08-24-2006, 05:02 PM | #1 |
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Deciphering "LDS claims"
The Mormon and Catholic churches bear the common characteristic that they are monolithic, insular, highly organized and hierarchical institutions. This sets them apart from the crazy quilt of myriad Protestant sects. However, one respect in which they differ is that the Catholic Church takes great pains to clarify doctrinal points, many arcane and obscure, often through encyclicals issued by the Pope to the Bishops. Such communications have covered myriad subjects, everything from de-Latinizing the mass, to abortion, to evolution, to nuclear weapons, to sexual preference, to the shroud of Turin, to Catholic complicty in the Holocaust. The list is endless. These enclyclicals are invariably clear and incisive. I don't believe anyone ever accused the Catholic Church of lack of clarity with respect to its position on any subject.
MikeWaters made an interesting point yesterday when he said the General Authorities never comment on subjects such as Joseph Smith's method in generating the Book of Abraham. I could show you some General Conference talks from the '70's in which apostles claimed that all American aborigines were descendants of Book of Mormon peoples. Some of us remember missionary materials that made that claim. What is the Church's current position on that issue? Who knows? Was the priesthood ban doctrine or policy? What was its purpose? This is precisely the kind of thing a papal encyclical would address firmly, and in detail. What exactly is the Church's position on "grace"? Does it resemble Martin Luther's rigid predestination construct, Catholic self-determination, or something in between? How DID the Book of Abraham come to be? From what I've seen the Church only clarifies a doctrinal point when it is dealing with a PR disaster, as with Blood Atonement, and then only insofar as it has to. As a result, "Mormon Doctrine" is this pastiche of vague scriptural references, folk lore, Deseret Book published works by General Authorities, FARMS monographs, and Internet traffic. Clearly this opacity is deliberate and institutionalized.
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Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster Last edited by SeattleUte; 08-24-2006 at 05:11 PM. |
08-24-2006, 05:10 PM | #2 |
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So should the church speak in definite terms when it doesn't know the definite answer? Find the argument, make a creed, force belief of said creed, and excommunicate any who oppose it? Not exactly a recipe for success. When the church doesn't know the answer, I see no reason why it should make one up and declare it doctrine.
A second ago you criticized the church for its intellectual dishonesty. Now, when it exercizes intellectual honesty, you criticize it for "deliberate and institutionalized opacity."
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08-24-2006, 05:11 PM | #3 | |
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08-24-2006, 05:15 PM | #4 | |
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Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster |
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08-24-2006, 05:21 PM | #5 | |
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Besides, I suspect that the answers to the important questions are already available to those who want them. Both you and I have managed to form our opinions regarding the priesthood ban and grace without any more assistance than the church has already given. The attitude of the church is to tread softly where the ground is uncertain. I see no reason to try to change that-- in fact, any other attitude would be quite arrogant.
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08-24-2006, 05:28 PM | #6 | |
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How ironic given the Church's claim to "modern revelation."
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Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster |
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08-24-2006, 05:31 PM | #7 | |
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08-24-2006, 05:36 PM | #8 | |
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This is why I believe I lean towards a more open door, large tent policy, multiple chance provided plan, instead of the LDS dogma plan presented by missionaries across the world. I believe one church has authority, but that many have much truth, and many will lead to further light and knowledge. |
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08-24-2006, 05:39 PM | #9 | |
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08-24-2006, 05:40 PM | #10 | |
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