Why Mo's Chafe at the Chapel-Internet Distinction

[_sock puppet]

The more I have thought about Dr Shades' dichotomy, creating two categories for Mormons, one Chapel Mormons and two Internet Mormons, the more clearly it is appropriate.

In sociological terms, categorizations like this are not perfect. There are exceptions. There are outliers. But a categorization is useful if describes a significant number of the populace to which applied, and is identified by a descriptor that is either unique to that categorization, or distinguishes it from other categories being used on the same populace.

Chapel Mormons and Internet Mormons are two very useful categories, and descriptive labels. One set seems to focus their religious ideas and thinking while sitting in pews in the 'chapels' of Mormon meeting houses or classrooms. The other set seems primarily to focus their religious ideas and thinking on internet message boards about Mormonism.

This dichotomy could be useful to those in the COB in their analyses on what programs, messages, etc to tailor to those two different segments of Mormons.

But almost invariably, the Internet Mormons here at MDB chafe at the suggestion that these two descriptive titles of categories have any validity or use when it comes to considering different segments of an organization that counts its members at more than 13m.

So, why?

[_Sethbag]

You didn't offer a choice I could pick.

I think the answer to this is pretty obvious: Internet Mormonism exists because Chapel Mormonism has got all sorts of things demonstrably (by resorting to evidence) wrong that the Internet Mormons recognize are wrong, but admitting that the dichotomy exists tacitly admits that the bulk of the church membership are on the wrong side of these arguments.

And this includes the overwhelming majority, perhaps even 100% of the high-level leadership in the church. To admit to the IM/CM dichotomy they have to throw people like Elder Holland under the bus whenever Holland's chapelesque talks are discussed again.

[_sock puppet]

You didn't offer a choice I could pick.

I think the answer to this is pretty obvious: Internet Mormonism exists because Chapel Mormonism has got all sorts of things demonstrably (by resorting to evidence) wrong that the Internet Mormons recognize are wrong, but admitting that the dichotomy exists tacitly admits that the bulk of the church membership are on the wrong side of these arguments.

And this includes the overwhelming majority, perhaps even 100% of the high-level leadership in the church. To admit to the I'm/CM dichotomy they have to throw people like Elder Holland under the bus whenever Holland's chapelesque talks are discussed again.

Sorry, Sethbag. Any poll with any answers other than names of people you'd vote for pretty much runs the risk of trying to pigeon-hole people into categories that aren't a good fit.

[_Sethbag]

Yeah I know, I wasn't trying to get on your case or anything. I just think that the real reason was closer to what I indicated than any of your options.

Do you agree that the reason the IMs hate to admit the dichotomy is that to do so is to admit that the vast majority of the members and leaders in the church have got it wrong on so many issues?

[_sock puppet]

Yeah I know, I wasn't trying to get on your case or anything. I just think that the real reason was closer to what I indicated than any of your options.

Do you agree that the reason the IMs hate to admit the dichotomy is that to do so is to admit that the vast majority of the members and leaders in the church have got it wrong on so many issues?

Yes, and options B and F were inartful attempts to describe what you did a much better job of fleshing out.

[_Some Schmo]

You didn't offer a choice I could pick.

I think the answer to this is pretty obvious: Internet Mormonism exists because Chapel Mormonism has got all sorts of things demonstrably (by resorting to evidence) wrong that the Internet Mormons recognize are wrong, but admitting that the dichotomy exists tacitly admits that the bulk of the church membership are on the wrong side of these arguments.

I think it's this combined with the average mopologist being full of crap ("oh no, it doesn't exist at all, and neither does this huge elephant in the room! What are you talking about?!").

[_Dr. Shades]

I think the answer to this is pretty obvious: Internet Mormonism exists because Chapel Mormonism has got all sorts of things demonstrably (by resorting to evidence) wrong that the Internet Mormons recognize are wrong, but admitting that the dichotomy exists tacitly admits that the bulk of the church membership are on the wrong side of these arguments.

I like that explanation, Sethbag.

I also think that, within the Internet Mormons' minds, there's an extremely strong subconscious backlash against the suggestion that they're out of step with the mainstream. They've done such a careful balancing act to make it all work that they don't dare face the possibility that it's all for nothing.

[_Buffalo]

I think the answer to this is pretty obvious: Internet Mormonism exists because Chapel Mormonism has got all sorts of things demonstrably (by resorting to evidence) wrong that the Internet Mormons recognize are wrong, but admitting that the dichotomy exists tacitly admits that the bulk of the church membership are on the wrong side of these arguments.

I like that explanation, Sethbag.

I also think that, within the Internet Mormons' minds, there's an extremely strong subconscious backlash against the suggestion that they're out of step with the mainstream. They've done such a careful balancing act to make it all work that they don't dare face the possibility that it's all for nothing.

This, in a nutshell. Just look at DCP. He actually tries to tell himself that he's in the mainstream, but most active TBMs wouldn't recognize the church he believes in.

[_stemelbow]

Hey, no option for me. How sad.

I'm an active Mormon and I don't care if distinctions are made on this. I think it can be overplayed and be taken too far, but I also can see there are general differences that sometimes can be quite vague and sometimes can be quite definite. But I also recognize that from person to person there can be extensive overlap. The dichotomy has many grey areas and plenty of blurring the lines.

[_Sophocles]

I think it's because defenders don't want to acknowledge that the version of Mormonism which inspires and motivates does not stand up to intellectual scrutiny. And the version which does (attempt to) stand up to intellectual scrutiny neither inspires nor motivates.