DiscussMormonism.com

It is fascinating watching this board work. I think we have a fair share of "Mormons" and "ex-Mormons" and varying beliefs on all angles. What amazes me sometimes is how purely psychological it all is.

Taking a look from a broader perspective, we see the majority of prominent LDS people as established tribesmen, from birth unto the present, generation after generation. The very apologists of this board, I can bet, fit this bill. They seem to view threat against the claims of their church as assault on their home and way of life. Of course, for being raised into and completely immersed in a particular culture, their irrational defenses of it are understood.

On the other hand we have these ex-tribesmen a.k.a. ex-Mormons, who have managed to leave it all behind entering the wild. What did they leave for? Did they need to compensate by joining a different society? Did they return with a vengeance? Now I'm no psychoanalyst, but this is interesting to think about.

On the third hand, you have Nightlion. Again, I'm no psychoanalyst, but this is interesting to think about.

bluedream wrote:It is fascinating watching this board work. I think we have a fair share of "Mormons" and "ex-Mormons" and varying beliefs on all angles. What amazes me sometimes is how purely psychological it all is.

Taking a look from a broader perspective, we see the majority of prominent LDS people as established tribesmen, from birth unto the present, generation after generation. The very apologists of this board, I can bet, fit this bill. They seem to view threat against the claims of their church as assault on their home and way of life. Of course, for being raised into and completely immersed in a particular culture, their irrational defenses of it are understood.

On the other hand we have these ex-tribesmen a.k.a. ex-Mormons, who have managed to leave it all behind entering the wild. What did they leave for? Did they need to compensate by joining a different society? Did they return with a vengeance? Now I'm no psychoanalyst, but this is interesting to think about.

On the third hand, you have Nightlion. Again, I'm no psychoanalyst, but this is interesting to think about.

I've thought about the same things, and like you I'm no psychologist (although I plan to go into that field in my next life).

Mormonism manages to inculcate it's believers with a tremendous amount of personal investment. Any criticism of Mormonism or expression of disbelief feels like a personal attack to the TBM. They aren't defending the church so much as they are defending themselves. Some of our mopologists here carry that to the extreme by deliberately provoking personal criticism and spending virtually 100% of their efforts defending themselves from then on.

The ex-Mormon feels a similar sense of attack, knowing full well what kinds of judgments Mormons are making against him.

That said, I think we are all (TBMs and critics) here for the same reason. It's basic human nature, although we may like to argue more than most. Mormonism provides the topic, we all let our egos run free and we are all having the time of our lives.

It's all interesting to think about.

(And then you have the kitten-haters, who should be taken out and nibbled by little baby ducks)