Handling deviation in the LDS Church

[_moksha]

I think it is always an interesting question of how we handle deviation from the norm. Chickens do not handle it well and will peck the eyes out of chickens who are different. Others, such as Unitarians seem more adaptable and will welcome all.

[_Joseph]

Unitarians let chickens into the church?

LDSinc spends far too much time and effort trynig to make all members the same rather than celebrating diversity as a welcome addition as long as one subscribes to basic core beliefs. Trouble is that now few can say what the basic core beliefs are as Doctrine is not something most know or understand.

[_ajax18]

Who is this new God called diversity that we're admonished to worship? What exactly has he done for me? He reminds a little bit of the Mormon God who resorts to shame, fear, and name calling to ram a bad deal down your throat and make you smile about it. It's not piss at all. It's a lovely rain I'm showering down your back. Aren't you grateful? You know you should be. If you're not, then you're a racist and a xenophobe. :)

[_The Nehor]

We handle deviation that still allows you to be in the Church quite well. Church members have little to fear about what their political views are, what hobbies they enjoy, what occupations they perform, how tall they are, what foods they enjoy etc.

Of course the Church is also a unity of those who accept some core doctrines about God, the human condition, etc. If you do not accept those there is really no place for you in our ranks. Chess clubs don't accept people who don't play chess, sports teams don't take on people who don't want to play the sport, and the Church is no different.

[_dwgmom]

My Mom lives in a branch in a small town in Wisconsin, outside of Madison, they are very liberal there (a little unusual for typical LDS members) and she has been chastized by her Relief Society Pres for not supporting Obamacare. She was told that she just wasn't charitable. Apparently the branch presidency holds the same political views. That's been my only experience with a church member being so open about a political view and it wasn't a good thing esp since she is in a leadership position. But she was the exception. I've never had anyone tell me how I should believe politically, usually the church is quite careful about that.

I am a natural minded mama and the thing I am struggling with right now is on another LDS forum a topic of breastfeeding in public was discussed and all of the men were opposed to a woman openly bf'ing. Which I think is really ironic considering that there's a famous LDS painting of pioneers that when you look closely shows a woman openly bf'ing her baby. I believe in bf'ing my babes whenever and wherever. Granted I don't usually totally expose myself but I would be very upset at being asked to leave a meeting as one woman had been (which started the thread) and another woman I know in Idaho had issues with. So in this respect, no, I don't find the church to be very welcoming and open. Unfortunately most members end up falling into a pretty uniform look and actions. This is why I find LDS culture so challenging to be around. I am from the north east and am a convert to the church. I say what I mean and mean what I say and generally find most members (not all) have a hard time culturally with that. I don't think there's anything doctrinally that says we should be the same but culturally it sure does.