silentkid wrote:Those are great questions. The only one I'd consider leaving off of a Facebook quiz is the Rodney Meldrum one. I don't think there are many members who know who he is. If I didn't participate on this forum, I'd have no idea.
Maybe a link can be added from his name to his website(s)?
The thing is, if it's not precisely 20 questions, then the results won't be rounded off to neat 5% increments.
"Finally, for your rather strange idea that miracles are somehow linked to the amount of gay sexual gratification that is taking place would require that primitive Christianity was launched by gay sex, would it not?"
silentkid wrote:Those are great questions. The only one I'd consider leaving off of a Facebook quiz is the Rodney Meldrum one. I don't think there are many members who know who he is. If I didn't participate on this forum, I'd have no idea.
Maybe a link can be added from his name to his website(s)?
The thing is, if it's not precisely 20 questions, then the results won't be rounded off to neat 5% increments.
Typically a Facebook quiz has several classifications that the taker may fit into based on their answers. I propose that, based on Dr. Shades’ method of scoring, there be 5 classifications of Mormons (with regard to this quiz). At the extremes are Chapel Mormon (+100 score) and Internet Mormon (-100 score). Within this spectrum are Overflow Mormons; a.k.a. Back Row Mormons (+75 and -25 score), Foyer Mormons (+50 and -50 score), and Computer Savvy Mormons (-75 and +25 score).
To go along with the score, Facebook quizzes usually have a description. This is where I would like some help. I would like to formulate a short paragraph to accompany each score. As you can see below I am struggling to write these paragraphs. Please help me populate these paragraphs. Some of the text I have written may need to be shifted to other descriptions. Some of the descriptions may need more text. I suspect there may be some statements that belong in more than one description. Please take a look and help me out here.
For example:
Chapel Mormon – You sit at the feet of the prophets. You have enough faith to realize that every word from the pulpit is the gospel. You wonder at the lack of faith in other Mormons. You realize that sometimes God tests our faith, but he loves us and will give us the answers in the next life. You are on your way to eternal progression in the Celestial Kingdom.
Overflow Mormon – You are a devout Mormon that has graduated from the milk to the meat. You have come across some issues within the church that don’t quite make sense, but have the faith to realize that God is in control through his prophets. You struggle with some of the things you have discovered about church history and doctrine, but you are enduring to the end. You are going to the Celestial Kingdom, even if only as a servant.
Foyer Mormon – You are a believing Mormon that has placed several church issues on the shelf. You are nervous about what these issues mean so you are taking a break from worrying about it and attending church from the foyer. Besides, it is good for the kids. You plan on getting gung-ho about the gospel later. But for now, addressing your concerns is too stressful. However, don’t wait too long, or your luke warm temperature may cause the Lord to spit you out of his mouth.
Computer Savvy Mormon – You are a believing Mormon that is aware of much of the less than flattering parts of Mormon history and doctrine. Your shelf of questions is bowing under the stress. You spend much time online arguing with Chapel Mormons, exmormons, people of other religions, and heretics. You believe that the prophets are men of good character who were doing the best job they can. But you allow them to make mistakes, even of a doctrinal nature. You are most likely going to go the Terrestrial Kingdom although you believe you are going to the Celestial Kingdom.
Internet Mormon – You are a believing Mormon that is aware of all of the “warts”. You have studied the good and the bad and still have the faith to believe. You consider yourself an apologist, and may even be considered a pro. You are convinced of the truthfulness of the church even if it means discounting the statements of the prophets. You perform a valuable service when it comes to shielding other Mormons from the less useful parts of Mormon history. You are on the front lines. However, be cautious, your exposure to all of the facts makes you susceptible to apostasy.
"Sire, I had no need of that hypothesis" - Laplace
I'm not entirely comfortable with adding new categories along the spectrum, because then the very concept of a spectrum is watered-down and the categories become more difficult to memorize and identify.
I propose the following categories with 20% increments:
Hardcore Chapel Mormon (81-100%) Wavering Chapel Mormon (61-80%) Undecided (41-60%) Wavering Internet Mormon (21-40%) Hardcore Internet Mormon (0-20%)
I would also totally redo the descriptions, but I'll have to get back to that later. Specifically, I would drop any mention about which kingdom anyone is going to, since they all think they're going to the Celestial Kingdom and resent any implication otherwise. I'd also drop any mention of the potential for apostasy, since each category considers itself the "true" Mormons.
(Also, instead of "Wavering," perhaps you could substitute the words "Ballpark" or "Half-hearted.")
Your thoughts?
"Finally, for your rather strange idea that miracles are somehow linked to the amount of gay sexual gratification that is taking place would require that primitive Christianity was launched by gay sex, would it not?"
I guess I was trying to make it more humorous than serious. As you are the originator of these distinctions I can understand why you would not want it bastardized in this way. I anxiously await your input on the descriptions that accompany each scoring classification.
"Sire, I had no need of that hypothesis" - Laplace
I edited my post after you'd added your reply, it looks like.
Please see my amended post wherein I suggest 20% increments for each category.
"Finally, for your rather strange idea that miracles are somehow linked to the amount of gay sexual gratification that is taking place would require that primitive Christianity was launched by gay sex, would it not?"
You know what? I think your own descriptions are good enough to only require tweaking (with the exception of the "Wavering Internet Mormon" category), not complete overhauls. And, upon further thought, I'm leaning toward "Half-hearted" as a better choice than "Wavering," since such people might nevertheless be quite firm in their mode of belief.
THEREFORE, I suggest tweaking your descriptions as follows:
Hardcore Chapel Mormon – You sit at the feet of the prophets. You have enough faith to realize that every word from the pulpit is the gospel. You may wonder at the lack of faith in other Mormons. You realize that sometimes God tests our faith, but he loves us and will give us the answers in the next life. You recognize the folly of relying on "the arm of flesh."
Half-hearted Chapel Mormon – You are a devout Mormon that has graduated from the milk to the meat. You have come across some issues within the church that don’t quite make sense, but have the faith to realize that God is in control through his prophets. You struggle with some of the things you have discovered about church history and doctrine, but you are enduring to the end.
Undecided: - You haven't worried very much about the finer points of the church's history and doctrine. Mormonism is your culture and your identity, and that's good enough for you. You don't see any need to stress over the particulars.
Half-hearted Internet Mormon – You are a believing Mormon who is aware of certain conflicts between science and religion, or perhaps you have encountered anti-Mormon information. You have found a way to harmonize these conflicts to your own satisfaction, but nevertheless don't advertise your way of thinking to others. You see no reason to argue with anti-Mormons or with more gung-ho believers. You believe that the prophets are men of good character who are doing the best job they can. As such, you allow them to make mistakes, even of a doctrinal nature.
Hardcore Internet Mormon – You are a believing Mormon who is aware of all of the “warts.” You have studied the good and the bad and still have the faith to believe. You consider yourself an apologist, and may even be considered a pro. You are convinced of the truthfulness of the church even if it means discounting the statements of the prophets. You perform a valuable service when it comes to shielding other Mormons from the less useful parts of Mormon history. You are on the front lines and probably have no problem defending the church, and your beliefs, in front of an audience, whether by the electronic, the printed, or the spoken word.
If you have any further ideas, let's hash them out.
"Finally, for your rather strange idea that miracles are somehow linked to the amount of gay sexual gratification that is taking place would require that primitive Christianity was launched by gay sex, would it not?"
Why are there no questions on blacks/priesthood and polygamy?
Was polygamy doctrinally practiced by the LDS church to care for the widows and surplus of women in Utah who needed husbands?
Last edited by Anonymous on Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Happiness is the object and design of our existence... That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another." Joseph Smith