DiscussMormonism.com

Writing from the perspective of a self-assured and insulated sectarian critic, I think Smoot would have difficulty digesting my review of another book: The reviews on the back of Barry Bickmore's Restoring the Ancient Church guarantee that critics will suffer shaken faith syndrome and cognitive diss...

I just started a batch of this: Rice pudding Mix in crock-pot: 2 1/2 cups water 3/4 cup dry milk 1/2 cup sugar (sweetener would do well to further reduce the sugar content) generous squeeze of vanilla 15 oz tub of low-fat ricotta cheese Add and stir in: 3/4 cup white rice generous amount of raisins ...

My uniform-- jeans and t-shirt with Mom's favorite sweater.

Bob Loblaw wrote:I think "horizontal Mormonism" is what Joseph did with his plural wives. I suppose he might have done vertical Mormonism if he had a shower.

That is the association I had on this thread initially. Reason why I hadn't yet participated.

My understanding of church history in the first few centuries sees a centralizing of authority to resist extensive fragmenting going on.

Hmmn LOL.

I prefer to see it as both top-down and bottom-up. Mormonism lacks the second. With increasing literacy, Catholicism continues to develop the second. When the second part becomes predominant (often as a reaction against a disproportionate power among the hierarchy), the religion splinters, sometimes...

Brad Hudson wrote:Sorry, I don't understand the first sentence. Are you saying that former Mormons typically view Mormonism as abusive and then generalize that view to all religion?

Exactly.

Rejection of all religion as abusive is also very important.

Right now I have been writing on Mormonism as a Gnostic religion, so that was at the top of my mind at the moment.

Brad Hudson wrote:What specifically about Mormonism do you think leads former Mormons to become atheists?

That deserves a whole book. I guess it boils down to their unique interpretation of Scripture. Difficult to unlearn.

Perhaps not unique. Barry Bickmore explains it well.

I honestly don't believe there is anything about their atheism you like or respect. While I respect atheist's rejection of sick religion, which is usually their excuse for being atheists. I recently met someone who I believe is Mormon, based on his reinforcing positive aspects of Mormon values. I r...