Themis wrote:Reasonable? If they know the issues then couldn't they figure that maybe they should be able to guide their lives in the church the same way the founder did. :) Could be fun.
What I mean is that, if you don't really believe the literal stuff, it seems a reasonable choice to live according to LDS principles anyway. It's kind of mercenary, I think, but if you get something positive out of being Mormon, who am I to judge? Whatever works for people.
True, which I consider a good thing. Many sacrifice to the institution or some future heavenly rewards when they should only be sacrificing to ideas and and principles they consider important.
I wholeheartedly agree, but then other people see it differently.
Not really, but then is that a bad thing? Did those who left become bad people or are they able to see better what is important? I am not one who thinks religion necessarily makes a society better, not that I think all religious beliefs make it worse, although some do. Also I think the lack of success for the CoC may have more to do with them remaining with the rest of society instead of separating themselves like the Brigham group.
I'm not passing judgment on whether or not it's a good thing per se, but from an institutional perspective, they are not going to get adherents by preaching a nonliteral, watered-down Mormonism. I don't think they can ever get themselves out of the corner they've painted themselves into. At this point, it's either everything Joseph Smith claimed is literally true, or it's all false. I don't see the church changing that approach anytime soon.
Do I think religion is positive? It can be for some people, just as it can be negative for others. Mormonism didn't work well for me, but I understand that it does for others. Where I take issue is the notion that it didn't work for me because I did it wrong or had some hidden sin or pride.