Obsessive Dogmatism and Worship

[moksha]

I was reading a column by newspaper writer Robert Kirby. In the column, he makes the statement that "If you're obsessively dogmatic, so too will be the manner of your worship."

He notes that when Mormons are told not to drink intoxicating beverages, that some members will extend that to include cough syrup, cooking wine, and vanilla extract. The former health advice to not drink hot beverages that warm the belly now includes coffee-flavored ice cream for some Mormons. The IBM corporation's dress code from the 1960's has now become the uniform of the LDS priesthood for many.

What are your thoughts about this tendency toward such obsessions?

[2bizE]

This is about the only thing that is true in the church. My MIL for example will not eat chocolate, as it may have small amounts of caffeine. She stopped using Pam cooking spray upon finding it has alcohol in it...the list goes on.

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

Just extend these Word of wisdom tack on items to counting steps on the Sabbath and you have Jesus' environment for the modern age. Everything restored in the latter days including pharisiachal behaviors.

[Brent]

Hyper-obedience, if 10% is good 15% must be better....

[Palerider]

Just extend these Word of wisdom tack on items to counting steps on the Sabbath and you have Jesus' environment for the modern age. Everything restored in the latter days including pharisiachal behaviors.

You beat me to it. Poor Judaism went through (and in some factions still is) the same thing.
Although the LDS approach is additionally fed by the toxic lust for perfectionism.
I guess that Atonement thing and the Grace it proffers was just wasted suffering where Mormons are concerned. Self-perfection means you get all the glory don't you know. A bigger reward than those other slackers.

[Mormorrisey]

I feel this way about the Nelson/Christofferson inspired craze of conditional-God worship. I think the insistence that God only loves you if you do what he says is WAY more about where they are emotionally and spiritually, than how God operates.

[LSOF]

This reminds me of a short film I saw once, made by some ward members, about a fellow named Max, who took his life "to the Max", including his religious observance. In one scene, he was shown handing the (Mormon) bishop a thick envelope containing his "bithing" (twice a tithing, a fifth part).

[deacon blues]

It really goes over the top when the "You will be happy" line, and the, "not even once" line, and the "I know beyond a shadow of a doubt in every fiber of my being" line, have to somehow, obsessively, be improved.

[Dravin]

What are your thoughts about this tendency toward such obsessions?

I think it's a natural outcome for a religion that focuses on perfection, obedience, and appearance (and often conflates the three) to have Pharisaical obsession over minutia like Pam or vanilla extract. It's really not a surprise that focusing on exact obedience turns into focusing on extract obedience.