On Oct 11, 2011, at 12:37 PM, [email protected] wrote: > For whatever reason Mormon faith does seem to produce a large % > of good people. Which I also know from being an employee of Mormons in the > past.
Yeah, I tend to agree. It would arguably be much more accurate to call Mormonism a heresy than a cult, though still rather rude. Perhaps 'heterodox' would be better -- a term often used for Seventh-Day Adventists; though probably too mild for Mormonism, whose theology and origins were quite cultish, even if their current practice is exemplary. -- Ernie P. > > The following article makes full use of this theme ; worth thinking about > and asking "why" ? > > Billy > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > Real Clear Politics / Real clear Religion Section > > October 12, 2011 > We Have a Lot to Learn from Mormons > > By Rod Dreher > Mormonism deviates so far from basic orthodox Christianity that I have a > difficult time, as a theological matter, considering it authentically > Christian. > > Nevertheless, it's patently absurd to claim that Mormons don't love Jesus > Christ, or are, because of their religion, to be treated with suspicion. In > my view, it is an irrational prejudice (and yes, there are such things as > rational prejudices) to say a Mormon like Mitt Romney is unworthy of one's > vote because of his LDS faith. > > The only thing about Mormonism itself that would give me pause in considering > a Mormon presidential candidate is the theological role American > exceptionalism plays within Mormon thinking. But in truth, the way American > politics and culture goes, American exceptionalism may as well be a > theological principle for all US Christians. > > It is an article of faith for most Americans that God has a Very Special Plan > for the United States of America, and that we are, in some respects, a Chosen > People. I don't believe this, at least not in the way most people do (if > America is exceptional, it's in a "to whom much is given, much is expected" > way, not a triumphalist-nationalist way), but it is quite common. I'm certain > that on this point, there's not a dime's worth of difference between Romney > and any Republican candidate who stands a chance of being his party's nominee. > > Anyway, it is especially offensive, at least to me, to hear Christians speak > of Mormonism as a "cult." > > Usually when you hear that word being applied to a church or religious group, > it's designed not to describe, but solely to marginalize. Was it Tom Wolfe > who said that a "cult" is a religious group without political power? That's > mostly right. > > I think cults really do exist, and can be identified in part by their > overweening desire to be secretive and controlling of their adherents -- > e.g., Scientology. (It should be noted that one can find cultish behavior > within mainstream religions too.) But I think the Guardian blogger Andrew > Brown is more or less correct when he says that a "cult" can be defined > sociologically as being far from a society's mainstream -- though by that > definition, one would have to call the Amish a "cult," and maybe even > cloistered Catholic and Orthodox monks and nuns a "cult"? > > Anybody want to do that? Anybody? Didn't think so. So why so hard on the > Mormons? Especially given that it's hard to find a more idealistically > American group of people anywhere in this country. > > The sociologist Robert Bellah writes in his new book that the test of the > truth of a particular religion is the kind of people it produces. Bellah is > not really making a theological statement -- I doubt very much that Bellah, > an Episcopalian, believes in the foundational mythology of the LDS church -- > but rather a sociological one. > > Few people are ever converted by rational theological discourse alone. > Rather, it's more common to look at the lives of people who profess that > religion, to find them admirable or otherwise inviting, then open oneself up > to the beliefs that produce that way of living. > > In my experience, Mormonism produces exemplary people, the kind who form > stable families and strong communities, and who make good neighbors. > > I do not believe in Mormonism, nor do I have the slightest interest in > becoming Mormon. That Mormons tend to be good people does not make their > doctrines true. But inasmuch as Mormons -- and I'm generalizing here -- tend > to produce people who are often better Christians, in terms of their > behavior, than the more orthodox expressions within the Christian tradition, > should make thoughtful Christians consider what truth may exist within > Mormonism, and what we may learn about how to live well from the Mormon > experience. > > For example, while Mormons in general have a divorce rate about the same as > everybody else, those Mormons who marry in a temple service are far, far more > likely to stay married. > > The Los Angeles Times once explored the reasons for that, and they're truly > admirable. Note that there is nothing explicitly theological about any of > these practices; any Christian who took his or her own tradition seriously > could pull this off too. But these Mormon practices leading to strong > marriages and healthy families grow out of theological convictions, cultural > coherence, and social solidarity. > > The rest of us have a lot to learn from Mormons on living out marriage and > family life. > > It's easy for me to see why many Christians strongly deny Mormon theological > claims; it is very difficult for me to understand why so many Christians look > at Mormons with such hostility and disdain, given the kind of people who tend > to be faithful Mormons. > > To call Mormonism a "cult" is polemical, spiteful, and simply inaccurate. > Still, as a matter of life in the public square, Mormons ought to be > welcomed, because I look at their lives and works and see people with whom I > might disagree strongly, but who also, in the way they live out their faith, > strengthen American life. > > Rod Dreher is a Senior Editor for the American Conservative. > > > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
