DiscussMormonism.com

Time and time again, I listen to former Mormons on various podcasts talk about how they are still culturally Mormon. John Dehlin says that to this day, he has still never tasted alcohol. I know several ex-Mormons who still wear their garments.

There exists a place to be Mormon with other Mormons, and not have any of the problems with the Salt Lake branch. You don't have to believe the Book of Mormon is historical. You don't have to pay tithing to attend your daughter's wedding. You don't have to hate gays and lesbians.

And yet, most ex-Mormons don't seem to have any desire to even try out membership in the Community of Christ church. Is there just nothing left holding people in once the problematic elements of Mormonism are removed?

I think there is a sociological explanation here; belonging to a religious group who mirrors the values already expressed by large swaths of society (especially culturally relevant sectors), saps the motivation to stay with that religious group and put in the effort to remain distinctive.

It becomes easier to put in that effort and form a bond with your congregation if you feel that your views are in tension with or in some kind of conflict with, the broader world. It is why fundamentalist groups can spring up overnight and maintain a thriving group while more progressive organizations struggle to get 10 people to show up on Sunday.

Sure, it can be nice to hear some tepid left-of-center platitudes giftwarped in some tissue-paper spirituality when you’ve been reading a bunch of Dez-Nat garbage, but are you really going to reorient your life around a message that you can get almost anywhere? Probably not.

Drumdude, I'm not seeing you providing any support for the idea that the CoC is adrift.

That ex-SLC-LDS members don't flock to the CoC it doesn't seem to me to justify the subject of the thread.

Do you have some specific points to share that makes you think that?

malkie wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 23, 2022 2:54 am

Drumdude, I'm not seeing you providing any support for the idea that the CoC is adrift.

That ex-SLC-LDS members don't flock to the CoC it doesn't seem to me to justify the subject of the thread.

Do you have some specific points to share that makes you think that?

Although a bit dated, this Dialogue article lays out the general ideas.

I think it’s widely known that the community of Christ is not exactly thriving as much as surviving.

https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-cont ... N01_61.pdf

The Community of Christ is a great organization, but they suffer from a bit of an identity crisis, in my opinion. They are caught between Mormonism and Protestantism, having distanced themselves from some of the more distinctive parts of the Mormon tradition. Having said that, a closer look shows that in some ways different bits of that heritage have flourished in the CoC.

However, it is not clear to me what priesthood, for example, means in the CoC. I would like to hear more from those in the know on this topic. It takes more than suppressing the Mormon and emphasizing the Protestant to make things work, obviously, and it may in fact be a losing proposition altogether.

I know this is an oversimplification and not altogether fair. There is much I think they get right, but DrStak’s wisdom above cannot be easily dismissed.

drumdude wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 23, 2022 6:03 am

malkie wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 23, 2022 2:54 am

Drumdude, I'm not seeing you providing any support for the idea that the CoC is adrift.

That ex-SLC-LDS members don't flock to the CoC it doesn't seem to me to justify the subject of the thread.

Do you have some specific points to share that makes you think that?

Although a bit dated, this Dialogue article lays out the general ideas.

I think it’s widely known that the community of Christ is not exactly thriving as much as surviving.

https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-cont ... N01_61.pdf

Thanks.
Any chance you might summarize the 18 pages + 38 footnotes? I'm away from home and my big screen. Pity an old guy's failing eyesight

drumdude wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 22, 2022 6:19 pm

I know several ex-Mormons who still wear their garments.

Wait... what?

DrStakhanovite wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 22, 2022 6:35 pm

It is why fundamentalist groups can spring up overnight and maintain a thriving group while more progressive organizations struggle to get 10 people to show up on Sunday.

For better or worse, "progressives" aren't really religious anymore, and they find as much fraternal feelings with people at the pubs as they ever did within an organized "church" event.

drumdude wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 22, 2022 6:19 pm

Why is the Community of Christ adrift?

Cause their religion is pointless?