During my time of religious seeking, most of the 1980s,
Mormon history was one of the
areas that interested me. NOT most of Mormon
theology, although parts of it made sense
from my perspective, but its real life and experienced
history. That is a different matter
altogether. 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.
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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.
