Patapologetics: The Answer

[_Kishkumen]

The root problem of LDS apologetics is its implicit insistence that there must be a single right answer, one that is more rational or better reflects the evidence. This leads, of course, to inevitable contention and dissatisfaction. Members’ expectations and hopes are raised only to be dashed. Not having found the answer, or despairing of finding a good one, members leave the Church, disappear, or go “inactive.” Fights rage on and egos are stroked or decimated as new theories are forwarded and picked apart.

What is lacking here—what would truly liberate all from the tyranny of “the answer”—is the serious play, the spoudogeloion, if you will, of Patapologetics. Patapologetics is the art of generating endless explanations that are unbound by false expectations of a tyrannical rationality. Patapologists would let their creativity and imagination bound freely as they endlessly spin off novel and delightful theories to build upon and explain the Mormon cosmos.

The LDS Church does not endorse a specific theory of Book of Mormon geography, and though this prevents the worst forms of mental coercion, it nevertheless misleads people into thinking a superior theory must exist or that it would be desirable to have such a thing. A far better thing would be the endorsement of the act of creating Book of Mormon geographies in endless variety. Imagine if every congregation had the challenge of setting the Book of Mormon in their own environment! Why not have a yearly competition to choose the most creative and compelling Book of Mormon geography?

This kind of practice should be expanded to all facets of LDS life. LDS cosmology, theology, anthropology, daimonology, and every other manner of -ology could become the joyous enterprise of LDS people everywhere! Why not see who can produce the best new scripture? There is no need to give it authority or to live by the revelation of others. The act of writing scripture is, itself, a virtue, and the least derivative efforts should rise to the top of the rankings. Our own Mormon Jesus should have won many prizes already.

The key to Mormon salvation—saving Mormons, saving Mormonism, and saving us from Mormonism—is to be serious about being unserious about it all. Religion as/is performance art. Being seriously unserious is the purest form of reverence. Being unseriously serious or seriously serious is blasphemous or hubristic. The Patapologist devotes her or his efforts to cultivating seriously the unserious to stave off the forces of inhumanity and arrogance.

This is not a prescription or a fact.

[_Maksutov]

Brilliant, Reverend. And I hope you will be expanding on this. Mormonism seems to me a skeleton key for deconstructing religion and perhaps other things.

When I first saw the subject I wondered if you had found echoes of Joseph Smith in Alfred Jarry.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Someone should form an un-correlation committee. What you're describing is what Mormonism felt like to me growing up in the 70's and 80's. It felt richer, more expansive, and faithfully vibrant. This is what's sorely needed in the faith.

BRING BACK ROAD SHOWS.

- Doc

[Guest]

Brilliant, Reverend. And I hope you will be expanding on this. Mormonism seems to me a skeleton key for deconstructing religion and perhaps other things.

When I first saw the subject I wondered if you had found echoes of Joseph Smith in Alfred Jarry.

Such a task, dearest Mak, is for the most dedicated Patapologists. But, yes, surely one will find echoes of Joseph Smith in Jarry and Jarry in Smith. Countless theories of this kind are long overdue.

[_Kishkumen]

Someone should form an un-correlation committee. What you're describing is what Mormonism felt like to me growing up in the 70's and 80's. It felt richer, more expansive, and faithfully vibrant. This is what's sorely needed in the faith.

BRING BACK ROAD SHOWS.

- Doc

Road shows are the highest form of the mysteries of Mormonism, more sacred by far than the endowment. The end of road shows was the end of a vibrant faith and true religiosity among Mormons.

[_Kishkumen]

“Every member a Patapologist.” ~ High Poobah G. Plimpton Rorry

[_Kishkumen]

“Lengthen your digression.” ~ Under-Viceroy Shrimpton L. Plebbers

[_Kishkumen]

“Choose the rib cage!” ~ Junior Presbyter C. Bovus Hammer

[_Kishkumen]

“Stay, fray, and olay,”

~ The true order of silent exclamations. Only revealed on penalty of free meals for life at Wendy’s.

[_candygal]

I love your post Kish...

That being said, it would be a kinder world just to admit..on both sides...."I don't know".