The Danger of Half-Truths
There is a great deal of information about religions widely available on the internet. Much of it is correct. Some of it is outright wrong, either through misunderstanding or deliberate bias. But some of it is somewhere in the middle, and those can be really hard to deal with.
Some of the basic ways of validating information includes considering whether a story even makes sense, where the information is coming from, are the supporting facts even correct.
However, when encountering a half truth, you may easily come up with real facts that supports the original rumor even when the rumor in its entirety is wrong. They are based on some measure of truth but have grown well beyond the boundaries of fact.
It is true that many Mormon men wear an undergarment that has spiritual meaning. However, it's more like a t-shirt and knee pants than tighty-whities. They are referred to as "temple garments" and are considered sacred. They act as reminders of the oaths Mormons take within the Church of Latter-Day Saints, and they are considered protection from a variety of things.
Some see this protection as physical (in which case we enter generally accepted definitions of “magic”), while others see it as entirely spiritual, a reminder to act correctly and avoid a variety of negative influences.
Because the garments are sacred, it is considered improper to reveal them in public. Many cultures have similar views aboutrevealing sacred things. As such, the garments are worn under clothing, thus making them undergarments. This is one reason why Mormons tend to dress modestly: to not reveal the temple garment.
So, Mormons do have undergarments associated with their practices. However, "magic underpants" invokes an almost entirely wrong understanding about the garments.
Some of the basic ways of validating information includes considering whether a story even makes sense, where the information is coming from, are the supporting facts even correct.
However, when encountering a half truth, you may easily come up with real facts that supports the original rumor even when the rumor in its entirety is wrong. They are based on some measure of truth but have grown well beyond the boundaries of fact.
The Example of the Mormon “Magic Underpants”
Consider the claim of Mormons wearing "magic underpants." The suggestion immediately invokes derision, because it implies Mormons are superstitious (since our society generally doesn't believe in magic) while involving a garment,which is often on the receiving end of humor: undergarments. While someone might consider belief in magic talismans to be merely backward, the idea of magic underpants sounds outright comical.It is true that many Mormon men wear an undergarment that has spiritual meaning. However, it's more like a t-shirt and knee pants than tighty-whities. They are referred to as "temple garments" and are considered sacred. They act as reminders of the oaths Mormons take within the Church of Latter-Day Saints, and they are considered protection from a variety of things.
Some see this protection as physical (in which case we enter generally accepted definitions of “magic”), while others see it as entirely spiritual, a reminder to act correctly and avoid a variety of negative influences.
Because the garments are sacred, it is considered improper to reveal them in public. Many cultures have similar views aboutrevealing sacred things. As such, the garments are worn under clothing, thus making them undergarments. This is one reason why Mormons tend to dress modestly: to not reveal the temple garment.
So, Mormons do have undergarments associated with their practices. However, "magic underpants" invokes an almost entirely wrong understanding about the garments.