Mormonism’s moral foundation

The catch-all forum for general topics and debates. Minimal moderation. Rated PG to PG-13.
drumdude
God
Posts: 7877
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 5:29 am

Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by drumdude »

Mormons believe in at least 3 eternally existing properties of the universe:

1) Intelligences, of naturally varying intelligence. God did not create these. God is merely the smartest occurring one.
2) Matter and space time. God did not create this either. God is merely the organizer.
3) Moral laws. These exist as real eternal universal platonic ideals, like the idea of the rectangle and circle. God did not create these.

Christian morality is based around the idea that God is the foundation of morality. What is the foundation of Mormon morality? Because it is not God.

It seems like both atheism and Mormonism agree that morality is not grounded in God. Am I misunderstanding Mormon theology?
doubtingthomas
God
Posts: 2990
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2021 6:04 pm

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by doubtingthomas »

drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 9:43 pm
What is the foundation of Mormon morality?
Some mysterious eternal laws of the universe. Mormonism has a better solution for the problem of evil when compared to other religions. It is probably one of the few things of Mormonism that makes some sense.
drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 9:43 pm

It seems like both atheism and Mormonism agree that morality is not grounded in God.
It is more like nirvana. God is supposed to be an alien Buddha who achieved full awakening.
Last edited by doubtingthomas on Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"I have the type of (REAL) job where I can choose how to spend my time," says Marcus. :roll:
drumdude
God
Posts: 7877
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 5:29 am

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by drumdude »

doubtingthomas wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 9:55 pm
drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 9:43 pm
What is the foundation of Mormon morality?
Some mysterious eternal law of the universe. Mormonism has a better solution for the problem of evil when compared to other religions. It is probably one of the few things of Mormonism that makes some sense.
drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 9:43 pm

It seems like both atheism and Mormonism agree that morality is not grounded in God.
It is more like nirvana. God is supposed to be an alien Buddha who achieved full awakening.
It's the nirvana of eastern philosophy to have the individual self die and merge with the Universe? This seems at huge odds with Mormonism which is very self-centered. All of life is a test to see which caste the individual should end up in.
doubtingthomas
God
Posts: 2990
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2021 6:04 pm

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by doubtingthomas »

drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:05 pm
It's the nirvana of eastern philosophy to have the individual self die and merge with the Universe? This seems at huge odds with Mormonism which is very self-centered. All of life is a test to see which caste the individual should end up in.
It seems I don't understand Buddism.
Last edited by doubtingthomas on Sat Jan 08, 2022 8:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"I have the type of (REAL) job where I can choose how to spend my time," says Marcus. :roll:
drumdude
God
Posts: 7877
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 5:29 am

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by drumdude »

I just find it interesting that DCP never defines or defends Mormon morality, he always falls back on Christian morality.

Are there any latter-day saints, anywhere, that can actually integrate Mormon theology into Christian morality? They all just assume they're identical, when they're clearly not.
User avatar
Res Ipsa
God
Posts: 11194
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2020 6:44 pm
Location: Playing Rabbits

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by Res Ipsa »

drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 9:43 pm
Mormons believe in at least 3 eternally existing properties of the universe:

1) Intelligences, of naturally varying intelligence. God did not create these. God is merely the smartest occurring one.
2) Matter and space time. God did not create this either. God is merely the organizer.
3) Moral laws. These exist as real eternal universal platonic ideals, like the idea of the rectangle and circle. God did not create these.

Christian morality is based around the idea that God is the foundation of morality. What is the foundation of Mormon morality? Because it is not God.

It seems like both atheism and Mormonism agree that morality is not grounded in God. Am I misunderstanding Mormon theology?
I’d look in that box I kept labeled “mysteries,” but I’m not sure where I stored it. ;)
he/him
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time so that my children can live in peace.” — Thomas Paine
drumdude
God
Posts: 7877
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 5:29 am

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by drumdude »

Res Ipsa wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:45 pm
drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 9:43 pm
Mormons believe in at least 3 eternally existing properties of the universe:

1) Intelligences, of naturally varying intelligence. God did not create these. God is merely the smartest occurring one.
2) Matter and space time. God did not create this either. God is merely the organizer.
3) Moral laws. These exist as real eternal universal platonic ideals, like the idea of the rectangle and circle. God did not create these.

Christian morality is based around the idea that God is the foundation of morality. What is the foundation of Mormon morality? Because it is not God.

It seems like both atheism and Mormonism agree that morality is not grounded in God. Am I misunderstanding Mormon theology?
I’d look in that box I kept labeled “mysteries,” but I’m not sure where I stored it. ;)
That cop-out was already claimed by Catholics, Mormons can't use it too :lol:
User avatar
Res Ipsa
God
Posts: 11194
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2020 6:44 pm
Location: Playing Rabbits

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by Res Ipsa »

drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:04 pm
Res Ipsa wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:45 pm


I’d look in that box I kept labeled “mysteries,” but I’m not sure where I stored it. ;)
That cop-out was already claimed by Catholics, Mormons can't use it too :lol:
Oh, did I say mysteries? Uh, I meant, uh, Deep Doctrine. Yeah. That’s the ticket! :mrgreen:
he/him
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time so that my children can live in peace.” — Thomas Paine
huckelberry
God
Posts: 3997
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:48 pm

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by huckelberry »

drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:23 pm
I just find it interesting that DCP never defines or defends Mormon morality, he always falls back on Christian morality.

Are there any latter-day saints, anywhere, that can actually integrate Mormon theology into Christian morality? They all just assume they're identical, when they're clearly not.
One could try, the order that makes human relationships into love is what makes God God. This proposal could (might?) fit both Mormon thinking and more traditional Christian thinking.
Alphus and Omegus
Area Authority
Posts: 636
Joined: Thu May 13, 2021 8:41 pm

Re: Mormonism’s moral foundation

Post by Alphus and Omegus »

drumdude wrote:
Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:23 pm
I just find it interesting that DCP never defines or defends Mormon morality, he always falls back on Christian morality.

Are there any latter-day saints, anywhere, that can actually integrate Mormon theology into Christian morality? They all just assume they're identical, when they're clearly not.
They absolutely are not. Mormonism is so philosophically and theologically incoherent though that born-in-the-church members with the skills to at least attempt the task eventually realize it and leave.

The entire notion of God could even theoretically cease to be God (Alma 42) is a total abrogation of Christian moral philosophy and cosmology. But instead of excising that portion (as he did with the original wording about God being the Father and the Son), Smith doubled down on it with the idea of eternal progression and divine reproduction.

At the end of the day, however, it would seem that divine command theory still underlays LDS moral theory. Elohim became a God after living up to Grandpa God's standards. But someone, somewhere, and somewhen had to jump start the "plan of happiness" and it wasn't a bunch of Hindu turtles.

So perhaps that's why Peterson is so wantonly cribbing from real theologians' homework.
Post Reply