Culture

From MormonWiki.org

"Mormons have repeated in a deep sense the pattern of the Jews—they are a religion that has become a people." -Harold Bloom, The American Religion

Anyone who has been to Utah or been around Mormons will eventually notice that Mormonism is in fact it's own culture. With this view in mind, any culture deserves special attention. In general, missionaries who desire to enter into a culture take time to understand and learn how to live within that culture and seek to understand how to be most effective within it. Little is different with Mormonism. The historical trek with Brigham Young to Utah is just one example of convictions and aspects that are deeply embedded in the Mormon culture.

Multimedia YouTube videos Mormon Pioneers A Day in the Life of a Mormon Missionary General Conference The Salt Lake Temple Temple Wedding Montage

Contents 1 A distinct, homogeneous culture 2 Family 3 Atheological tendency 4 Postmodernism 5 Internal stereotypes 5.1 Ex-Mormons 5.2 Anti-Mormons 6 Population and growth rate 7 Missions 8 Notable customs 9 References 10 See also 11 External links

A distinct, homogeneous culture

"Mormonism is a homogeneous culture. To be exact, it is a religious subculture that was born in America, flourished in America and concludes in America." [1]

"Essentially, the Mormon message attracts people who want to become Americanized." -D. Michael Quinn [2]

"What is often underestimated is how the Mormons who followed Brigham Young west also created a powerfully unique and distinctive culture. Mormonism leaves an indelible cultural imprint on those who grow up in the tradition. That cultural imprint is so deeply imbedded that some researchers believe Mormons are an ethnic group... [T]here are... many who have abandoned religious Mormonism but remain culturally Mormon." [3]

"Mormons have managed to make themselves into an ethnic group without any of the usual markers of ethnicity—no distinctive language or accent, no special foods or music." [4]

Family

This section is a stub. Please edit it to add information.

Atheological tendency

A key to understanding Mormon people is recognizing their atheological tendency to ignore incoherence and to focus on more accessible, social aspects of their religion. Many have argued that the primary "glue" of Mormonism is the heritage, culture, and family ties, not the theology. In other words, the typical allegiance to the Mormon organization primarily stems from something other than doctrinal concerns.

See main page: Atheological tendency

Postmodernism

Some aspects of historic Mormonism make it fit very well with postmodernism, and contemporary Mormonism is heavily influenced by the trend as a whole. Mormons tend to be very skeptical over knowing objective meaning and authorial intent in text, especially religious text, and view criticism of anyone's beliefs (especially their own) as deeply unethical. Unfortunately for Christian evangelists, Mormons also view authoritative proclamation of one's own worldview, as though it were absolutely true, as deeply unethical, and view means of communication which are distinctively connected to authoritative views of truth as inappropriate and "contentious".

See main page: Postmodernism

Internal stereotypes

Ex-Mormons

"This typical, non-Mormon stereotype, is another way that Mormons are able to support thier beleifs. If you have fallen away from the church, it is because you don't want to give your time to God and would rather spend that time on more worldly pursuits." [5]

"I often view those who stop attending, or leave the church, claiming that it was the anti-Mormon literature that made them do it are just looking for an excuse." [6]

Anti-Mormons

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See main page: Anti-Mormon

Population and growth rate

Mormons pride themselves in the idea that their religion is the "fastest-growing religious element in the United States and in the world, almost" ^[1]

See main page: Population and growth rate

Missions

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See main page: Missions

Notable customs

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References

1. ↑ Gordon B. Hinckley, The New Yorker, "Lives of the Saints" (2002). Accessed 8/19/2006. URL: http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?020121fa_FACT1

See also

• Burning in the bosom
• Neo-Mormon theology
• Persecution complex
• Depression in Utah
• Faith promoting rumors
• Cross

External links

• Doctrine and Heritage, by Bill McKeever
• The First Vision and Religious Tolerance: Part 1, Part 2, by Joseph Fielding McConkie (son of Bruce McConkie, one of starkest LDS leaders in recent history) - In these two articles McConkie responds to what attitudes he perceives Mormonism to have taken)
• Mormon Families Look So Good, by Kathleen Baldwin
• Choose the Right, by Sharon Lindbloom
• "I feel a spirit of contention!", by Bill McKeever
• Mormons say, "I know" (Exmormon.org)
• Losing Faith and Lots More, by William Lobdell (The Los Angeles Times) - "Some Mormons who quit the church find themselves ostracized by friends, co-workers and families."