The thing is, the things you mention are quite common to other faiths/religions, perhaps even all. Oh wait, that's the same with nearly everything mentioned so far. With that, i don't think religious faith is in trouble, per se. I'm just trying to say what I perceive as something that causes me concerning my religion.
I think I was born in the wrong generation. Mine is so staid, so sure they are right, so completely full of the BYU attitude. Surely our children will do better, be better people.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.
harmony wrote:I think I was born in the wrong generation. Mine is so staid, so sure they are right, so completely full of the BYU attitude. Surely our children will do better, be better people.
You know, not all of us BYU grads are smug and have an attitude. Just saying.
harmony wrote:I think I was born in the wrong generation. Mine is so staid, so sure they are right, so completely full of the BYU attitude. Surely our children will do better, be better people.
You know, not all of us BYU grads are smug and have an attitude. Just saying.
Not all Mormons are unkind, elitist, arrogant jerks. Just enough to ruin all the rest of our reputations.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.
stemelbow wrote: But to me the biggest threat to the Church are the arrogant, self-righteous, blatantly hypocritical jerks who I tend to find at church from time to time.
I am not sure about this. They have existed in the church for as long as there has been a church, but they also exist in other groups as well. I would agree with some others that the internet is the greatest threat to the church only becuase of so much information available at a touch of a button, and so much evidence against the church's truth claims. Now I would say the threat may not be so much about the church's survival but it's status quo.
Runtu
I think the biggest threat is apathy. I hear from a lot of people that the church is becoming less relevant in their lives, less of a community.
I thought this as well long before I realized the church was not true. I think the church has really hurt itself by cutting many of it's social programs and activities over the years. Any organization that has a healthy amount of social programs and activities for it's members I think tends to fair much better then those who do not.
harmony wrote:I think I was born in the wrong generation. Mine is so staid, so sure they are right, so completely full of the BYU attitude. Surely our children will do better, be better people.
You know, not all of us BYU grads are smug and have an attitude. Just saying.
I think there is a triangulation effect that the first significant signs of are now being felt.
Factor one, information availability. Compared to what has become available, readily, in the last 10 years, members and investigators were virtually in the dark for the first 160 years of the Mormon Church.
Factor two, apathy as Runtu pointed out. However, I would refine it just a bit. Life is becoming more demanding due to relatively recent technology developments, and expanding interests that can now more easily be explored and satisfied, putting a larger demand on time. Church is getting pinched out, but if there was greater interest in theology, then it would be a priority and other things get aced out of busy schedules. So we're back at apathy with a twist, 'I don't have the time for it anymore'.
Factor three, financially it is becoming too demanding. Am I going to pay the mortgage or tithing? Earlier, members did not have to make the choice. Now, many are facing that very choice. If I can't pay tithing, then I am not as worthy and good member, so maybe I'll just stop going until I get passed the rough patch.
sock puppet wrote:Factor three, financially it is becoming too demanding.
Especially when they waste it.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.