1. Is there an internal ability to verify truth?
2. Is "spirit" synonymous with "ideal"?
3. Does the group aspire to destroy truth?
4. Is their a hierarchy of evolution?
5. Is pressure to conform necessary for maintaining
an ideal?
6. Can a person write "idealized" texts which
demonstrate a method of realizing truth?
I was surprised that the question of "What is
Mormon?" provoked answers that spoke about
reproduction, family values, and other *social*
phenomenon. I would add to the above questions:
How can the truth of a belief be measured through
the social behavior of adherents (which would be
like saying that farmers are good neighbors so they
must be intelligent)?
>From owner-virus@lucifer.com Mon Jun 15 12:49:42 1998
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>From: "Johnny Rea" <matziq@airmail.net>
>To: <virus@lucifer.com>
>Subject: Re: virus: Virus: Opinions?
>Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 14:46:34 -0500
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>
>It is true that the concept of a spiritual compass is
>present in a couple of B of M stories (with faith and
>spirituality the compass begins to work, with less it fails.)
>However, the idea of faith guiding one is not a new or
>strictly Mormon idea. Many Biblical stories depict trials
>by faith, etc...and guiding forces such as the star of Bethlehem
>leading believers to the Christ child.
>
>According to Mormon doctrine there is a hierarchy of
>of heaven which includes three levels. It is true,
>that those in a higher level can visit the lower levels but
>not vice versa. Also, a requirement of reaching the highest
>level is temple marriage (which begs the question 'was
>Jesus married?')
>However, to Mormons Temple Marriage means much more
>than just the ability to obtain the highest degree of glory. To
>most it means Eternal togetherness...that a marriage is not
>'til death do us part' but everlasting through eternity.
>
>JOSEPH Smith organized a church that has continued to
>flourish 140+ years after his death. But it was not he himself
>who kept it going...it was the restored gospel of Jesus Christ
>and the Book of Mormon that has enlightened 10 million
>members + worldwide.
>
>I don't really know of the social pressure to conform of
>which you speak. There is no more social pressure that
>I've seen than in any other religion I've been part of.
>Have you ever been to Salt Lake City? It is virtually
>indistinguishable from any other major US city as far as
>crime, and other unsavory practices....and I have yet heard
>of anyone being coerced into leaving.
>
>Thanks for your time!
>
>John Rea
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: B. Lane Robertson <metaphy@hotmail.com>
>To: virus@lucifer.com <virus@lucifer.com>
>Date: Monday, June 15, 1998 2:28 PM
>Subject: Re: virus: Virus: Opinions?
>
>
>Mormons have some "spiritual insights" (defined
>"group ideal", as in "how things add up minus
>accident"). I have read parts of the book. There
>is an ideal of the internal "compass" which measures
>truth; the group's design to rid the individual of
>truth so that the group can create its own "truth";
>a comparison of this group "truth" to a "wilderness"
>(without order); and a fear like that of a
>rudderless ship (without the compass) wherein the
>group who has tied the individual's "compass" (with
>the individual) to the mast of the ship-- because of
>fear-- lets him loose again to lead them to safety.
>This "story" seems to be backed up in studies of
>groups, nations, civilizations, (and religions).
>
>I also like the suggestion that there is a hierarchy
>of ideals within which the individual who is most
>worthy might succeed at the effort to be married in
>the temple... and that to the degree that others do
>not aspire to this ideal, they are unable to match
>the temple-married couple in spirituality (so that
>the one married in the temple might visit other
>"heavenly" levels of spirituality-- which are less
>evolved-- though the less evolved couples cannot
>visit the ones who have attained the higher ideal).
>
>I think the ideal of an individual being inspired to
>write "holy" (or idealized) texts and thus to
>inspire others to follow his "path" to
>self-actualization is also sound. The hero "John
>Smith" seems to have succeeded in forming a world
>religion where others have not. I respect this. I
>do not respect the social pressures of the Mormon's
>to conform nor the exclusionary tactics that run
>non-Mormons out of Utah (though this might be partly
>necessary to maintain the ideal).
>
>
>B. Lane Robertson
>Indiana, USA
>http://www.window.to/mindrec
>Bio: http://members.theglobe.com/bretthay
>See who's chatting about this topic:
>http://www.talkcity.com/chat.cgi?room=MindRec
>
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>
>
>
B. Lane Robertson
Indiana, USA
http://www.window.to/mindrec
Bio: http://members.theglobe.com/bretthay
See who's chatting about this topic:
http://www.talkcity.com/chat.cgi?room=MindRec
______________________________________________________
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