MG wrote:I mean, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that church doctrine and policy in regards to engaging in intimate homosexual practices or behaviors isn’t going to change.
Actually, I believe that church doctrine and policy regarding "homosexual practices" will change.
The Roman Emperor Diocletian persecuted Christianity until 316 CE, in 325 CE came council of Nicea, and by 400 CE, Christianity was the only game in town. I wonder if pagans in 315 CE thought that within just a few years, Christianity would go from persecuted to tolerated to promoted, and then shortly thereafter, to the most powerful religion in the world?
With Mormonism, there are these long arcs of doctrinal inertia corresponding to the long lifespans of the leaders at the top. Of course these depression-era conservitosauruses aren't ever going to change rock-bottom fundamentals in their policies on gays. I agree with you there.
But the rising generation doesn't share these prejudices. It's not intuitive to them that homosexuality is a great sin, it's quite the opposite. Mormon doctrine has changed significantly, even since I was a TBM. Yes, Mormons tend to believe Mormon doctrine is this immutable block of revelation that can never change, but the immutable block itself has changed dramatically. They just believe, within their time-slice, that what they have is the immutable one true doctrine and it was always that way. Even you argue for radical flexibility in Mormon teachings. Of course, you do this to accommodate your own unique agenda, but you're not the only Mormon flexibility specialist with an agenda to work in. The Brethren have lost touch with doctrine in general and are most concerned with the financial bottom line. And,
Salt Lake City and the Church, has for whatever reason been a huge attraction for gays.
It's my belief that within 50 years, the Church will not only accept gay marriage, but Mormonism will be a distinctively gay religion. It will be the default religion for same-sex families. It will be a concentration of gay political and financial power.
Now, do I want this to happen? Not really. I'm an atheist and I think it would be better for the Mormon church to just fade away into cultural memory. But, what I want to happen and what I think will happen are rarely the same thing, unfortunately.
