Idea: "LDS faith & rationality" online community

[Zeno_X]

Don't worry; I have a testimony - let me explain what I mean by the thread title. Perhaps someone here has heard of LessWrong, self-described as "a community blog devoted to refining the art of human rationality." While much of its content comes from an atheist humanist, and indeed the concept of a testimony is considered too unlikely to be worth investigating when it's mentioned at all, but it's the best online community I know of that focuses on cognitive biases, psychological fallacies, proper statistical reasoning, etc. It's possibly the best resource on rationality, period.

What I envision is an LDS website, founded upon the premise that the Church, gospel, etc. is believed to be true, that documents and discusses Mormon-related thinking. For example, there's the philosophy of testimonies, the availability of sources for official doctrine, and the biases and fallacies that come about from incorrect understandings of church doctrine (such as black-and-white thinking and confusing doctrine with LDS culture).

What do people here think? Interesting? Badly defined? Already something like this out there?

[slamjet]

I believe you just described the LDS Gospel Discussion part of this forum. Other than that, seems like a website full of over-analyzing posters. But hey, you don't know how successful it will be until you give it your best shot.

[ruthiechan]

I think the biggest hurdle is trying to define religion as rational. However, I do like the idea of LDS people who are also into science and reasoning. I think slamjet is right, there is a lot of that on the Gospel Discussion. On the other hand, this website is defined by simply sharing the Gospel, not upon principles of logic.

[iinarihoudai]

I would love it if there were a place for liberal Mormons. It's a bit disheartening for people to bear their testimony on fast Sunday and have them talk about being a conservative as if that is what defines us Mormons. =/

It sounds like your idea could facilitate that.

[dahlia]

I would love it if there were a place for liberal Mormons. It's a bit disheartening for people to bear their testimony on fast Sunday and have them talk about being a conservative as if that is what defines us Mormons. =/

It sounds like your idea could facilitate that.

Personally, I'm glad to be around politically conservative Mormons. I get enough liberalism being a college professor.

However, as can be seen by some of my posts here, I am probably more liberal when it comes to social issues. What can I say? I was a child of the late 60's, early 70's. I've done a lot of stuff that would probably send the born Mormons into fits, but which I think, even now, were just fine, or at least part of my growth process. There are things that I do now, like watching the freakin' 'Tudors' for example, that I will never understand what the problem is, and why should anyone care what I watch on TV anyway.

I am starting to self style myself as a 'bad girl Mormon.' It's not that I want to be bad and break my covenants, I just want to act like an adult who's seen and been in the world. I can't go back to being a naif. I'm trying to be the person I am and a good Mormon. I dunno if it's going to work if I am supposed to keep much of who I am under wraps. Again, I'm not looking to change religions, I'm just talking about being more 'out there' than some of the born Mormons I meet at church.

btw - why are people talking about conservationism on Fast Sunday?

[Vort]

I am starting to self style myself as a 'bad girl Mormon.'

In my kindest and most brotherly way, I suggest that you avoid doing this at all costs. Even in jest, don't call yourself a 'bad Mormon girl'. Words have an almost magical power over our minds, and by repeating something enough, joke or not, somehow we begin to believe it. And so do others.

I wasn't around 2000 years ago, but I think it's a fairly safe bet that the Savior didn't call himself "bad", even in jest. You are not 'bad', even if you are more politically leftist in some areas than most members.

Fwiw.

[Spartan117]

btw - why are people talking about conservationism on Fast Sunday?

Seriously.

[Zeno_X]

Whoops, I just realized instant email notification was going to my spam folder. I think I fixed it.

I envision a more focused LDS community; it would be a combination of discussion about and a resource of ways Mormons misunderstand or incorrectly apply the gospel. Surely that's related to rationality and shouldn't be dismissed as overthinking and/or liberal? Again, I point to LessWrong, except testimony of the truth of the Church, not so much science, would be the premise of critical thinking.

Edited March 30, 2012 by Zeno_X

[skippy740]

I envision a more focused LDS community; it would be a combination of discussion about and a resource of ways Mormons misunderstand or incorrectly apply the gospel. Surely that's related to rationality and shouldn't be dismissed as overthinking and/or liberal? Again, I point to LessWrong, except testimony of the truth of the Church, not so much science, would be the premise of critical thinking.

I admit to not knowing about this other forum you're referencing.

Regardless of that: "I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves." - Joseph Smith Jr.

A "mastermind" of people critiking how members misunderstand/incorrectly apply the gospel is full of pride in themselves. Here at lds.net, we discuss nearly all aspects of the gospel as it is appropriate for a public and open discussion forum.

If anyone is aspiring to become a "judge" of our members, I would suggest that you contact to your Stake President and ask to be called as Bishop. (That'll teach ya! )

"Thinking" is different than "doing" and "being".

Otherwise, we do a lot of what you're already talking about right here.

[beefche]

I am starting to self style myself as a 'bad girl Mormon.' It's not that I want to be bad and break my covenants, I just want to act like an adult who's seen and been in the world. I can't go back to being a naif. I'm trying to be the person I am and a good Mormon. I dunno if it's going to work if I am supposed to keep much of who I am under wraps. Again, I'm not looking to change religions, I'm just talking about being more 'out there' than some of the born Mormons I meet at church.

But, here's the kicker--there are no "good" or "bad" Mormons--there are Mormons. Each person is on their own journey on the path. Some may have ventured off the path, some have stopped to look at a shiny rock, some are striding forward boldly, and a whole gamut of in betweens.

I don't want to be like anyone else, whether Mormon or not. The Lord made me who I am and has given me instructions on how to be a better me. So, I'm working on me--if that means I don't look like another Mormon, then that's fine with me. I don't think anyone is a "bad" Mormon because their journey on the path is different than mine. I just hope they get to the destination and if I can help them on the way, then I will do so.

[Hala401]

I think the biggest hurdle is trying to define religion as rational. However, I do like the idea of LDS people who are also into science and reasoning. I think slamjet is right, there is a lot of that on the Gospel Discussion. On the other hand, this website is defined by simply sharing the Gospel, not upon principles of logic.

An acquaintance of mine who is heavily into science, once told me that the next evolutionary development in humans is telepathy. As followers of The Church, we already have that in the Holy Spirit. And my own experiences with the un-explainable in the church finally made me accept. Oh, I love studying the works that Heavenly Father has provided to us, and it is comforting that my actions and path are watched every day.

[skalenfehl]

I love Nephi's no nonsense approach to teaching the gospel. He gloried in plainness and truth. He expounded Isaiah so that a child could understand and not err.

[dahlia]

In my kindest and most brotherly way, I suggest that you avoid doing this at all costs. Even in jest, don't call yourself a 'bad Mormon girl'. Words have an almost magical power over our minds, and by repeating something enough, joke or not, somehow we begin to believe it. And so do others.

I wasn't around 2000 years ago, but I think it's a fairly safe bet that the Savior didn't call himself "bad", even in jest. You are not 'bad', even if you are more politically leftist in some areas than most members.

Fwiw.

Interesting that you say this. I never called my son a 'bad boy,' nor did I allow him to use that terminology about himself precisely because I didn't want him to take it to heart and think of himself that way.

If there's another way to describe a politically conservative, socially not-so-conservative, don't bother me and I won't bother you, Mormon female who listens to some pretty heavy rock and will watch what she darned well pleases on TV and film, then I'm willing to refer to myself by another name. What's the opposite of a 'Molly Mormon'?

[dahlia]

I don't think anyone is a "bad" Mormon because their journey on the path is different than mine. I just hope they get to the destination and if I can help them on the way, then I will do so.

Ah, but 'help' them how? I don't want to stop watching 'The Tudors.'

(I'm sure others have moved on, but that Tudors thing just has me riled up. What a tempest for something that simply requires you to turn the freakin' channel if you can't handle it.)

[skippy740]

non-traditional?

[ruthiechan]

The opposite of Molly Mormon is a non-stereotypical Mormon.

[iinarihoudai]

Personally, I'm glad to be around politically conservative Mormons. I get enough liberalism being a college professor.

However, as can be seen by some of my posts here, I am probably more liberal when it comes to social issues. What can I say? I was a child of the late 60's, early 70's. I've done a lot of stuff that would probably send the born Mormons into fits, but which I think, even now, were just fine, or at least part of my growth process. There are things that I do now, like watching the freakin' 'Tudors' for example, that I will never understand what the problem is, and why should anyone care what I watch on TV anyway.

I am starting to self style myself as a 'bad girl Mormon.' It's not that I want to be bad and break my covenants, I just want to act like an adult who's seen and been in the world. I can't go back to being a naif. I'm trying to be the person I am and a good Mormon. I dunno if it's going to work if I am supposed to keep much of who I am under wraps. Again, I'm not looking to change religions, I'm just talking about being more 'out there' than some of the born Mormons I meet at church.

btw - why are people talking about conservationism on Fast Sunday?

Conservationism, isn't that conserving the environment? Anyway, the whole conservative thing came up right after the same-sex marriage debate.

I am sure that many Mormons, if they knew my eccentricities would think of me as a bad girl Mormon. But I am not. If I were I would not be Temple worthy. I am myself. I think of myself as a Mormon, but also different. I feel that this difference has helped me poke others into being a little less judgmental.

About being a liberal, I feel that being a liberal with the Gospel and being with others of the same mind would be a different experience than being with other liberals without the Gospel.