Mormonism on Its Own Terms
One difference between me and someone who claims the Mormon label even though we both reject orthodox Mormonism seems to be that I didn’t change my expectations of Mormonism. I take it on its own terms: I see it as either a divine institution or yet another fraud. So by rejecting orthodoxy, I no longer feel right calling myself Mormon. The heterodox Mormon still accepts Mormonism but on their own terms.
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December 20, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
I think there needs to be a distinction made between Mormonism as a religion and Mormonism as a culture. Even if you leave the religion, consider it a fraud, etc., you will be forever accultured as a Mormon. That’s why I think there is a lot of anxiety for people who leave the church. They shed their religion, but their culture isn’t so easily gotten rid of.
December 20, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
If your comment about the Mormon zeitgeist reflects reality, then there isn’t much difference between culture and religion.
Personally, Mormonism (religion and culture) has largely been purged from the affections of my heart. I still deal with the change in culture, but most days it doesn’t cause me stress. It will always be in my background, but it feels like something that I have set aside, like my crush on Jamie Conway in the third grade or my bottlecap collection. I was obsessed for a while, but a switch was flipped in my head and suddenly I find none of those things as compelling as I once did.
December 20, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Having said that, I can see why it would be more of a problem for others, especially those whose friendships and identity are centered in the LDS church. I think many people have serious doubts about Mormonism but can’t allow themselves to entertain them because it feels like a small death to redefine yourself.
Cybr said,
December 21, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
There are some of us within the LDS church who have not had and still do lack Mormon friends. I do not have to fit in just to be one. Yes, I would say that my identity is partially defined by being a Mormon. But also, my identity partially can define me as being Mormon. I think any true idealogical belief would help identify a person in any aspect. As hard as we may try not to, humans will label each other. But changing wards to me is just as easy as changing a couch. Although both will still require a couple of the Elders Quorum to come out and help you move it. (That’s a Mormon benefit for ya, cheap movers). I personally do see differences in Mormonism between a culture and a religion, although certain aspects of the religion help define parts of the culture. But, not necessarily the culture as a whole social group. In the western U.S., Mormons have a strong quiet Catholic culture about them in their attitudes. This is not always the case in other parts of the world.
You can invite me to all the BYU football games of the year, and I’m still not going even if they’re playing UNLV.
jaamata
December 22, 2007 @ 10:20 am
I recognize a lot of myself in your description. My friends from church—with few exceptions—were disposable. Of course, that’s mostly true of all my friends. Hmm… Maybe I’ve been laying too much of the blame for that on others. I also detest the BYU culture (on and off campus) as if it were God’s One True University.
Mormon culture varies from place to place but there is a central culture that presents itself as the official doctrine. I haven’t been able to pin down a substantial core of doctrine that has remained constant over the life of the church. As Mormon culture changes, so does the doctrine. Lacking a central creed, Mormonism behaves more like a culture.