Inconceivable wrote:I find it interesting how each group views the others.
Chapel Mormon perceptions:
1) Chapel Mormon: Just giving it their best shot. Mostly faithful to doctrine. Have had spiritual witnesses that they believe are clues to the truth of the church. Lots of subcategories within this.
2) Internet Mormons (but known more as "scholars"): Heavily educated in Mormon doctrine and can be relied upon to understand the understandable so they don't have to - Skousen, Bushman, Nibley, Andrus, DCP etc.
3) NOM's: Wolves in sheeps clothing - because they don't believe what they may appear to reflect.
4) EX-Mos: Anti Mormon, sinners. Faith destroyers. Not lost sheep anymore. Have made the incomprehensible metamorphosis from a sheep to a wolf. Or maybe they were wolves all along.
Internet Mormon perceptions:
1) Chapel Mormon: Ignorant or lazy if they don't know the history they know. Many consider themselves chapel Mormons because they refuse the concept of a distinction.
2) Internet Mormon: Is there such a thing? If there is, it is simply those that have been "trained for the ministry" or at least respected "for their much learning". Those that are truly lights to the world and even to the church. Invaluable assets to preserving the institution and integrity of the only true church on earth
3) NOM's: Many are wolves in sheeps clothing. Lukewarm at best. Whiners. Have a chance of being redeemable.
4) ExMos: Wolves
NOM's perceptions:
1) Chapel Mormon: Many would like to think they (NOM's) still have one foot at least in the foyer with these TBM's.
2) Internet Mormon: Overzealous TBM Mormons that need a reality check - need to take a chill pill.
3) NOM's: The only ones that have a bead on reality - there are really no wolves, just differing points of view.
4) ExMos: Over reacting or even over zealous in their approach. Those that have made the stupid decision to leave when "there is still so much good in the church". Have many similarities to the Internet Mormon.
ExMos Perceptions:
1) Chapel Mormon: What most used to be. TBM's, ignorant or yet unaware of the whited sepulcre called Mormonism - although sheep they are perhaps viewed as lambs to the slaughter because of what the church has deceiptfully kept from them.
2) Internet Mormon: Given up to a reprobate mind. Amoral in their approach to the past. Ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth. Judgemental, Condescending.
3) NOM's: Fence sitters or those in transition.
4) Those that chose not to believe (calling a spade a spade) and having acted upon it.
This is genius, Inconceivable! You definitely nailed it. And according to this, I definitely fall into the NOM category. LOL
Your descriptions of chapel & internet Mormons seem quite dead on.
Thank you!
An additional observation:
The only people that would rather not agree with your definitions are the internet Mormons.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THIS. If you can still post at MA&D, casually mention the word "Internet Mormon" and watch how quickly they work themselves into a rabid froth. It's truly amazing to behold.
Yeah, quite a lather.
I haven't even looked at MAD since it first came on line. I found nothing of value there. I'm here for the therapy.
by the way, thanks Liz,
You do understand what TBM's think of you if they were to be aware of your BS (Belief System)? No?
Ray A wrote:I have one last thing to say before I head off to work. I think, from what I've read, Infymus is actually probably a nice and likeable person in real life. His descriptions of family interactions, the fact that his wife is an active Mormon (in a Church he's trying to stop people joining), abounds with ironies. It not only says something about his real level of tolerance for other people's choices, it also may say something about the Internet. I know I lost it on RFM and Z , but in real life I had many Mormons friends (still do), and until late 2004 I occasionally went back to Church (and as I mentioned I taught Gospel Doctrine in 1999-2000). I was soured by interacting with an LDS poster in 2000, the one who called me a "son of perdition", and we clashed for about a year. I respected DCP since 1990, yet Z. brought out a lot of "Internet animosity".
I think it may be time for me to try to make my "Internet peace" with exmos (I might regret saying this, but I hope not). In fact, in real life, I am an ex-Mormon. This is not a fluke, an imitation, a deception. I am really an ex-Mormon. I post here, and not MADB anymore, because I'm not a TBM. I defend the Book of Mormon, but I'm willing to look at it critically too, not cynically. I defended Mormons, perhaps hypocritically because I attacked them on Z, because I realised that the source of my own anger was wrong, and I deleted my anti-angry-exmo blog (yes, it went to Hades) because I realised, as some pointed out, I'd achieve nothing by returning anger for anger. And yes, like most of us I like to think I'm always right, but I'm not. I empathise with much exmo sentiment, but not attacks on the Church, because that will achieve nothing either. I simply cannot be a TBM, and I raised five children who are no where near the Church (but they can still make that choice if they want, but I know them, and it's not going to happen). I think, in reality, all I'd really like to see is more rational discourse between Mormons and exmos. Like Richard Dawkins said of himself - I'm probably not the best one to facilitate this. I don't have the tact. I think people like Don Bradley do a much better job. And I'll put in a word for Wade Englund here too. If some of you knew Wade from Z, you'd realise how much he has changed in his approach. And of course, Liz. I could mention more, but I'm running very late now.