Mormonism’s best inheritance from Joseph Smith was his passion for education, hardly evident in the anti-intellectual and semi-literate Southern Baptist Convention. I wonder though which is more dangerous, a knowledge-hungry religious zealotry or a proudly stupid one?
Mormonism’s best inheritance from Joseph Smith was his passion for education, hardly evident in the anti-intellectual and semi-literate Southern Baptist Convention. I wonder though which is more dangerous, a knowledge-hungry religious zealotry or a proudly stupid one?
Well, which is it?
Of course the proudly stupid religious zealotry is the easiest target. But I have to wonder if the knowledge-hungry one isn't a bit more insidious. In theory, at least, the proudly stupid zealotry could be countered by better education. The knowledge-hungry religious zealotry, however, has already demonstrated the ability to assimilate facts about the world and still find a way to fit them into their make-believe worldview.
Last edited by Anonymous on Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mormonism ceased being a compelling topic for me when I finally came to terms with its transformation from a personality cult into a combination of a real estate company, a SuperPac, and Westboro Baptist Church. - Kishkumen
I don't know, Mormon culture has the exact same issue with anti-intellectual zealotry and suspicion of certain areas of secular knowledge that their cousins in the SBC have. Getting degrees in dentistry hasn't changed that.
But this is exactly what I'm talking about. A person does have to get a 4-year college degree, and then attend another school for 4 more years, to get their DDS. That's a serious amount of education. That doesn't stop them disbelieving evolution, though, does it? They've figured out how to surround themselves with knowledge and education, and become smarter than the average bear, while still only really accepting into their worldview the bits that agree with their religious views. I think this is more insidious, because these people will think they are actually very well educated. And compared to the SBC types, they are.
Or take a Terryl Givens. He's extremely well educated, and smart, but that's just given him more tools for crafting a narrative that allows him to continue believing his kindergarten-level religion, in the face of what should have been overwhelming evidence against it.
Mormonism ceased being a compelling topic for me when I finally came to terms with its transformation from a personality cult into a combination of a real estate company, a SuperPac, and Westboro Baptist Church. - Kishkumen
I think the proudly ignorant types are more dangerous. Education is liberating and tends to dissolve bigotry and open minds. So a religious zealotry that also seeks education is going to polish away its worst tendencies over time. I'm speaking in general here - of course there are individuals who get a massive education and still don't believe in evolution, but the trend is for educated people to move away from religion. Speaking from experience here.
"And yet another little spot is smoothed out of the echo chamber wall..." Bond
Sethbag wrote:Or take a Terryl Givens. He's extremely well educated, and smart, but that's just given him more tools for crafting a narrative that allows him to continue believing his kindergarten-level religion, in the face of what should have been overwhelming evidence against it.
I think this is a bit simplistic. Not that I know much about Terryl Givens, but it seems to me that very few people would know an individual intimately enough to figure out why they would believe or not. Lifelong friends? Family members? Maybe. Anyone else? not likely.
I think a lot of factors go into belief, not just education and intelligence.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.
The Dude wrote:I think the proudly ignorant types are more dangerous. Education is liberating and tends to dissolve bigotry and open minds. So a religious zealotry that also seeks education is going to polish away its worst tendencies over time.
+1
"Petition wasn’t meant to start a witch hunt as I’ve said 6000 times." ~ Hanna Seariac, LDS apologist