John Dehlin How do we create local and global communities of support in support of uncorrelated Mormons The only question for me Need help developing this presentation Not about word parsing academic posturing ID: 548046
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Slide1
The Path of the Uncorrelated Mormon
John DehlinSlide2
How do we create local and global communities of support in support of uncorrelated Mormons?
The only question (for me)Slide3Slide4
(Need help developing this presentation)Slide5
(Not about word parsing, academic posturing)Slide6
Some Common Stages
True believer
Traumatized believer
Liberal believer
Evaporation of traditional belief
Pragmatic, non-believing participant
Ex/Post-MormonSlide7
The True BelieverSlide8
“To believe in God is impossible. To not believe in Him is absurd.”
VoltaireSlide9
“If God did not exist it would be necessary to invent him.”
VoltaireSlide10
True Believer
God lives and He loves us
The scriptures are His word
Jesus died that we may live with God someday
Church leaders (GA’s and local) speak for God
LDS church members are chosen
The LDS church is true
Obey and be blessedSlide11
Beautifully simple, Simply beautiful
(Iron rod)Slide12
16,000,000 reasons to love MormonismSlide13
If I could have stayed in this stage,
I would haveSlide14
The Traumatized BelieverSlide15
LoveSlide16
Studying Church History
Multiple, varying first vision accounts
Joseph’s use of folk magic/treasure digging
Book of Mormon translation (stone/hat)
Masonry / temple connection
Polygamy/polyandry and deception
Kinderhook plates
Book of Abraham
Church’s history with race
Dis
-empowerment of women
Mountain Meadows Massacre
General lack of candor by churchSlide17
Thinking about doctrine/theology
Taking the Bible seriously
God-sanctioned genocide, sexism, homophobia?
The need for an atonement?
One true church
w
/ exclusive authority?
Apostasy?
Historical Book of Mormon?
Proxy work for the dead?
Church led by God?Slide18
Spiritual Issues
Never receiving a spiritual witness
Feeling unfulfilled in church activity
Feeling spiritually led elsewhere
Redefining your understanding of spiritual knowledge
Disaffection of a loved-oneSlide19
Cultural Issues
Developing racial sympathies
Developing feminist sympathies
Developing LGBTQ (gay) feelings or sympathies
Developing liberal political sympathies
Extensive exposure to non-MormonsSlide20
Organizational Issues
Corporate culture
Culture of authority, rules, and unquestioning obedience
Culture of patriarchy
The billion $ mallSlide21
Non-Sources of Trauma
(Disaffection Myths)
A desire to sin
Being offended
Caring too littleSlide22
No single smoking gun….
…instead a mosaic that lacks credibilitySlide23
Credible concerns by credible peopleSlide24
For many, it’s
the Church’s
credibility that becomes the issue Slide25
The Liberal BelieverSlide26
Liberal Believer
The gospel is still mostly true, but the church/leaders aren’t perfect
“Buffet” Mormon
A “shelf” for doubts/concerns
Lots of symbolic/metaphorical belief
“This is where God wants me….”
Patron saints: Lowell
Bennion
, Eugene England, Richard BushmanSlide27
Challenges to Liberal Phase
The church is led in a somewhat authoritarian, literalistic way
By nature, liberals question, dissect, disobey
Open liberals are not generally appreciated in authoritarian organizations
Hard to be authentic, and hard to not feel like an outlier
Sometimes the trauma becomes too greatSlide28
Evaporation of BeliefSlide29
Evaporation of belief
God, Christ, all religious beliefs often go out the window
Hit rock bottom
Very, very disturbing and unsettling for many
“Dark night of the soul”Slide30
Dark Night of the Soul
No existential foundation
Meaning, purpose, fear of death, loss of identity and values framework
Fear of losing family, friends, social network, jobs
Can’t tell anyone. Desperately lonely
Anxiety, depression, suicideSlide31
At this point, some people circle back to a previous stageSlide32
Factors that Affect Circling Back
What if my spouse leaves me?
How will I raise my children?
Concern about loss of respect from friends/family
Concern about social isolation
Desire to see a deceased loved one again
Concern about death
Concern about job securitySlide33
Pragmatic, Non-Believing ParticipantSlide34
Pragmatic, Non-Believing Participant
Enjoy it. “Works for me.”
Can’t find anything betterSlide35
Problems with the Pragmatic Perspective
Usually involves staying silent
Often leaves one feeling inauthentic
Can lead to building internal pressure
Can lead to bitterness/anger
Can lead people to live a “double-life”
The eventual killer: IntegritySlide36
Ex/Post MormonSlide37
Ex/Post Mormon
Often is an incredible act of courage
Can lead to loss of family, friends, job, etc.
Can leave a huge vacuum in life
In early stages, can involve behaviors that are reactive to Mormonism
Coffee, alcohol, etc.
Involves establishing:
New identity
New moral framework
New social community
Coping mechanisms for death, sufferingSlide38
1. There is a significant trend towards disbelief and disengagement (
uncorrelation
) in the LDS church
(credibility and integrity are the 2 big issues)Slide39
2. This trend is much bigger than just the LDS churchSlide40
3. There is probably little to nothing substantive that the church can do about it (and stay strong)Slide41
4. If you haven’t already become uncorrelated, you likely will, and the majority of your children or loved ones children most likely willSlide42
5) Becoming uncorrelated causes a major disruption and often leaves a significant vacuum in an active LDS church member’s lifeSlide43
The Biggest Gaps When People Become Uncorrelated
Loss of spouse
Loss of support for raising children and teens
Loss of friends/family relationships
Loss of moral framework
Loss of identity
Loss of spiritual framework/support
Concern about job securitySlide44
Could We Create Together….
Support for alternative approaches to a moral framework
Support for alternative forms of spirituality
A dating service for singles/divorced
Local communities
For children -- Local play groups
For teens --
EFY’s
For college students -- College meet-up groups
For couples/families – Book clubs, study groups
A new collective identity? (“Reform Judaism”)Slide45
NOT a church/religion
Can co-exist with church/religion
Positive, constructive approach
Carry forward the good in what got us here
Heavy emphasis on love/service
Support of families (all types)
Strong communities of support
Encouraging healthy livingSlide46
Leave behind the less desirable things
Belief in harmful doctrine/theology
Bigotry
Sexism
Authoritarianism
Patriarchy
Elitism
Anti-intellectualism / anti-science
Strong appreciation of science
Rooted in common sense values/ethicsSlide47
How do we create local and global communities of support in support of transcendence?
The only question (for me)