Have you ever taken a moment to pull out of you your day-to-day routine to step back and observe your cultural zeitgeist from a distance? The word Zeitgeist basically refers to “the spirit of the times” or the general, cultural, ethical, spiritual and/or political climate of a group of people (thanks Wikipedia). Do you ever wonder how the technological advancements and the general attitudes of our day will be viewed in retrospect?
What an exciting time to be alive. It is such a privilege to be an observer and participant of the current cultural shifts. I wanted to share what some of my observations have been about developments in the world and what I think it means to my religious community specifically. I would be interested in hearing your opinions as well (as long as they are nice).
I think the impact of the Internet, and especially social networking sites on our consciousness are equal (if not greater) to the influence of the printing press. The Internet was definitely a huge step in establishing a connection with the world at large, but it has been good ol’ Facebook that has helped us to step over and take advantage of this technology. Many of us have recognized the benefits of connecting to our friends and family and once we have been integrated into basic networking the conversation continues to extend to other like-minded people from all over the world. We find ourselves interacting with friends of friends (of friends) in discussion threads. It is easier to track down and follow those people who have unique ideas and perspectives and to contrast them against their opponents. I have friends and business contacts all over the country (and even the world) thanks to the technology of the Internet and the contribution of that nerdy Mark Zuckerburg.
Blogs are significant, in my opinion, as well. To get something published in the past required the author to be skilled and worth paying for. Now anyone can be a published contributor to social issues. Everyone has been given a voice and, based off of their ability to hold interest they have the potential of gaining an audience to interact with as well. Personal blogs have demonstrated the ability to influence elections and turn the tides of thought. Many people, like myself, view a blog as a journal or personal record and get joy out of writing even though very few will ever read it. There is a thrill that comes with exposing ourselves to the world and seeing if anyone cares about what we think and feel. Every now and then someone does and it makes it all worth it.
So what does this mean for us? How will it influence our zeitgeist socially, politically, or religiously?
First, I think that information is more readily available to us. True, there is an abundance of poor quality information, but if a person is taught what to look for they can quickly find reliable peer-reviewed information as well within moments (as opposed to hours looking through books in a library).
I think this makes all of our institutions more accountable. It will be much harder to manipulate the minds of people when they are all able to connect and readily share information. Governments, religions and businesses have all tried to filter information to some extent in the past but now issues are becoming more and more transparent.
If you know me personally, you probably know that I love religion. I love chewing on big questions. My religion (Mormonism) is currently only less than half a percent of the world’s population, but I love thinking about what the future of my community will look like as it continues to grow and find its place in the world (or conquers it ;).
Within Mormonism specifically (a religion that was established well after the advent of recorded history), I think that we will experience pressure from both faithful and unfaithful members to adopt a much more open approach of interaction about our past. Many are in denial that there ARE any problematic aspects to our past but I think this unsympathetic opinion typically comes from those individuals who have never really evaluated it themselves.
There are many LDS historians like Richard Bushmen and Todd Compton who know all there is to know about LDS history and have still retained their faith (albeit a complicated faith). This demonstrates that difficult issues about our history can be reconciled, but it is no secret that our church has been hesitant, shall we say, to candidly address historical issues and their implications on our modern religion. If members want to understand the true nature of a prophet for example, providing them a white-washed, glossed over, representation will not be satisfactory for a generation of people who have journals and scholarly works at their disposal. They WILL investigate deeper and a stance of openness is the only approach that will surmount the oncoming hoards of curious investigators.
Although the church has neither addressed problematic historical issues in depth nor provided a descent forum for members struggling to faithfully reconcile this information, the Internet has provided the space for members all across the faith spectrum to interact and openly evaluate the goods and bads of their faith tradition. Many who choose to not participate in these discussions may be skeptical of the benefits of such interaction, but a vast number of other people have embraced it and believe that openness is the only correct way to proceed. These people are following the spiritual charge to seek out truth and are willing to bravely move forward knowing that some of their previous conceptions may need to be adjusted in order to make room for additional light and knowledge. Through this investigation beliefs may become more complicated, or perhaps are in danger of erosion, but over-all the conversation is refined and the pearls of truth rise to the surface. Ultimately, these people agree with Socrate’s statement that the unexamined life is not worth living.
In the past, struggling members have been pressured to adopt one of two acceptable responses to a crisis of faith; accept the church as it currently is, or move along and be demonized with the apostates. This is the message that many dissenters receive.
Online however, members are given many other options (BWA HA HA). There are several groups of eclectic Mormons who all share a common interest and love of Mormonism who find themselves at some middle ground in a tug-of-war between faith and reason. These Mormons seem to reject the strong dualistic options provided by the church yet still find great value in certain aspects of Mormonism. They may still hope that one day in the future God will grant them more understanding but, at the present moment, they may remain conflicted about some specific aspect of their tradition, or maybe they don’t literally believe the church’s foundational claims but find them useful for living a happy life or maybe they have been profoundly affected by the teachings of a non-christian tradition. They identify themselves with titles such as, New Order Mormons, Café Mormons, Zen Mormons, Liberal Mormons, Post Mormons, Cultural Mormons, Jack Mormons, Unorthodox Mormons and Gadianton Mormons. …Just kidding about that last one.
Are you uncomfortable yet? For most traditional faithful members there are probably multiple red flags going off at the mention of groups that allow for a non-absolutist approach to a faith that is often presented as black or white. It’s worth stating that 2/3 of our church is inactive and that the majority of self-identified Mormons would classify themselves within this Gray zone. Knowing how to approach these “fence riders” can certainly be tricky but would we prefer to push them off our fence, or find a way to accommodate their inquisitive, meddling minds?
I would like to point out (cautiously) that I myself experienced a crisis of faith and struggled for years over how to process my cognitive dissonance. This doubt was not brought about by personal sin (unless you really DO believe that doubt is actually a sin which is creepy) The conflict came from a sincere desire to understand truth and although I searched prayerfully, I was never confident that there was any faithful member that I could open up to about it. Honestly, It hurt really bad and I have never felt so isolated and abandoned. Our church rewards passionate conviction and is embarrassed by needling skepticism, yet we are expected to be skeptical about competing philosophies and truth claims.
It was voices from the aforementioned villainous groups (and some very loving and concerned individuals) that convinced me to remain an active member to this day, but on my own terms. I was sincerely touched by the honest concern that I felt from good people who had experienced the doubt and frustration I was experiencing and provided the space and reassurance, that the church did not, to honestly evaluate my beliefs.
From this perspective I was able to come to this realization…..(ahem)…
“I am a Mormon damnit! I am a quirky (annoying?) part of the family who has sprung from the loins of our quirky polygamist ancestors and if you really care (as you are obligated to) then you’ll put up with me. Forgive me for holding to the beauty I have experienced in this faith while taking ownership of the fact that many things have just not been revealed to me in as convincing a manner as they may have to you. As long as prophets have an imperfect track record (which has always been the case) I will continue to give serious criticism to any concept that feels wrong in my heart (unapologetically). At the same time I will try harder to open myself to truth wherever and from whomever it comes. I don’t care about “lines of authority” when it’s my “personal line” that validates all other lines. My God wants me to search for understanding, not intellectual out-sourcing. I firmly believe this to be true and I don't think Mormon doctrine conflicts with it."
I say give the title of “Mormon” to whoever wants it. I feel that the idea that all of the members sitting next to you in the pews on Sunday have the exact same beliefs as you just because they are there is a little naive. But I’m sure all of them feel the church is the right place to be at that time. We all want to be happy and we have a beautiful shared narrative to launch us on our journey.
Many believe that our founding stories and documents are literally true as they are portrayed, many do not, and many don’t care whether they are true or not. They are simply looking for peace and have found it within Mormonism. If God knows a better way to connect to someone, maybe we should step aside and have confidence that it will work out with out our manipulations. What do we do in the mean time? We LOVE them and we shut up and listen. If God really wants us to search for and embrace truth, maybe we should even consider the perspectives of the unorthodox to add to our understanding (yeah I went there…….gulp).
Currently the church is launching a PR campaign (http://www.mormon.org/people) spotlighting eclectic Mormons and stressing that they are valuable to our collective LDS identity. Many of these individuals represented (inter-racial couples, members struggling with same sex attraction, working women, small or single parent families, etc.) would have been frowned upon or marginalized in our church’s past. Do we really believe that they are valuable or are we threatened by innovative artists (sorry Greg) and Musicians (sorry Janice) and intellectuals (sorry Glenn) who bring all that they are to the conversation? (The comments in parenthesis are obviously based on my truly biased opinion).
Many people are attracted to the LDS approach to life for a variety of reasons. Is there something wrong with someone who chooses to stick around and hold on to what the church is offering or are we consumed with the idea that this church is only about complete conformity? How quickly, when a controversial political or social subject arises, do we figuratively draw a line in the sand and demand that struggling members decide if they are "with us" or "against us". If these words have come out of your mouth I beg you to revisit the situation with awareness and please just try to be quiet the next time around, even if that's how you really feel.
Wow, this blog really started being about one thing and then surprisingly became something else. You could never expect such klutzy writing from a professional which is why blogs are awesome.
My name is Chris Brewer. I am an artist, A questioner, a really shoddy philosopher, guitar-player, skateboarder (as of last week), and Krav Maga practitioner and…
I AM A MORMON!
26 comments:
I loved this post. I think we all come to a point of questioning. I have so much more I want to say, but I am not coherent tonight, so I will comment again tomorrow! (try to handle the excitement)
I hope you subscribe to, or at least occasionally listen to, the podcasts at mormonstories.org. I find them fascinating, and I think you would too. I honestly believe that people who believe the things they do with a healthy dose of skepticism and self-examination are ultimately much, much happier in their beliefs than the people who don't put much thought into it one way or the other. You're pretty rad, Chris. :)
Thank you Doug. I do love MormonStories. I have met the guy who started it (John P. Dehlin) a few times and attended one of his workshops. He is an amazing individual that I greatly admire. I think many members don't know what to make of him because he straddles a very controversial middle ground but I feel his intentions are undeniably good. He seems to have a genuine empathy for all those people who have had their world come crashing down and don't know their options or how to navigate their crisis. I credit his work directly for having brought much peace and clarity into my life. Seriously love the guy.
The way I first learned of him was by stumbling upon some podcast presentations he made titled "why people leave the LDS church and how we can help" and "How to stay in the LDS church after a trial of your faith" They are wonderful. If anyone else is interested here are the links.
http://mormonstories.org/?p=390
http://mormonstories.org/?p=388
I don't know...don't you think that whole "I'm a professional golfer...and I'm a MORMON!" campaign sounds a little too much like an AA meeting? Revealing that you're a Mormon shouldn't sound like you're confessing to being an alcoholic.
But, more seriously, thank you for this post Chris. I knew you were struggling with your faith and I'm glad you have been able to find some resolution. I think that those who never have any doubts about their religion have never really truly examined themselves, their religion's doctrines, and their own beliefs. I absolutely agree that there is a kind of "all or nothing" expectation in our church. We start going up to the pulpit as preschoolers and repeat robotically, "I know THE CHURCH is TRUE!" Our religion is not simple. There are hundreds of bits and pieces of it, from its origins to its doctrines to its commandments for how we should live our lives. It is unrealistic to expect that every last part of it should reveal itself to us as absolute truth.
Each of us spends our lives taking pieces of information and wisdom from many different sources and reconciling them into a whole that makes sense to us and our personal paradigm (is that a big enough word to match "zeitgeist?"). I think it's great that you study "alternative" philosophies to help expand your understand of truth. I think they have helped many people for centuries and have a lot of wisdom and insight to offer.
And I don't think that mormonism has ALL the truth either. In many cases, we have been given hints of the truth, without any real explanation of the full concept. While we believe that our doctrines are the result of direct revelation from God, the practice of our religion is still influenced by mortals, and their traditions, culture, and worldview. We are left to fill in a LOT of blanks on our own. Sooooo...yeah. I can't think of a good way to end this post, so I'm just going to stop talking now. Love ya!
Oh, and figure out how to make your blog stop listing the author as SB, because I was really confused about who was writing this post at first. :)
I know, right? :) :)
(Lori, can't wait to hear your additional comment. )
(Doug, John Dehlin probably helped save our marriage. I love that guy!)
One of my favorite bloggers wrote a blog recently in response to a reader asking her opinions on gay rights specifically in light of the whole Boyd K. Packer controversy. http://blog.cjanerun.com/2010/10/in-response.html
Among her 450+ comments were MANY that said things along the lines of “Either you believe that the Book of Mormon is true or you don’t. Either you believe in modern day prophets or you don’t.” Basically either you’re a mormon or your not. Really? That’s how it has to be? I can’t just believe that the church is good, or that the leaders of it while often inspired are only human and are biased by their own experiences and social upbringings? In order to be part of the peculiar people posse it has to be all or nothing? Of course they have no problem accepting my club dues. Sorry now I’m starting to sound bitter.
I truly loath going to fast and testimony for the reason you mentioned Robin. And I’ve often wondered how I’ll handle it when one of my children ask to go up and talk in the cool microphone... I mean...bare their testimony. If Chris or I are helping them their testimony will probably sound a little different then their peers. Something along the lines of, “I believe the church is GOOD. I HOPE the gospel is true. I believe that Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to be a happy.”
Anyway Chris, this has been a quit the journey you’ve taken me on, but I’m really happy with we’re we’ve arrived.
Sorry for all the typos. I was nursing the baby and typing one handed. And I never graduated college.
I love what you wrote Robin. Thank you.
There are two things in balance with a practicing LDS member. First, they usually believe that they "have arrived" in a sense, in that they are confident that they have discovered "the answer" to life. This is their testimony. There is much that they don't know but they feel really good about where their exploration is going to end up. There confidence is based on reason. They may have spiritual experiences but they use their reason to interpret what those experiences could mean.
Second, is the actual exploration in which the church is only a guide that is helping refine a working process for getting to the end goal. This is achieved line upon line and precept on precept.
The "right answer" doesn't mean much to someone who doesn't know how it was arrived at, or is even skeptical about the genius claiming to HAVE the end-all answer.
There is an on-going balance of trust and process that keeps an individual committed to our religion. If we put ALL our stock in the greatness of our answers and overlook the fact that we are ALL learning and refining a personal process of revelation (with checks and balances of reason) we are going to lose MANY seekers who are in a different state of balance.
Yes, there is trust (or faith) required to be a Mormon but our religious leaders, and membership in general, are accountable to interact with those people who expect a reason to accept a certain "truth."
I sincerely believe that the idea of our faith was never to blindly follow anybody. We talk as though everybody is still learning but then create a social pressure that everybody should know certain things by a certain time. We establish an acceptable way of talking where we reward each other based off of how passionate we are in our knowledge and forget that there should be a place for criticism (or questioning).
I don't think we should treat any member as though they have been permanently won over. I think it would be great if we started from the assumption that every member was as fragile as an investigator. Maybe most people aren't that fragile but I AM and there has to be other people like me, right?
Shannon my love. You have always been an amazingly patient and loving friend. Thank you for always listening to me on countless late evenings and for not always agreeing with me. You seriously have helped me understand what the role of a husband or spouse should be by your example.
Thanks for your comment. You understand exactly what I feel.
What a great post! I like to bust open the Mormon stereotype door. I think talking about nudity and smoking crack is an excellent way to do so.
This was a great post. Thanks for being open and honest and breaking down the facade so the world can really see you as you are. It is a hard thing to do sometimes, especially in our church.
What a brave and poignant statement you have made here. You have measured the temperature of our faith/culture in the current climate/times and made it to be, not a hostile or frightening scenario, but one of hope. There is so much you have written that I identify with and it makes the road easier, and less lonely, to travel. That's what it is all about it, isn't it? Traveling the road together, encouraging one another along the way? Thank you!
Oh man,
I spend way too much time thinking and rethinking my responses to these kind of posts. I guess I kind of want to win the "the most profound comment award". :)
First, I have to say that I totally want to be in one of those videos. I loved them all! I could see myself "I'm single,I love Harry Potter, I'm a closet coke drinker, I'm a libra, and I'm Mormon".
Anyway, I think you make a lot of valid points, Chris. Hasn't it been said that doubt is the first step towards wisdom or understanding or something like that?
Shannon,
As you might have seen, I got caught up in that comment war. I feel like there was a lot of intolerance on both sides. People want to grab that smug moral high ground and hold onto it like grim death. The one girl who kept saying "gentle hugs to you" to everyone who agreed with her was making me SICK!
Anyway,
I don't know if I could let myself delve into all of that information. I guess I am voluntarily choosing to blind myself to it. Maybe that is cowardice on my part.
I think I do it because Satan already has my number. He knows that I am cynical and disillusioned as a rule. He knows that I dont feel at home as a single person in family oriented church. He's looking for just one more thing to give me that push into the great and spacious building.
Questioning would turn into rationalization for never going back to church for me.
(not that I don't have my petty disagreements: I HATE the RS general conference voice, I don't like Elder Bednar and won't listen to his talks, and I keep shopping on Sunday, dammit!) (and then there is the language..)
I hope this wasn't too incoherent. I love these kinds of posts! Keep writing!
And the winner of tonights most profound comment award goes to Madam Lolee!!!
Seriously thanks for your comment. I don't think you need to feel obligated to pull our church's dirty laundry out on the table. I don't think it's important for everyone to see the human side of our religion the same way I don't think we need to know about the private lives of our founding fathers to know that the country they made for us has been a tremendous blessing for millions.
But I think there are many people who feel prompted (even spiritually) to look deeper and try to reconcile those issues. What a crazy risk right? When you recognize stability in your life it doesn't make sense to threaten your foundation, yet many people feel they are not being honest with themselves if they don't work through it. I think people push forward confident that, even if its a challenge they will end up on top.
What I hope to see happen within our church culture is the creation of space to accommodate those people who are stuck in a faith struggle.If they are struggling it is almost certainly because something is conflicting at some level with their conscience. Perhaps it can be reconciled and perhaps it cannot unless a few other beliefs get shifted around. Either way I don't think we can just tell people that their concerns are unfounded and to continue trusting blindly. I think what is required is acceptance and love and patience.
Chris,
AMEN. I LOVED your last comment. I think I am going to print it out and hang it on my quote wall.
That is EXACTLY how I feel!
Brave post, Chris! And may I throw my hat into the ring for the least profound comment of the day? :D
We, as humans, love/obey/fear a god that literally makes flowers grow out piles of shit... a god that has built a world out of dirt, and yet somehow always keeps everything clean.
I maintain that such a god is not meant to be viewed through a peephole or blinders and put in a box of limitations or political platforms. We are commanded to seek wisdom. We are also commanded to refrain from judging those around us, yet our inability to do these two things simultaneously leads us to exactly the issues you are describing, and more.
Christ taught us to embrace the principles and ordinances of the gospel. In his teachings, we are NEVER commanded to blindly follow a prophet. Joseph Smith claimed that anyone who blindly followed a prophet against better judgment "should not rank among intelligent beings." Brigham Young prophesied "the church will be led to the very brink of hell by the leaders of its people" (if you put stock in Young's prophesies;).
Point being, there is a reason that the core of the gospel is: 1- Faith in Christ, 2- Repentance to purify one's self, 3- Joining your name to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost's in baptism by authority, to follow the order and standard set for simple obedience, and 4- Receiving the Holy Ghost in response to obeying the law of baptism, and gaining access to direct inspiration you WILL be accountable for.
A prophet, like the church, brings order and unites the usually confused masses onto a common ground most everyone can live with. In a way, they are both designed to govern the lowest common denominator acceptable before the Lord (and you thought people would be mad at what you said, Chris :) lol).
I have had my own little bumpy path. By nature I'm very obedient and rigid with rules. This actually puts me at odds with a lot of stuff I "feel" I should do. When given a choice betweeen inspiration and obedience, 99% of the time I choose obedience.
Ironically, this experience had led me to feel/believe in a way opposite to most of the people I know.
What I've come to believe is that when the Spirit reveals something to you,it trumps any rule set up by a human--inspired or not. Nephi knew killing was wrong, but he chopped off Laban's head. Why? Because he was already acquainted with the Spirit, knew its voice, and knew he was accountable for the message.
When the spirit speaks to our hearts, we can never deny that we heard what we "heard." We can doubt it, justify it away, and not like it, but when standing before God we will have to confess that the message was received and be held accountable for what we chose to ignore.
Therein lies a sin great than any other. "Yes, Lord, I heard you. Clearly. And yes, I ignored you and did what someone else told me to do instead. After all, I wasn't totally sure it was right. You and Satan both sound the same in my mind..."
Whether following a prophet or pandering to a friend, that answer is unacceptable before the Lord. Without exception.
That's my current stance. It may grow. It may change, but the point is that I'm looking for the spirit to teach me that, not a conference address.
The droning, non-melodic "Follow the Prophet" primary song is dangerous in my eyes, and not doctrinal in any way. We are teaching our children to follow men when we are commanded to follow and seek the spirit.
You obviously addressed a lot more than that in your post, but I guess that's where my thoughts led me.
Thanks for thinking out loud. It's great to hear your thoughts :) I'm always hesitant to comment on subjects like these, but you put a quarter in me, I guess. Hope you liked my little monkey dance :)
I love this! Thank you for posting it. I can guess it was scary to put yourself out there, and although I am a stranger, I am grateful for your courage.
Nice, Chris! Good thoughts. I do enjoy your inquisitive mind. You sent me that message several months ago and I have yet to give you the thoughtful, heartfelt response it deserves. (Having a baby kinda pulled my attention in a different direction...) But I have thought about you and my response dozens of times! Reading this post, however, tells me you're doing well. I appreciate your honesty and self-awareness. It's a rarity these days. :)
Oh... and I know exactly what you're talking about with that whole "I've arrived," attitude. I It's a perfect description of many members I've observed. In reality, if you believe in the doctrine one of the primary principles is progression. I believe that's literal. The ones who stop inquiring are literally stopping their progression, or "damning" themselves from learning and growing. We are not here in this messy life to arrive anywhere but the grave. We go on. Let's all ask. Let's all keep growing!
Wow Sheralyn. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts. You have always had a truly unique and refreshing perspective on faith and religion. Thank you for your comments. They make things seem a little clearer for me.
Over the past few years I have noticed a huge change in the way I approach my religion. Perhaps it is just trying to take ownership of my life and accountability for the things I know and don't know. I bet most of the people who have commented are much more spiritually mature than myself and are already past this phase.
I just feel there is no point in saying anything insincere any more. I would pass up a hundred boring testimony meetings to hear the honest words spoken from the heart of one person who will own up to his fears, who will be honest about the difference between his hope and his knowledge, who will admit that he could be very wrong in his views or that people of other religions might understand some things better than himself, who can express honest doubt without feeling that it is the first of the six destructive D's that will start him on his journey to despair and damnation. I think good things come from doubt.
Sheralyn, your comments have this honesty behind them. I totally agree with all the points that you made and if that is what this religion is about I will proudly be on board.
I like what you said about our accountability to follow what has been revealed to us by the spirit. We are the only ones who really know what those feelings say to us. I have felt spiritual feelings and been totally clueless about their content but I still believe that many of the strong convictions I have were placed there through some sort of a process of revelation.
Anna, thank you for reading my post! It's great to hear from you. I think you have a very healthy attitude towards religion. I have always enjoyed the emphasis we place on progression. There is always a humility that comes from recognizing that we are always learning.
If any thoughts ever come to mind please don't hesitate to let me know. I'm grateful for your input. Congrats on your beautiful baby. I read your blog posts and I'm so proud how you stood up to the hospital staff. Having babies in hospitals (a place for sick and dying people) is so messed up. You endured it well and now you can do things the way they should be done.
Hey there! I just stumbled upon your blog and I wanted to let you know how much I LOVE it! great post. I will be back for more!
I was a Mormon. I have so much respect for faith and I appreciate where I came from. I see the church as my heritage, but not my future.
It must sound so awful and sad, and perhaps it is. I have a faith in the great things that the founders of the Church accomplished, I've seen the great work members have done today. I regard those things as mortals' commanding power down from heaven. However, I just don't have the patience for the stuff now, or the sacrifice it takes.
Our world is so much faster, so much more complicated, and it takes better answers to succeed. I see the Church as an ends to a means for many great things in life; community, family, support, fulfillment through service, etc. But I don't like the history of intolerance the Church has and is currently perpetuating. I am cynical, and it is hard for me to accept these things as the unfortunate cost of being cozy to the LDS Church.
Admittedly, the standards of my lifestyle make me a terrible Mormon. So my cynicism is also a convenient shield against any true self-reflection and protect me from having to consider returning to Mormon-based ethics. It would be hard.
Brewers, I really admire your passion, curiosity and intelligence. I really do love your life, and would not change any part of it. Please be a part of the change so that you can humble my bad attitude.
It's always such a pleasure to hear your honest thoughts Ryan.
I wouldn't change anything about you. People value and look up to others for different reasons. Some people think a ton of faith is one of the most noble qualities. Some people think that abstaining from all worldly pleasures is the most praiseworthy characteristic.
The quality I would expect to find in an enlightened figure (Christ, Buddha,etc) would be total honesty and no desire to manipulate. I admire when someone can look and really see what is or how things really are with themselves, with God, with life, and honestly talk about it. This requires very thoughtful introspection and recognition of limitations.
I feel like we live in a shell sometimes which is hardened by culture and habit. We are all dying every day and the temptation to live live like a grazing cow can be too tempting. I am impacted by any individual who will talk to me like a human who recognizes the reality of death and suffering. I am more interested in doubts than convictions.
Sometimes church can provide a platform for these discussions but often the content is about making sure that you know that we have what everyone else is lacking and it needs to be done in the perfect ritualistic manner or it doesn't count. This type of discussion has never edified my soul. Maybe it's important but its not what I want to focus on.
You're a very good guy Ryan and I have always been impressed by your peaceful personality. Thanks for reading my post and sharing.
I believe in eternal families. I do not believe ancient Jews got in a boat and turned into Native Americans. I believe in fidelity and sexual morality, but I'm unmarried and certainly no virgin. I believe in a personal God and a personal connection to that God, but I don't believe his home is on or near any planet called Kolob. I believe in a community of saints united behind a dream of Zion, but I do not believe in a polygamous, patriarchal, isolationist, theocratic world view that defined 19th-century Deseret. I believe/don't believe. I am a Mormon!
Chris and Shannon - PLEASE POST AGAIN SOON!!!
Doug. That comment was amazing. I don't know how I somehow missed it. The definition can get so complicated that it is hard to decide whether or not we should identify with our religious tribe. We are Mormon, but we aren't. We believe, but not necessarily in the whole package.
I think I would say that the Mormon narrative is a part of me. I can try to make sense of it on my own terms. If I were to reject it I can't help but also recognize how it has shaped me and given me something to respond to. It successfully presents the issues that all religions are trying to address. It gets the ball rolling.
It has the potential to be something vast and helpful for all personalities that are all at different places in their life. It also has the potential to grow more and more dogmatic and pressure people to surrender their intellectual freedom and creativity over to the idea that God can be fully understood through such a narrow lens and that all he wants is for us to be obedient for obedience's sake.
But I think I would like to still claim it. Even if people think I just don't always get what the brethren are saying and judge me for my lack of conformity I still want to acknowledge that the Mormon story is part of my story.
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