Does the Church Instill Paranoia in Members?

[_Mister Scratch]

Some of the recent goings-on at MAD, along with some of the issues raised by Plutarch have got me thinking. It's well known that there is such a thing as "Catholic Guilt"---a sense of shame in one's self that stems from having to go to confession, constant temptation, and ever-present sin. My question for this thread is: would the LDS equivalent of that be "Mormon Paranoia"? I tend to think "yes." For one thing, Church folklore is rife with stories of Satan lurking in real-life situations. Another aspect of this is surely the Church's hyper-preoccupation with secrecy: in the temple, vis-a-vis finances, with portions of the Church archives, the way the Brethren are cordoned off from the rank-and-file, and so on. On top of this are the "surveillance" type aspects in the Church: the SCMC, Church security agents tailing people, SCMC agents making recordings of people, etc.

There even appears to be ecclesiastic sanction for this, found in Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone's infamous talk, "A Self-Inflicted Purging":

I am going to use a visual aid tonight. But we don’t have one, so, in your mind’s eye, wherever you are across the far corners of the earth, would you picture a huge scroll sliding down from the ceiling? On it are listed the names of those who purchased pornographic literature. The list is large enough so that all may see. Is your name on the list?

Did you buy some pornographic literature?

Now suppose those names are removed, and the names of all those who attended or viewed x-rated movies are presented so that all who are in the congregation may see. Again, is your name on the list?

Now, my young friends, and I am sorry to say, many adults, how about all those of you who have a masturbation problem? If the names of those who had the problem were projected across this big, huge scroll, would your name be there, or would you be able to sit back confident and pure in heart?

And, in a few cases, what if we had the names of those who had a homosexual problem? What if their names were on this huge scroll? Their names removed, then what if we had those who are adulterers, who are serving in priesthood positions, unbeknownst to many, unbeknownst unto anyone except themselves and the partner in sin?

Again let us talk about a self-inflicting purging. My young friends, how about all of you who have committed fornication? Or have been involved in petting? Suppose their names were on this huge scroll, so that all may see. Now, I can tell you this, I bear my solemn witness that if you do not self-inflict a purging in your lives, the time may well come when there might not be a scroll, but it will be as though there were. It may be as though it had been shouted from the tops of houses. People cannot hide sin. You cannot mock God and hold the Lord’s holy priesthood and pretend to propose that you are his servant.

I find it curious that Elder Featherstone thought to use this particular "visual aid," apparently under the assumption that "exposure" would be precisely the thing to scare all these young priesthood holders into obedience, as it were. Couple this with the ubiquitous ad hominems one finds on MAD and in FROB, and one begins to see a strong case supporting the view that one of the Church's chief weapons against not only critics, but also members, is paranoia induced by fear of exposure. Featherstone claims that this is a "self-inflicted" purging and yet, paradoxically, his means of encouraging it is by threatening everyone with a hypothetical exposure. So, I guess my question is this: Is paranoia and inherent aspect of the LDS Church?

[_Gazelam]

Please Mr. Scratch, woudl you give me a definition of Repentence and follow that with a definition of Paranoia?

One of us doesent understand the difference.

[_Dr. Shades]

I think so. There's paranoia about angels potentially blocking you from entering the temple, the bishop knowing your sins during an interview, the Stake President finding out through discernment that you're not being honest in your recommend interview, getting ratted on to your bishopric, etc.

[_Pokatator]

Basically I think the whole church is held together by fear and guilt.

[_Mephitus]

Basically I think the whole church is held together by fear and guilt.

I tend to agree. During my "church years" i was plagued many times with a deeply seated depression. In my following years having left and realised that the shame, guilt, and paranoia of "not being good enough" where all figments of what the church wanted me to feel. Since leaving, my sense of self worth has sky-rocketed. I've not had a depressive episode yet!(and that includes that I've had the death of a grand parent since)

[_Mister Scratch]

Please Mr. Scratch, woudl you give me a definition of Repentence and follow that with a definition of Paranoia?

One of us doesent understand the difference.

From Merriam-Webster:

Repentance: "the action or process of repenting esp. for misdeeds or moral shortcomings."

Paranoia: "a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others."

Did you really think that paranoia and repentance were one and the same, Gaz? Or were you accusing me of not understanding my own terms?

[_moksha]

I am uncertain about the paranoia part (they may indeed be out to get us), but there is no doubt that greater openness and acceptance would benefit all of those who are members of the LDS Church.

In the meantime, rest assured that this website is under surveillance and a report of it will be forwarded to Dr. Peterson, to be initialed and sent back to headquarters.

[_Mephitus]

I am uncertain about the paranoia part (they may indeed be out to get us), but there is no doubt that greater openness and acceptance would benefit all of those who are members of the LDS Church.

In the meantime, rest assured that this website is under surveillance and a report of it will be forwarded to Dr. Peterson, to be initialed and sent back to headquarters.

hehe, report wherever you wish, i got my resignation letter back this week.(i know your joking) Only that which you allow has power over you.

[_Runtu]

I once wrote an essay about how the church simultaneously makes people feel not good enough and yet at the same time better than nonmembers.

The reason for this is simple: if you're not good enough, you need the church to make you better; if you're better than people outside the church, you need the church to keep you that way.

But, yes, there's a certain amount of paranoia/fear. Just look at the dire consequences threatened for people who leave. There was an article in the BYU-Idaho newspaper last year about how people who leave the church ended up getting divorced and depressed, drinking, and committing suicide. I'd say that counts as paranoia.

I figure the best way to counter that is to live a good, happy life as an exmo,

[_truth dancer]

If you don't believe in Joseph Smith you won't be with God.
If you don't believe the Golden plates were real you won't be with your family in heaven.
If you don't believe the Prophet is receving information from Jesus Christ you will not make it to the CKHL.
If you drink tea, coffee, or don't pay enough money, you will not be worthy to be with God.
If you wear the wrong form of clothing you will be refused as you won't make it past the guards in heaven.
If you don't abide by all the covenants you will be in Satan's power.
If you don't believe the correct things you are harming your loved ones.
If you doubt or question, Satan will move in to influence you.
If you aren't obedient you will be punished.....

I could go on and on and on and on....

Call it what you will, I don't think it is a healthy way to live life, nor do I think fear or shame is the best motivator for goodness.

~dancer~