Too TBM

[Guest]

When Dr. Bushman's book "Rough Stone Rolling" came out I had an image in my mind of him the doctor with a large syringe full of the words that describe real Mormon history and just a bit shooting out, his back to the viewer as a line of young primary children snake out in front of him all waiting to be inoculated.

The "omission era" plan backfired due to the great and abominable whore of truth(Google).

It seems the new "disclosure enough" era is rolling out.

When kids tell their teachers that it seems weird that Smith was looking at glowing rocks in a hat, their teachers will back handed bitch slap them with the Bible with some of it's strange and physically impossible stories.

*shrugs*, I am out and so are my kids. Seems we luckily slipped out between the eras.

[_MCB]

their teachers will back handed bitch slap them with the Bible with some of it's strange and physically impossible stories.

And that is why Spalding included logical inconsistencies in his parody of the Bible. Sigh.

[_Lucinda]

Themis wrote:
and I think many members would move towards being NOMness which could have dramatic changes to the church(I think this would be very positive for the church)

Personally, I also think this would be the most positive evolutionary path for the LDS church to take. Mormonism fosters strong communal bonds that society both needs and wants. The rigid doctrines and the literal teachings tend to drive people away and to severely curtail attracting new members.

The church needs to find a way to change the literal into metaphorical or allegorical and to soften its black or white mentality. For the next 50 years, new order Mormons will probably be the glue that keeps Mormonism cohesive as the older generation dies off along with its 19th centurty literal worldview and the new 21st century believer takes the reins.

I agree with both of you. It will be interesting to watch.

[_Lucinda]

However, I honestly don't understand how RSR ends up in the Deseret Books store. Perhaps the suits are under the delusion that it does the best job of making evil appear to be loving, chaste and benevolent (I'm gagging now, my SP actually gave me that book when he referred me to the moral reprobates at FARMS).

Yes, I've had a number of people from my ward suggest that I read that book. I've also been told that my understanding of Joseph Smith will depend on my spirit when I decide to read it. If I have a spirit of "anti" or "negativity towards the church" then I won't be able to understand Joseph Smith's true motives.

For me, it didn't and the fact they had varying levels of "truth" was a flag raising issue.

Hi Honor--+100! Well said.

I think they have progressed to the "true order" of the tomahawk chop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uZXZ8PYr-U

:D

[_Lucinda]

1. "You took it too seriously" Too hot.
2. "You were lazy and did not take it seriously enough." Too cold.

Apparently, the key is to be as lukewarm as possible. I mean, it's not like God is going to spew you out of his mouth. I think I remember reading that in the Ensign.

Spurven--
:-) I'm saving this forever. So simply put and right on the money. It's all so damn confusing.

[_Lucinda]

So, maybe I should go back to the fold.... This is how it would go down: I would wear black shirts to church and grow a go-tee. I would sit in EQ and make wise cracks. We would occasionally drink wine and coffee and not listen intently to church leaders. We wouldn't take the prophet seriously. Rather than bear testimony of the rest. gospel I would share funny stories.

The problem is this is not me. I'd be in some strange nebulous zone. I'd probably be unhappy there. Some people are better off just being true to themselves I guess.

Zee-I know what you mean. It doesn't work very well to try to be someone you're not. I tried to fake it for a while and I was miserable.

Seems to me that all overly zealous believers, in any endeavor, are at risk from disillusionment when their house of cards comes down. Ideas and beliefs need to be examined on their own and freely entered into. Even with this approach, ideas and beliefs are not stone but rather remain a malleable substance. When you assign as a true belief something you were told was true, then your belief is sure to falter when the wind blows and reveals other substance under that claim of truth. Too TBM, too Catholic, too Antidisestablishmentarianistic? Watch out.

Moksha, I salute you. I learned this the hard way and completely agree with you. If you ever start a church, please let me know and I will be in your congregation.

[_harmony]

It doesn't work very well to try to be someone you're not. I tried to fake it for a while and I was miserable.

Why must one fake it? I see nothing bad about taking what I believe to heart, and kicking the rest to the curb. And as long a my bishop agrees, who else cares?

[_Lucinda]

Why must one fake it? I see nothing bad about taking what I believe to heart, and kicking the rest to the curb. And as long a my bishop agrees, who else cares?

I'm happy for you that you don't have a need to fake it. I think it differs for everyone. I had to for a while, but luckily that phase didn't last long. You sound more like my friend from my original post--it's seems like a healthy way to live your religion.

[_sock puppet]

It doesn't work very well to try to be someone you're not. I tried to fake it for a while and I was miserable.

Why must one fake it? I see nothing bad about taking what I believe to heart, and kicking the rest to the curb. And as long a my bishop agrees, who else cares?

Great post, harmony. What I believe that Mormonism teaches it lifted from the Golden Rule and love thy neighbor as thyself aspects of Christianity. So there is nothing unique to Mormonism I relate to. So I don't even care if my bishop agrees. Hell, I don't even know who my bishop is. Do I have one?

[_harmony]

Great post, harmony. What I believe that Mormonism teaches it lifted from the Golden Rule and love thy neighbor as thyself aspects of Christianity. So there is nothing unique to Mormonism I relate to. So I don't even care if my bishop agrees. Hell, I don't even know who my bishop is. Do I have one?

You are entitled to believe whatever you want to believe. I shall do the same. And yes, I know there are those in the church who would kick ME to the curb, if they could. (you know who you are).