Becoming too chummy with the exmos

[_Runtu]

Like those polls for who is going to be banned next, we should have a poll for who is going to apostatize next.

Ray doesn't count though. It would have to be first time apostates only.

I guess you'd have to define apostasy, as in my book several of the apologists are already in serious apostasy by virtue of rejecting core teachings of the prophets.

[_beastie]

I guess you'd have to define apostasy, as in my book several of the apologists are already in serious apostasy by virtue of rejecting core teachings of the prophets.

Not to divert this fun thread into something serious, but I have to disagree with you here. I can't take credit for this idea, either, but I can't remember who first pointed it out.

I have grown to view apologists as the real True Believers who really ARE following the core of Joseph Smith' teachings. (Ben also helped me to figure this out on the postmodern thread on Z, although most believers would distance themselves from this idea.)

Joseph Smith was willing to alter anything - he'd alter past revelations without comment or notice. He altered his own thoughts and teachings. It really is true - the content of the "revelation" doesn't matter at all. What matters is "revelation" and the church surviving through it.

Does God the Father have a body or not? Are there two members of the godhead or three? Did God ordain Joseph Smith to a gift OTHER than translating the Book of Mormon? All were changed by Joseph Smith without comment (although those who became apostates noticed).

I do believe apologists are far closer to this pattern than traditional believers are, including the prophets.

So while apologists are not the best generic representation of the modern LDS church or the thoughts and beliefs of its members, they are a better representation of Joseph Smith, and what he was really all about. in my opinion.

[_The Dude]

An apostate would be someone who can step up to the podium and state: "My name is ____ and I am an apostate Mormon." So the apologists don't count.

[_Who Knows]

An apostate would be someone who can step up to the podium and state: "My name is ____ and I am an apostate Mormon." So the apologists don't count.

So start a poll. You have to come up with the nominations though. :)

[_Runtu]

Joseph Smith was willing to alter anything - he'd alter past revelations without comment or notice. He altered his own thoughts and teachings. It really is true - the content of the "revelation" doesn't matter at all. What matters is "revelation" and the church surviving through it.

Does God the Father have a body or not? Are there two members of the godhead or three? Did God ordain Joseph Smith to a gift OTHER than translating the Book of Mormon? All were changed by Joseph Smith without comment (although those who became apostates noticed).

I do believe apologists are far closer to this pattern than traditional believers are, including the prophets.

So while apologists are not the best generic representation of the modern LDS church or the thoughts and beliefs of its members, they are a better representation of Joseph Smith, and what he was really all about. in my opinion.

I think there's some truth in this. I have argued before that Mormonism takes an almost-postmodern view of text. Joseph wrote and rewrote and then revised and rewrote some more. Simply put, God-breathed scripture loses its "copperfastened" meaning and establishes the primacy of both the spirit and the word of the prophet, which we all know can contradict and Trump earlier prophets.

It's been since the advent of correlation (in 1970) that the church has become more wedded to text.

[_The Dude]

An apostate would be someone who can step up to the podium and state: "My name is ____ and I am an apostate Mormon." So the apologists don't count.

So start a poll. You have to come up with the nominations though. :)

Yeah, right. The MAD mods have kryptonite bullets now.

[_Polygamy Porter]

Since my post was moved for a teensie little implied curse word, I will ask the same question I asked on my moved post:

So then, would you attribute any of my interactions with you to your apostasy?

[_Runtu]

Since my post was moved for a teensie little implied curse word, I will ask the same question I asked on my moved post:

So then, would you attribute any of my interactions with you to your apostasy?

No, not at all. Ironically, it was when I stepped away from the boards for several months that I started thinking about what I had been rationalizing and why. It wasn't until after I had experienced my "epiphany" (for want of a better word) that I went back on MAD/FAIR.

I think our interaction helped me understand a lot better just how much it hurts when you leave the church. I don't think I had ever understood how much pain people experience. I think it made me a lot more empathetic and in some ways prepared me for what was coming in my life.

[_Polygamy Porter]

Since my post was moved for a teensie little implied curse word, I will ask the same question I asked on my moved post:

So then, would you attribute any of my interactions with you to your apostasy?

No, not at all. Ironically, it was when I stepped away from the boards for several months that I started thinking about what I had been rationalizing and why. It wasn't until after I had experienced my "epiphany" (for want of a better word) that I went back on MAD/FAIR.

I think our interaction helped me understand a lot better just how much it hurts when you leave the church. I don't think I had ever understood how much pain people experience. I think it made me a lot more empathetic and in some ways prepared me for what was coming in my life.

Huh.

Dang it!

I was hoping to jump up and down while exclaiming, "My 800 lbs gorilla named TRUTH mopped the floor with the ___ of your eight pound testimonkey!!"

*sigh* Funny mental image though, you have to admit :)

[_Who Knows]

An apostate would be someone who can step up to the podium and state: "My name is ____ and I am an apostate Mormon." So the apologists don't count.

So start a poll. You have to come up with the nominations though. :)

Yeah, right. The MAD mods have kryptonite bullets now.

You just made their day. You may have even given them some warm fuzzies.

The holy ghost works in mysterious ways.