Introduction: The major aim of writing this article is to display various perspectives on Mormonism’s most controversial issues. Herein, we share the Orthodox, Apologetic, Critical, and Progressive viewpoints together with resources helpful to the reader at the end of each chapter, that the reader may explore each issue further.
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My effort with the work above was to create a document that could be shared without being seen as anti or negative, cover the major issues so as to expose the problematic issues in a way that a loved one could hear it and also grasp by the end the messiness of Mormonism and hence be more empathetic to the struggle. I also wanted to provide the information in a very short consolidated way while leaving a breadcrumb trail into the deeper dives and down the rabbit hole of Mormonism. I welcome any feedback.... positive or negative.
I'm puzzled by what you've labeled the "Progressive" perspective. For example, I could describe the "Orthodox" perspective as what is taught in Sunday School classes or other church instructional manuals. The Critic perspective is clearly the perspective of one who rejects the fundamental truth claims of the LDS church. The Apologetic perspective is the reaction to the critics. But can you write a couple sentence description of the "Progressive" perspective?
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.”
― Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1951
Res Ipsa wrote:I'm puzzled by what you've labeled the "Progressive" perspective. For example, I could describe the "Orthodox" perspective as what is taught in Sunday School classes or other church instructional manuals. The Critic perspective is clearly the perspective of one who rejects the fundamental truth claims of the LDS church. The Apologetic perspective is the reaction to the critics. But can you write a couple sentence description of the "Progressive" perspective?
One who validates the problematic issues in Mormonism but who still finding value for a host of reasons has worked to reframe their belief differently. Thus allowing them to set aside or even throw out the bad while holding the good and remaining in the community.
Res Ipsa wrote:I'm puzzled by what you've labeled the "Progressive" perspective. For example, I could describe the "Orthodox" perspective as what is taught in Sunday School classes or other church instructional manuals. The Critic perspective is clearly the perspective of one who rejects the fundamental truth claims of the LDS church. The Apologetic perspective is the reaction to the critics. But can you write a couple sentence description of the "Progressive" perspective?
One who validates the problematic issues in Mormonism but who still finding value for a host of reasons has worked to reframe their belief differently. Thus allowing them to set aside or even throw out the bad while holding the good and remaining in the community.
Thanks. That makes sense. I'm assuming the Givens' approach would fall into the Progressive Perspective?
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.”
― Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1951
Introduction: The major aim of writing this article is to display various perspectives on Mormonism’s most controversial issues. Herein, we share the Orthodox, Apologetic, Critical, and Progressive viewpoints together with resources helpful to the reader at the end of each chapter, that the reader may explore each issue further.
=====================
My effort with the work above was to create a document that could be shared without being seen as anti or negative, cover the major issues so as to expose the problematic issues in a way that a loved one could hear it and also grasp by the end the messiness of Mormonism and hence be more empathetic to the struggle. I also wanted to provide the information in a very short consolidated way while leaving a breadcrumb trail into the deeper dives and down the rabbit hole of Mormonism. I welcome any feedback.... positive or negative.
It's a great summary of some of the issues, but I'm not sure there is any way of presenting controversial Mormon topics in a way that is not viewed as anti-mormon by typical TBMs. When I perused your balanced approach to the issues, all I could think was there is absolutely zero chance a TBM would read past the first critical bullet point. Even the LDS church hides their essays from TBMs, and those essays only provide the apologetic argument. This would be a great resource for investigators, non-members, and those members who are ready to truly start investigating issues of the church.
"We have taken up arms in defense of our liberty, our property, our wives, and our children; we are determined to preserve them, or die." - Captain Moroni - 'Address to the Inhabitants of Canada' 1775
