-day Saints toward those who have prayed but not received a confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true; and
• fear from seeing Mormonism as a threat to people’s cherished orthodox beliefs

While interesting, for the folks here at Mormon Coffee I think Mr. Coppins’ question, “Why do they hate us?” is the wrong question to ask. As far as I know, nobody here hates Mormons. A better question for Mr. Coppins to ask here (and perhaps elsewhere as well) might be, “Why do they challenge us?”

So I’m asking you, friends in the Mormon Coffee community: Why do you challenge Mormons and their belief system?

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Comments within the parameters of 1 Peter 3:15 are invited.

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