In my BYU philosophy type, the question changed into posed even if or now not studying too an awful lot can hurt one's faith. the vast majority of the category naïvely answered with a firm 'no' . I (wickedly) idea to myself, "If I gave you anti-Mormon literature to read would you be giving the equal reply nonetheless?"
i do know. It's an evil notion. but I've grown up otherwise than some individuals. I've at all times tried to are searching for the fact. One quote I definitely like is
"probably the most grand primary principles of Mormonism is to obtain fact, let it come from the place it will probably."
Emphasis on that closing part. although it will also be difficult, I are attempting now not to goal the messenger on the price of hearing the message. That's why, like Eve participating of the forbidden fruit, curiosity obtained the better of me.
Now before I lose you, I need to quote my favorite BYU religion professor, Gerrit Dirkmaat, historian and writer for the Joseph Smith Papers, who stated (I'm paraphrasing):
Anti-Mormon material are not lies. Anti-Mormon material is simply reality you've certainly not heard. so they inform you 100% truths, then say, "Oh. They by no means advised you about this? They ought to be mendacity to you."
You see, long past are the old days of Anti-Mormon lies. Now, they bring credible records aspects to the desk. i used to be stunned at what number of references the CES letter made to Lds.org pages like the gospel subject matters essays or how Richard Bushman's highly-praised faithful ebook, tough Stone Rolling, lit the fuse on Jeremy Runnells' faith crisis.
So for those like the 14-yr-historic boy that hesitantly confronted Elder Holland saying, "Brother Holland, i will be able to't say yet that i do know the Church is true, but I consider it's", and for people that aren't even relaxed saying that, I say unto you:
"Be of first rate cheer" — John sixteen:33
existence is a experience. religion is a adventure. maybe you'll find that analyzing in fact does harm your 'faith'. however within the end, it can deliver your religion to new heights.
a few of my favorite LDS fees:
"there's fully nothing incorrect with asking questions or investigating our background, doctrine, and practices. The Restoration started when Joseph Smith sought an answer to a truthful query.
When I even have a question that I can not answer, I frequently turn to folks that can assist me — comparable to educated students and historians. Blessed via the guidance they provide, i am better geared up to are trying to find the information of the Holy Ghost…
And to these of you providing solutions I say, please don't effectively brush the question off. don't tell her or him to not be anxious concerning the query. Please don't doubt the person's dedication to the Lord or His work. instead, help the person discover answers to their questions."
"until you resist Mormon background, you can under no circumstances be comfortable to your perception. you'll all the time reside in concern of an uncongenial shock. I think the finest coverage is to charge correct into the center of the presumed difficulties and contend with them."
"I even have spent a lot of time with a lot of people who've had [church history, doctrine, theology] complications. If somebody has an open mind, I consider i will be able to stroll that person across any of these mine fields to a safe position on the different facet. Now what's going to be necessary along the manner is a willingness to trade some paradigms. if you're absolutely hung up on an historic ebook of Mormon, you may have an issue. if you're willing to look upon the e-book of Mormon as the 'word of God' in its place of the 'words of God', you then'll be adequate. The difficulty that we now have is that there aren't enough courses to walk americans throughout those minefields. In an online age, people are going to move at once to the web when they have got questions on anything else — faith notwithstanding. the chances of discovering a site it truly is both sympathetic to Mormonism and containing solutions that meet the question er the place he/she has to be met are virtually infinitesimal — that's the problem. We need to do a more robust job of getting answers obtainable that meet the questioner the place the questions are. That's distinct than a hierarchy that wants to ship the message out that it desires to send. as a result of if that doesn't meet the questioner at the right location, then that person's gone."
The "CES Letter" challenges literal/infallible McConkie-like worldviews. folks that examine it may well discover themselves compelled to shift to a new paradigm like those of Jim Bennett, Richard Bushman, the symbolic worldview, or faithlessness. The "CES Letter" is basic studying for people that wish to m ake Mormonism continue to exist all over the information superhighway age of the twenty first century.
right here's a preview of the 138 web page docfaithful reply from Jim Bennett (372 pages long): https://canonizer.com/data/reply.pdf
half 1: The CES Letter — Intro and choice Paradigms part 2: Our Testimony and background half three: Is non secular Witness legitimate? half 4: applying higher Criticism to the booklet of Abraham
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