DiscussMormonism.com

Another apostate (read Democrat) attempts to inject blasphemy into our beloved church:

http://mostprogressiveorganization.blogspot.com/

By “progressive” I mean an organization that is (a) high in egalitarianism, broad leadership participation, contributions of all members, lifelong learning and education, compassion and service to others, tolerance toward others, and what is called “abundant community” – and (b) low in inequality, hierarchy, class distinctions, resistance to new ideas and learning, self-centeredness, intolerance, and separateness.

Indeed, the priesthood roles of men probably contribute to the egalitarianism and gender balance by encouraging men to be more religiously active than would otherwise be the case, given the fact documented by numerous studies that women are more typically religious than are men.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGH!!!!

It's the old "men need to feel more special than the women in order to participate" line.

Holy crap that was seriously delusional. Unbelievably so.

(a) high in egalitarianism

Is that why we must wait to take the sacrament until the presiding leader has first taken it? Or why we must stand when an apostle or other GA enters the chapel? Is that why anyone in a leadership capacity with the title of President is supposed to be referred to as President so-and-so, all the time?

broad leadership participation

As long as you have a penis there is some truth to this, as long as you have no facial hair, and wear the "right" color of shirt.

contributions of all members

Certainly contributions of all members are accepted, in the monetary sense.

lifelong learning and education

So long as what you are learning isn't something that contradicts church teachings. Ask members how excited they are about reading more about the origins of some of their own holy scriptures, like, say, the Book of Abraham?

compassion and service to others

As part of trying to convert, reactivate, or retain them in the church, then yes.

tolerance toward others

ROFLMAO.

and what is called “abundant community” – and (b) low in inequality, hierarchy, class distinctions, resistance to new ideas and learning, self-centeredness, intolerance, and separateness.

Low in inequality? I'm not sure that's entirely accurate. As far as hierarchy goes, the church is about as hierarchical as it gets unfortunately. Class distinctions? Ok, I'll buy that mostly, except for the GAs, who are decidely of a different "class" within the church.

And low in separateness? Ok, maybe since the church seems to be jettisoning a lot of its old-time beliefs in order to fit more comfortably with mainstream Protestantism, the separateness is slowly being worn away. But historically this church has been as separate as it's possible to be, to the point where in the past the church would advise its members to separate themselves from whereever they lived and move to Utah to "gather with the Saints in Zion" or whatever.

I would be inclined to agree with the premise of the article but would offer that it is because the Mormon Church is run like the business that it is rather than as purely a church organization. The fact that the hierarchy can issue directives that they know will be followed with slavish devotion does not hurt matters either. I think the very reasons for Mormon Church success are chief among the reasons the disaffected and outside critics find it so appalling. There are plenty of similarly progressive organizations inside the world of multi level marketing. The parallels are obvious, I think.

Depends on what you are progressing to. The Celestial Kingdom? Sure.

bcspace wrote:Depends on what you are progressing to. The Celestial Kingdom? Sure.

Yes, because nothing says "preparation for godhood" like business suits, white shirts, boring meetings, and ignorance.

Depends on what you are progressing to. The Celestial Kingdom? Sure.

Yes, because nothing says "preparation for godhood" like business suits, white shirts, boring meetings, and ignorance.

By that I assume you mean modesty, charity, and intelligence.

Sethbag wrote:Yes, because nothing says "preparation for godhood" like business suits, white shirts, boring meetings, and ignorance.

bcspace wrote:By that I assume you mean modesty, charity, and intelligence.

What kind of delusion must one be laboring under to interpret "business suits, white shirts, boring meetings, and ignorance" as "modesty, charity, and intelligence"?

On what planet does:
- business suit, white shirt = modesty
- boring meetings = charity, and (wait for it)
- ignorance = intelligence?

Come on, BC. You are slipping - badly.

DrW wrote:What kind of delusion must one be laboring under to interpret "business suits, white shirts, boring meetings, and ignorance" as "modesty, charity, and intelligence"?

You already know the answer: bcspace's particular brand of delusion. This is the same delusion that says denying priesthood blessings because of race isn't racist, the United Order was a free-market system, and "no death before the Fall" means there was death before the Fall, except it was outside the garden.

On what planet does:
- business suit, white shirt = modesty
- boring meetings = charity, and (wait for it)
- ignorance = intelligence?

Come on, BC. You are slipping - badly.

He knows what he is doing, though one would think that his Orwellian restructuring of reality would clue him in to the silliness of his positions.