Comments on: What’s in a Mormon identity? http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/ A Community for Anyone Interested in Mormonism. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:52:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Andrew S http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-71806 Andrew S Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:22:22 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-71806 No problem John. I have posted my response to the later post. No problem John. I have posted my response to the later post.

]]> By: chanson http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-71799 chanson Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:18:04 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-71799 It gives us something to talk about. ;) It gives us something to talk about. ;)

]]> By: John Moeller http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-71798 John Moeller Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:17:28 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-71798 Crap. I meant to post this on a different post. Sorry for waking this one up. Crap. I meant to post this on a different post. Sorry for waking this one up.

]]> By: John Moeller http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-71795 John Moeller Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:13:06 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-71795 Since I've started reading chanson (LFAB) and subsequently MSP, I've always been extremely confused by this preoccupation with delineation, especially with respect to the Church's rolls. When I became an atheist, I stopped being a Lutheran. It was gradual, but nonetheless, I have no internal conflict whatsoever. Whether the LCMS calls me a Lutheran or not is of very little importance when it comes to my identity. What is it about that document in the Church's records in particular that causes so much personal conflict? Just a question from an outsider. Since I’ve started reading chanson (LFAB) and subsequently MSP, I’ve always been extremely confused by this preoccupation with delineation, especially with respect to the Church’s rolls.

When I became an atheist, I stopped being a Lutheran. It was gradual, but nonetheless, I have no internal conflict whatsoever. Whether the LCMS calls me a Lutheran or not is of very little importance when it comes to my identity.

What is it about that document in the Church’s records in particular that causes so much personal conflict?

Just a question from an outsider.

]]> By: Are you a Mormon? | Main Street Plaza http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-71792 Are you a Mormon? | Main Street Plaza Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:10:07 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-71792 [...] recently discussed the various names we use to refer to ourselves (liberal Mormon, NOM, post-Mormon, ex-Mormon, etc.) [...] [...] recently discussed the various names we use to refer to ourselves (liberal Mormon, NOM, post-Mormon, ex-Mormon, etc.) [...]

]]> By: Holly http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-70902 Holly Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:58:15 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-70902 <i>I find that in practice, I’m more likely to tell people that I was raised Mormon than I am to bring up atheism because the Mormonism thing is more amusing.</i> Yeah. Seriously, that's part of it. I don't have a single amusing anecdote about being a skeptical agnostic who avoids certainty, is a tad put off by people who parade their devoutness, and doesn't hang out with a spiritual community, but I have LOADS of funky stories about my life as a Mormon. I find that in practice, I’m more likely to tell people that I was raised Mormon than I am to bring up atheism because the Mormonism thing is more amusing.

Yeah. Seriously, that’s part of it. I don’t have a single amusing anecdote about being a skeptical agnostic who avoids certainty, is a tad put off by people who parade their devoutness, and doesn’t hang out with a spiritual community, but I have LOADS of funky stories about my life as a Mormon.

]]> By: Post-Mormon Identity « Irresistible (Dis)Grace http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-70898 Post-Mormon Identity « Irresistible (Dis)Grace Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:45:57 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-70898 [...] August 30, 2009 — Andrew In my latest article at Main Street Plaza, I thought about what is in a Mormon identity and what the terms we use imply about us. Because even if labeling is silly and should only be [...] [...] August 30, 2009 — Andrew In my latest article at Main Street Plaza, I thought about what is in a Mormon identity and what the terms we use imply about us. Because even if labeling is silly and should only be [...]

]]> By: Sunday in Outer Blogness: follow-up discussion edition! | Main Street Plaza http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-70895 Sunday in Outer Blogness: follow-up discussion edition! | Main Street Plaza Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:10:41 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-70895 [...] I’m sorry if the title doesn’t sound too enticing, but the thing that stood out in this week’s batch of posts was the web of discussion in blogspace, where topics started on one blog were continued on another and/or people have started new discussions on things we’ve been talking about here! For example, Holly decided to re-take the temple recommend interview — inspired by Gunner and Jonathan — and has given new meaning to the word “post-Mormon” in response to Andrew’s post on Mormon identity. [...] [...] I’m sorry if the title doesn’t sound too enticing, but the thing that stood out in this week’s batch of posts was the web of discussion in blogspace, where topics started on one blog were continued on another and/or people have started new discussions on things we’ve been talking about here! For example, Holly decided to re-take the temple recommend interview — inspired by Gunner and Jonathan — and has given new meaning to the word “post-Mormon” in response to Andrew’s post on Mormon identity. [...]

]]> By: chanson http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-70894 chanson Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:55:53 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-70894 Like Craig, I would identify as atheist if someone asks me what is my religion or cosmology. That said, I find that in practice, I'm more likely to tell people that I was raised Mormon than I am to bring up atheism because the Mormonism thing is more amusing. Like Craig, I would identify as atheist if someone asks me what is my religion or cosmology. That said, I find that in practice, I’m more likely to tell people that I was raised Mormon than I am to bring up atheism because the Mormonism thing is more amusing.

]]> By: Andrew S http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/08/26/whats-in-a-mormon-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-70890 Andrew S Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:18 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=787#comment-70890 I completely agree with comments abut Jewish envy for the precise reason that secular/doubting/disbelieving Jews are included in the community, but even though we definitely have a friend with Seth R (and to be sure, others on the bloggernacle), it's unlikely that there will be a majority appreciation of secular Mormons any time soon. Heck, even liberal Mormons and NOMs are denigrated. re 13: Craig, I agree with you in that as far as what I believe, how I reason or argue, etc., my skepticism, atheism, and naturalism most certainly impact my worldview more than orthodox Mormon views (even if I find myself agreeing with a Mormon position, I can guarantee it won't be for Mormon reasons. It'll be pretty coincidental, in fact.) But at the same time, when I think about it, I realize that things are different for me. I am not just any old atheist. I am an ex-Mormon atheist, if only because I know too much (having been on the inside) than an atheist who never was Mormon. So, I feel that if I just say atheist, I'm "hiding" the past xx years of my life, and I'm not sure I want to do that. In a way, I'm starting fresh (out of the church), but I'm not starting fresh (abandoning everything from the past). I completely agree with comments abut Jewish envy for the precise reason that secular/doubting/disbelieving Jews are included in the community, but even though we definitely have a friend with Seth R (and to be sure, others on the bloggernacle), it’s unlikely that there will be a majority appreciation of secular Mormons any time soon. Heck, even liberal Mormons and NOMs are denigrated.

re 13:

Craig, I agree with you in that as far as what I believe, how I reason or argue, etc., my skepticism, atheism, and naturalism most certainly impact my worldview more than orthodox Mormon views (even if I find myself agreeing with a Mormon position, I can guarantee it won’t be for Mormon reasons. It’ll be pretty coincidental, in fact.)

But at the same time, when I think about it, I realize that things are different for me. I am not just any old atheist. I am an ex-Mormon atheist, if only because I know too much (having been on the inside) than an atheist who never was Mormon. So, I feel that if I just say atheist, I’m “hiding” the past xx years of my life, and I’m not sure I want to do that. In a way, I’m starting fresh (out of the church), but I’m not starting fresh (abandoning everything from the past).

]]>