What is the point of the new Mormon philosophy of MG?

[Guest]

In another thread dealing with the letter to a CES student, MG was talking about how great people like Adam Miller and are because they are creating this new philosophy from which a Mormon can approach their faith. MG said something like, the Church can't control what you think or something like that......

I would submit that the Church never cared what MG or any other Mormon actually thinks. The church only cares about what you do and say as a member. What good is overlaying all of this Buddhist and French philosophy on to Mormonism when at the end of the day, the Church does not allow you to change your behavior. MG, there is no question you are a thoughtful Mormon but what actual changes has your enlightened view of Mormonism got you? Do you pay tithing differently? Do you not have a temple recommend? Do you go every other Sunday and spend the other Sundays with your family in nature? Are you steering your kids on a different path than the very specific on the Church has laid out for them? Are you free to talk about your beliefs in gospel doctrine and to the bishop? Maybe you are in one of those apologist wards where everybody is informed and cool about church history and doctrine.

What is all of this talk and thought about the Church actually getting you? Because when push comes to shove, you wind up behaving just like any other tbm?

I apologize for the title of the OP.

[_robuchan]

Can't speak for mentalgymnast, but I think that's exactly the point for mg, Adam Miller, and the rest of this NOM type breed. The doing is what's right about the church. So they would probably say, they gladly go to church, pay tithing, go to temple etc, because they find great joy and satisfaction from those things.

[_Sanctorian]

It's a good point. If you secretly love beer* and realize that drinking beer won't keep you from the Celestial Kingdom, but you don't drink beer because you are trying to keep up an appearance that you don't drink beer because the church says so, that would make you the church's bitch.

*substitute beer for any "sin"

[Guest]

Thanks Lloyd!

[_Lloyd Dobler]

Right. I just don't now what the actual difference is regarding these new sophisticated beliefs and the beliefs of a true blue Mormon. If you are not actually changing what you do and what you say or how you look or dress or what movies you watch or the kind of sex you have or whatever....I mean what is left? I really don't know. It does not seem like the Adam Miller approach would perfectly translate to tbm behavior in every way. MG, have you changed anything about what you do and say in relation to the church since adopting the Givens/Miller approach? Has your new philosophy changed your life in any way besides in your mind?

[Guest]

True Mormons will do and say exactly what the Church wants them to do and say.
Obedience is the pinnacle of Mormonism.

In 1977 you were expected to maintain belief that God wanted Black people discriminated against.
In 2014 you are expected to believe God had nothing to do with the discrimination of Black people and it was simply Prophets of the Church being racist and leading the Church astray, whilst simultaneously believing that you can always trust the living Prophet.

If you can do things like that then yes, you* are the Church's lackey.

*'you' doesn't specifically mean MG, whom I suspect will take this thread with a large pinch of salt, as well he should.

[_Lloyd Dobler]

The title of the OP is unnecessary and is part of the reason we have problems keeping people around here, like MG, who are willing to even engage.

Can't we at least show him the same respect he does us?

If MG says that the subject title is offensive to him, then I will change it. I honestly did not think it would bug him. Personally, I think the title gets to the heart of the issue. I'm tired of people like Miller acting like you can just have this new philosophy with no consequences to what those beliefs actually mean on the ground, in a ward.

[_Lloyd Dobler]

True Mormons will do and say exactly what the Church wants them to do and say.
Obedience is the pinnacle of Mormonism.

In 1977 you were expected to maintain belief that God wanted Black people discriminated against.
In 2014 you are expected to believe God had nothing to do with the discrimination of Black people and it was simply Prophets of the Church being racist and leading the Church astray, whilst simultaneously believing that you can always trust the living Prophet.

If you can do things like that then yes, you* are the Church's bitch.

*'you' doesn't specifically mean MG, whom I suspect will take this thread with a large pinch of salt, as well he should.

That is my point Bazooka. I think MG fancies himself some sophisticated and evolved Mormon when he is for all practical purposes, no different than your average correlated tbm.

[_Tim the Enchanter]

[ I think MG fancies himself some sophisticated and evolved Mormon when he is for all practical purposes, no different than your average correlated tbm.

Obviously I can't speak for MG, but I don't think he fancies himself as more sophisticated or evolved than the TBM's in the seats all around him. I think he fancies himself as different, but don't think this necessarily means he feels above them.

[Guest]

I think MG fancies himself some sophisticated and evolved Mormon when he is for all practical purposes, no different than your average correlated tbm.

Not at all.
By virtue of his screen name you should identify that MG knows full well how untenable some of the Church doctrines are.
He readily accepts that he utilises a mental shelf in order that he maintain a belief in Mormonism.
That he recognises this is a big plus in terms of how I view him.