Reason#114: “It’s the Economy, Stupid”
On a regular basis I read message boards where ex-Mormons and wavering Mormons express concerns about the LDS Church. Many want to discuss doctrinal changes. Others report on practices of local LDS leaders that they consider to be unfair or even predatory. But one very active trending topic I am seeing — from exMos, neverMos and even some practicing Mormons — is great concern over the LDS Church’s multi-BILLION-dollar shopping mall in downtown Salt Lake City. Why would a mall become a spiritual issue? In an economy where foreclosures and bankruptcies are commonplace, in a church where members are given a “calling” to become church janitors working without pay, the investment of this kind of money causes alarm. LDS Inc. would say...
Reason #86– The Word of Wisdom Health Law–Part One
I won’t argue with the Word of Wisdom’s condemnation of the addictive substance, alcohol. But in the Word of Wisdom its use is encouraged as an agent in washing the body. I am as much puzzled by this as by the Word of Wisdom’s advocating the use of tobacco on bruises, and for all the diseases of cattle. A great emphasis is placed on what Mormons should not eat or drink, but the profitable use of these substances as advised in the Doctrine and Covenants is virtually ignored (maybe because they don’t work?). Also often passed over is the Word of Wisdom’s warning against the over-use of meat. As a Mormon, I would eat meat at only one meal a day, but of all my many acquaintances in the densely LDS population of Brigham Young University, there were only a...
Somehow, this definition of a cult rings true:
I’ve always used my four-part definition of a cult (deifies man, humanizes God, ostracizes Scripture, and requires an extra-Biblical view of salvation.) But today I learned of another one that rings true: “You can always tell a cult from a religion. . .because a cult is just a set of rules that lets certain men get laid.” (From the short story “Always” by Karen Joy Fowler) For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition: A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today (Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading...
Reason #71: The insights of Representational Research
What follows is the second of a five-part series that Zondervan published on their academic blog, Koinonia. The subject matter may repeat some previous “365″ posts, but I will nonetheless publish them for those who might not want to scroll back through all the previous posts. The Mormon Mirage, 2 of 5 by Latayne C. Scott A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today Understanding Representational Research One very useful thing about once being so catastrophically wrong about a god — and all associated things religious — is that I am reluctant to say I can never again be mistaken, even in the most crucial areas of my faith. I have found, as have many ex-Mormons, that such an experience can make one tenuous and fearful. Most...
Reason #70 –Can’t We All Just Get Along?
What follows is the first of a five-part series that Zondervan published on their academic blog, Koinonia. The subject matter may repeat some previous “365″ posts, but I will nonetheless publish them for those who might not want to scroll back through all the previous posts. The Mormon Mirage, part 1 of 5 by Latayne C. Scott Latayne C. Scott is the author of numerous books on Mormonism from a Christian perspective, including The Mormon Mirage. She is also a former member of the LDS church. We’ve asked her to share some thoughts on Mormonism and Christianity with us here at Koinonia. - Andrew A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today 1 of 5: Can’t We All Just Get Along? Zondervan’s new edition of The Mormon...
