Cicero wrote:sethpayne wrote:
Seth: if you don't mind sharing, I would be curious to hear if you have always felt this way or if you're feelings on this have evolved substantially over time. I have unsuccesfully tried to get to the same point. To put it bluntly, I find it very hard not to care about metaphysics related to Mormon truth claims when I hear my fellow ward members declaring absolute knowledge of the veracity of such claims on at least a monthly basis. F&T meetings are almost unbearable for me right now.
Hi Cicero,
I don't mind sharing one bit.
When I first had my crisis of faith I stayed away from Church activity for about 18 months. I could never really abandon my theism and finally became comfortable with the fact that I *chose* to believe in God even though I couldn't prove it. Sure, I find some philosophical arguments for theism interesting and compelling but they are far from being proof. Likewise, totally naturalistic explanations are very compelling but hardly definitive. Anyway, I choose to believe in God and that's that. However, I have no idea who/what God is or what his/her/its attributes may be.
I've long been familiar with the work of William James and Huston Smith during the 18 month period I spent away from the Church I really dug into theories of truth. I went back and read James' essays on Pragmatism where he expands on the original ideas of Dewey and it was James who demonstrated to me that metaphysics are really only important as they relate to practical or "real-world" outcomes. Thus, I refocused on the real world and what I could truly know through my 5 senses. Pragmatism doesn't dismiss metaphysics but it does, in my view, put metaphysics in the proper context.
I can relate to your annoyance with the musings of true believers -- especially when you know they are repeating common phrases or myths with little or no empirical or historical support. My attitude towards this softened, however, when I visited my parents for Christmas. I relate the story here:
http://www.sethpayne.com/?p=824Bottom line: the metaphysical views held by family members, friends, and Church members are great if those beliefs *work for them.* I will certainly speak up, like consig, when I think lines have been crossed or certain hurtful dogmas (for example, pretty much anything bcspace says -- Jenn Kamp bc) are expressed but this is rare. Most people are at Church to worship and want to walk away feeling like they have been given a spiritual boost. If a belief in Book of Mormon historicity helps that process along, then great. Conversely, if someone like Simon finds that this belief is untenable then they need to discard it and move on to something that works for them whether it involves metaphysics or not.
The biggest practical thing I can do is focus on what I share in common with my fellow Mormons. I believe in honesty, in the charity shown by Jesus, in the work ethic of the early Mormon pioneers. I alway enjoy the Book of Mormon as literature. It is certainly not the best book I've ready but it is theologically interesting to me.
Anyway, enough rambling....
Seth