Why Mo's Chafe at the Chapel-Internet Distinction

[_Aristotle Smith]

I answered "E" for a simple reason. Internet Mormonism exists because the LDS church has defined itself as being of necessity a unitary group, under a unitary authority. Internet Mormonism seeks to maintain that belief at the expense of (attempting to) jettison a unitary doctrine.

If the LDS church were an average protestant denomination, there would be no such thing as Internet Protestantism/Mormonism, the Internet Mormons would have all packed up and left a long time ago, as there is no need to maintain a unitary group or a unitary authority.

If the LDS church were Judaism, there would be no such thing as Internet Judaism/Mormonism, because Judaism doesn't have a unitary doctrine or a unitary authority, culture and tradition are much more prominent there in keeping Jews together.

If the LDS church were Catholicism or Orthodoxy, there would be no such thing as Internet Catholicism/Mormonism because it is expected that scholars help define doctrine, defend the faith, and interpret it for changing times. Plus, the Catholic church has lessened its exclusivity claims over time.

[_bcspace]

E - I am active Mormon and I think that most adult and active members are aware of most the criticisms and apologetics on most issues .

Holy crap, bcspace! You're not serious, are you?

Yes I am. I've never been to a ward or stake where most of these issues weren't discussed enough to make me feel like most active LDS didn't have a handle on most of the main issues, including the Book of Abraham, Adam God, Book of Mormon anachronisms, plural marriage (a gimme), etc. Aplogetics against other christian antiMormons is especially well-known and understood.

[Guest]

Plus, the Catholic church has lessened its exclusivity claims over time.

It would be nice if Mormonism did the same...along with one or two other denominations.

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

I've never been to a ward or stake where most of these issues weren't discussed enough to make me feel like most active LDS didn't have a handle on most of the main issues, including the Book of Abraham, Adam God, Book of Mormon anachronisms, plural marriage (a gimme), etc. Aplogetics against other christian antiMormons is especially well-known and understood.

That settles it. You are either lying or you are not a Mormon.

[_sock puppet]

plural marriage (a gimme)

a give you?

It was a 'give' to JSJr's libido.

[_RockSlider]

Interesting, when I was an iron rod'er, but a well studied one on old school (pre-internet Mormon if you will) I would have voted B. Now being a heathen, I voted G.

It always surprises me how vehemently apologist deny this … it is so obvious.

[_moksha]

Where uniformity of thought is valued, who would readily admit that their own thinking, by address non-faith promoting history and countervailing ideas, has been altered? Simply drawing a wider circle to include themselves might be problematic.

[_selek]

E - I am active Mormon and I think that most adult and active members are aware of most the criticisms and apologetics on most issues .

Holy crap, bcspace! You're not serious, are you?

Yes I am. I've never been to a ward or stake where most of these issues weren't discussed enough to make me feel like most active LDS didn't have a handle on most of the main issues, including the Book of Abraham, Adam God, Book of Mormon anachronisms, plural marriage (a gimme), etc. Aplogetics against other christian antiMormons is especially well-known and understood.

I was an active believing Mormon in at least 6 states over 28 years, including Utah. I was a seminary graduate. I was a well-read missionary. I studied LDS cannon and church-published books. I graduated from BYU with 14 credit hours of religion, including Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham and Church History courses.

I was not aware of ANY of these things until after I became inactive and started looking into Mormonism with a doubtful mind.

The fact that the Book of Abraham texts were found in the late 60's never came up - not once! Joseph Smith's polygamy was never discussed. The problems with the Book of Mormon were never discussed.

Which LDS church do you attend? It sure as hell isn't the one I believed in.

[_sock puppet]

E - I am active Mormon and I think that most adult and active members are aware of most the criticisms and apologetics on most issues .

Holy crap, bcspace! You're not serious, are you?

Yes I am. I've never been to a ward or stake where most of these issues weren't discussed enough to make me feel like most active LDS didn't have a handle on most of the main issues, including the Book of Abraham, Adam God, Book of Mormon anachronisms, plural marriage (a gimme), etc. Aplogetics against other christian antiMormons is especially well-known and understood.

I was an active believing Mormon in at least 6 states over 28 years, including Utah. I was a seminary graduate. I was a well-read missionary. I studied LDS cannon and church-published books. I graduated from BYU with 14 credit hours of religion, including Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham and Church History courses.

I was not aware of ANY of these things until after I became inactive and started looking into Mormonism with a doubtful mind.

The fact that the Book of Abraham texts were found in the late 60's never came up - not once! Joseph Smith's polygamy was never discussed. The problems with the Book of Mormon were never discussed.

Which LDS church do you attend? It sure as hell isn't the one I believed in.

I too was an active believing Mormon in at least 6 states, including Utah, but only for 26 years. I was a seminary graduate. I was a well-read missionary. I studied LDS cannon and church-published books. I graduated from BYU with 28 credit hours of religion, including Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham and Church History courses.

I was not aware of ANY of these things until I started looking after my mission, and became became inactive.

The fact that the Book of Abraham texts were found in the late 60's never came up - not once! Joseph Smith's polygamy was never discussed. The problems with the Book of Mormon were never discussed.

bcspace, which LDS church do you attend? It sure as hell isn't the one I believed in.