DiscussMormonism.com

Also fine, although I do see others who also seem to be just as convinced about the interpretation of their experiences even though they may conflict with our own. I think the fine distinctions in revelatory experience, interpretation and practice among different religious traditions is often gloss...

Although religious commitment may be genetic, I doubt God would do that to some and not to others.

I couldn't help but think of the venerable Mormon tradition of "believing blood" when I read this :)

The implication of culture, neurobiology, psychology etc does not preclude God as a factor. Since I can't have perfect knowledge, I cannot preclude the possibility, and I am open to the idea. Just as the implication of culture, neurobiology, and psychology as mediators does not preclude influence f...

If I had to hold onto my spiritual experiences while denying a reality that stares me in the face, okay, that would be hard. But it's just not the case as I see it. That's exactly where I'm coming from. On the one hand I have my spiritual experiences, and on the other the reality that some of the c...

I concur with Emile Durkheim on at least one point, there is an inverse relationship between knowledge and action. It becomes easier to act on a macro level the less you know, and the more you know, the proper course of action becomes more ambiguous. That is why political ideologues like to think in...

I find it interesting that you act as though you as a conservative are being marginalized in the church because of your political affiliation... What that I've said has given you that idea? I'm well aware that conservatism/libertarianism (or some combination/interpretation thereof) is the overwhelm...

That's exactly where I'm coming from. On the one hand I have my spiritual experiences, and on the other the reality that some of the church's truth claims are demonstrably not true. So, what does one do in that situation? I had my spiritual experiences as well, but it was not until I realized that ...

What keeps me in Mormonism are roughly two things: 1). My experience of personal revelation is qualitatively distinct from any other experience I have and makes me a better person than I would be otherwise. It is a sui generis anchor of conviction and motivation that is humbling because it is extrem...

A couple of things stand out here, don't they? The first is that the the Church doesn't align itself with any ideology or political philosophy, which makes corned beef hash out of the entire United-Order-is-socialism saw. It also flushes Harry Ried's comment at BYU that past church presidents such ...

This is, of course, sheer nonsense (as political ideologies, and the morality and philosophical assumptions that underlie them, very widely), but exactly what I would expect from leftist apostates seeking to create the impression of the Church as a "big tent". It is, of course, still a &q...