Doctrinal Questions

[blazerb]

The stake presidency is to be commended for their courage. It doesn't sound like the higher-ups know though, so I am interested to see if these guys are allowed to stay in leadership while facilitating such open discussion.

There is another possibility. I get the feeling that the GA's don't know how to deal with the information available to all of us, now. It may be that the higher-ups would let this type of meeting occur in places where they could help. Also, if you try it in one place and it leads to mass exodus, then they know to squelch it if it is tried somewhere else. However, if the discussion leads to fewer people leaving, then they may quietly encourage it elsewhere. Right now, they may not know whether it is good or bad and are happy that someone is trying it out.

[slavereeno]

However, if the discussion leads to fewer people leaving, then they may quietly encourage it elsewhere. Right now, they may not know whether it is good or bad and are happy that someone is trying it out.

Exactly the "inoculation" of the youth scares me, it feels manipulative, but I could see it working with some.

[blazerb]

However, if the discussion leads to fewer people leaving, then they may quietly encourage it elsewhere. Right now, they may not know whether it is good or bad and are happy that someone is trying it out.

Exactly the "inoculation" of the youth scares me, it feels manipulative, but I could see it working with some.

It worked on me to a certain extent. I knew a lot of uncomfortable history. It wasn't until my personal crises came to a boil that I realized the apologetic arguments I was using were not supported by "official" statements made in general conference and other meetings. Now I know a lot more history that would have made me uncomfortable in my TBM days. It's a relief not to need to reconcile the absurd.

[BriansThoughtMirror]

I'm not so sure this is true. People, including intelligent, honest, and thoughtful people, really can be exposed to this information and still remain 100% believers. They will be better informed, more nuanced, and they'll be more likely to think through their beliefs, though. Some may end up more confident and self righteous now that they know the "answers" to the hard criticisms. The Wheat and Tares blog claims that most members who read the essays, for instance, are satisfied with the explanations given.

I don't know why this bugs me so much right now. I know some very smart people that know this stuff and yet remain TBM, and I think HOW!? Perhaps its the stage I am in. Maybe their nuance just gets deeper? I used a "wheat and tares" principle myself for a while when trying to stay TBM it went something like this "In order for God to support the agency we fought for in the PE, there must be enough evidence on both sides for us to make an unbiased choice, a choice we will be judged on in the afterlife." Now I can see how ridiculous that is, but at the time...

I think there are smart, rational people who believe all sorts of things that I think are crazy. Some (plenty) of them are smarter than I am. I feel rational, of course, but I know I have blind spots I'm unaware of, just like everybody else. You are totally reasonable to be bothered by this idea... It bothers me sometimes.