tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11513909.post7167098126997335678..comments2023-10-11T04:25:44.384-06:00Comments on Bigelow's Rameumptom: Enduring to the End or Copping Out?Christopher Bigelowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01417741940958662788noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11513909.post-14557784742162067602008-02-15T16:38:00.000-07:002008-02-15T16:38:00.000-07:00A ture rebel without a cause...and to make sure th...A ture rebel without a cause...and to make sure that this doesnt sound gallant or romantic...a rebel without anyone who cares if you are rebelling.<BR/><BR/>Buy some shoes, wear a white shirt, quit trying to make such a bit statement about nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11513909.post-14672986421457083782008-02-14T14:38:00.000-07:002008-02-14T14:38:00.000-07:00Yo. Bigsy. I think this issue begins to zero in on...Yo. Bigsy. I think this issue begins to zero in on a fundamental flaw most Latter-Day Saints: the impulse to assess their own spirituality in comparison to their peers' visible spiritual benchmarks. It's a religious keeping-up-with-the-Joneses culture that is counter productive.<BR/><BR/>Naturally, when we compare our spiritual journeys with others, sometimes we'll feel smugly superior, and sometimes achingly inferior. And sometimes that we're actually doing ok. But that is flawed because God will only ultimately judge the individual relative to the individual's lifelong circumstances. Each final judgment rendered will be as unique as the fingerprints of the person being judged. And that is something I find extremely fair and comforting. <BR/><BR/>Also, this could lead to a spinoff discussion of the nasty caste-system mentality that infiltrates Mormon culture. You know: We're doing very well financially, ergo that reflects our inner spirituality. Or: We were born in this blessed land/family, ergo we must have been more valiant in the pre-existence than those other schmucks down the street.<BR/><BR/>But I'll reserve comment on that for another time.<BR/><BR/>Peace to you and yo momma.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11513909.post-37261702225775325612008-02-13T23:55:00.000-07:002008-02-13T23:55:00.000-07:00I admire your courage and honesty for bringing up ...I admire your courage and honesty for bringing up such a sensitive topic when you're likely to be judged for your confessions harshly.<BR/><BR/>You ask about the rest of us? I think it's an interesting question. Often in LDS culture there is pressure to do certain things. Even though they might be "good" things, they sometimes can feel void and empty of purpose.<BR/><BR/>I think when that happens we get in the mode of just going through the motions - and in my experience, that doesn't produce very much happiness. I actually just read an interesting quote this morning. So, if I may be allowed to engage in Mormon taboo and quote someone who's not a General Authority, I write a couple lines from Bob Millett's book - Grace Works:<BR/><BR/>"Without... trust in the Lord, without relinquishing our own stranglehold on life, we will probably work ourselves into a frenzy of spiritual and physical exhuastion, doing all the rigth things but feeling little pleasure in them."<BR/><BR/>I know I've felt that way in my life sometimes when trying to do all the right things, some of which I think are culture-imposed and not necessarily pillars of an objectively virtuous life. All that being said, I think that we're almost always safer doing a good thing - even if its for a not so good reason, than we are doing something wrong.<BR/><BR/>Going to church, fasting, reading the scriptures, serving through home teaching, watching edifying entertainment - those are all things that I think can feel empty of purpose and completely devoid of joy if we do them just to be good Mormons or Christians - or even to become like Christ.<BR/><BR/>I'm still learning in this area, like most areas, but in my case those things almost always feel somewhat unfulfilling if I do them just to do them, or emulate the Savior. But when I read the scriptures because it helps me recognize God throughout my day, when I stay away from rated 'R' movies because they affect my ability to retain control of my thoughts, or fast because I want to fine-tune my ability to communion - when I do those things, then I have real joy and happiness. The things aren't empty anymore.<BR/><BR/>That's me though. I think a letter-of-the-law type of obedience can kind of dilude the potency of good things. But even with the Pharisees in the New Testament - I don't think the Savior's beef with them was that they did what they were asked to. I think it was because they didn't understand why they were doing them, but said they did. <BR/><BR/>Just because Mormons feel like we have a "higher" law than that of Moses because we have the Savior's teachings - I don't think that keeps us from the danger of looking beyond the mark. Looking has never been the issue - it's what we're looking at, I think. <BR/><BR/>And I try to always look at the Savior, hoping that He's looking at me. Doing good things because we want to be good - I think that's great. But I'm not certain it's the ultimate end of what we're striving for. It leaves us unfulfilled - at least me. However, when I do good things because they are good, versus because I want to be good - I feel something different. Something good.<BR/><BR/>~ Kurt Manwaring ~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11513909.post-29924360936717110462008-02-13T21:20:00.000-07:002008-02-13T21:20:00.000-07:00I've thought about the same stuff a lot. To be hon...I've thought about the same stuff a lot. To be honest, if I were designing a religion, I'd do the same thing: focus exclusively on the middle 95%. Make them do all sorts of crazy, orthodox stuff to deepen their commitment. Create a culture that perpetuates the doing of crazy things by looking askance at anyone doing anything that seems different. <BR/><BR/>Yeah, by doing so you marginalize the tails of the curve, but that middle 95% is going to beget a bigger 95% and they're going to beget an even bigger 95%, etc. You can't develop that kind of self-perpetuating commitment if you're willing to care about what happens to the people on the tails. You end up with a bunch of "inactives" with weak commitments (see most other Christian denominations).<BR/><BR/>Uh -- IMHO.<BR/><BR/>And I like home teaching. It's like having assigned enemies. In any social situation that includes both teacher and teachee, you know *exactly* who you need to avoid. Gives life structure, makes decisions easier.<BR/><BR/>On that note,<BR/><BR/>bkdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11513909.post-62923279043826315332008-02-13T20:55:00.000-07:002008-02-13T20:55:00.000-07:00I feel very similar to you in a lot of respects. ...I feel very similar to you in a lot of respects. I am much worse at home teaching.<BR/><BR/>I remember a quote, can't find it now, but it stated something about when we reach the point that our responsibilities are no longer an annoyance and we really want to do them is when we will be endowed with true power.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I wonder if I wouldn't be so depressed if I were more diligent. I know it isn't that simple but of course when you are depressed you wonder such things.<BR/><BR/>Stick with it, it is better to do some good than no good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com