Book
Proposal: The Apatheist
Possible Subtitle:
Even If God Exists, It Just Doesn't Matter
Author: S.
Richard Bellrock
Genre:
Popular Philosophy / Psychology-Informed Nonfiction
Estimated
Word Count: 60,000–75,000 words
Status: 3
of 6-7 chapters complete; remaining chapters in progress
First they came for marriage equality
And I did not speak out
Because I was not in such a relationship
Then they came for the Transgender
And I did not speak out
Because I was not Transgender
Then they came for the Drag Queens
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Drag Queen
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Many of us have noted that the LDS Church of today is not the Church that we grew up in. In the olden days, there were roadshows, sports leagues, non-gospel themed ward camp-outs, ward cook-outs, old-timers who knew the original members...
For some of us, the church of 20, 30, or 50+ years ago was something we enjoyed.
However, there has been a more significant change than the current lack of fun.
I don’t want to overstate the conclusions of this piece. I do not have a horse in this race--I don’t think that the claims of either Mormonism or Christianity are true. What I want to point out is that Mormonism has traditionally argued for an incompatibility between itself and all other religions. Mormonism has carved out it’s own little categorical niche that excludes all other faiths.
Book of Mormon: Things that make you go hmmm…
In this essay, I don’t intend to provide any hard
hitting scientific, historical, philosophical, or logical argument against the
Book of Mormon. Instead, I want to take a look at some of the overlooked and
perhaps simpler red flags things found in its pages—things that are often
missed when read with a less critical eye, but upon a closer read, might give
the critical reader pause.
If, for the sake of argument, the Book of Mormon was
not the ancient record it purports to be, but is a construction of Joseph Smith
and his collaborators, one might expect to find items in its pages that offer
clues as to how it was put together. The Church is quite fond of claiming that
the BoM was translated in a matter of 60-90 days.[i]
Things that, when considered, might lead the reader to
wonder if the Book of Mormon was constructed hurriedly, without much time for
editorial revision; constructed in such a manner that some silliness,
absurdities, and implausibilities might have crept in. We might discover that
there are things found in the Book of Mormon that we ought not find if the Book
was the historical compilation it claims itself to be.
When I first thought of putting this list together, I
intended to make a top 10 list. But the more I thought about the items that
needed to be on the list, the more I realized that there was no way on God’s
green Earth that I could limit the list to only 10 items.
As I start to construct this list, there are 25 items
on it, but the number may change as I add or delete—most probably add (!) more
as I go.
Interesting observation: if you try to google any of
these questions related to any of these points, most of the results that you
get are sponsored by the Church. Official Church sites, apologetic sites,
church friendly blogs…The Church is putting a lot of effort (though I’m sure
not spending sacred tithing money) into search engine optimization, ensuring
that people cannot obtain non-LDS approved information about the Book of Mormon
specifically or the Church in general.
In no particular order…
1. “I, Abinadi…”
Book of Mormon
caricature King Noah is ruling during a period of prosperity. As there is
nothing to keep him or his people humble, they have descended into
abominations, wickedness, and whoredoms (Mosiah 11: 20). So, the Lord sends
Abinadi to call them all to repentance, lest they be visited by His anger, and
conquered by their enemies.
As one might imagine,
King Noah does not take kindly to Abinadi’s words of warning:
…Who is Abinadi, that I
and my people should be judged of him, or who is the Lord, that shall bring
upon my people such great affliction? I command you to bring Abinadi hither,
that I may slay him, for he has said these things that he might stir up my people
to anger one with another, and to raise contentions among my people; therefore
I will slay him.” (Mosiah 11: 27, 28. Unnecessary repetition in the original,
would likely not be found in a Book being compiled and edited into a “Reader’s
Digest” version by Mormon.)
Fearing for his life,
Abinadi goes into hiding for two years, after which he is ready to cry
repentance to the people once more. But there’s a problem. King Noah still wants
him dead, so if he were to start preaching, he would be instantly arrested.
That is, unless he has a cunning plan.
If he were to put
on a disguise, he’d be able to speak to the people without anybody
realizing that he is in fact Abinadi. Let’s see how that worked out for him…
And it came to pass that
after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that
they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them, saying: Thus has the Lord
commanded me, saying—Abinadi… (Mosiah
12: 1)
Did you catch the
silliness? To avoid arrest, he hides for two years. Then when he’s ready to
preach again, to avoid arrest, he puts on a disguise. Then, while in disguise,
the first words out of his mouth announce his name.
In my head, when I read that, someone shouts out “Hey everybody! It’s Abinadi! Get him!” and Abinadi mumbles “D’oh!”
Considering that
In the 1939 classic film “The Wizard of
Oz,” Dorothy visits The Emerald City, so named because virtually the entirety
of the city is, in fact, emerald in color. As you may know, the film is not always
completely faithful to the book upon which it is based. In L. Frank Baum’s
original “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (1900), while the walls of The Emerald
City are green, the city itself is not. In the book, upon entry into the city,
everyone is required to wear green-tinted spectacles (explained as an
effort to protect the eyes of the residents from the "brightness and
glory" of the city). These spectacles have the effect of making everything
appear green even though the city is objectively no greener than any
other.
Dorothy
was shocked to learn the truth from the Wizard of Oz: “But isn’t everything
here green?” asked Dorothy. “No more than in any other city,” replied Oz; “but
when you wear green spectacles, why of course everything you see looks green to
you…[M]y people have worn green glasses on their eyes so
long that most of them think it really is an Emerald City…[i]
Given that the reason that the residents of the city believe it to be emerald is the filtering effect of their colored glasses, it follows that if instead of green tinted spectacles, they wore scarlet tinted spectacles, the residents would think they lived in The Scarlet City. If they wore turquoise tinted spectacles, they would believe that they lived in The Turquoise City. If the residents wore magenta tinted spectacles, they would think that they were residents of The Magenta City. And so on…
I have another article in Sunstone Magazine.
The LDS Proselytizing Mission as Hazing.
It is an edited version of a previous blog post by the same name.
Once again, thank you to Stephen Carter for tackling my post and making it so much more coherent, and at least sorta close to the Sunstone word limit.
1. The
Sealed Portion of the Book of Mormon and the Pure Adamic Language
LDS scripture maintains that Adam and Eve had a language
that was pure and undefiled, a language both spoken and written (Moses 6:5, 6).
This was the one and only language until the time of the Tower of Babel
(Genesis 11:1-9; Mosiah 28:17, Journal of Discourses 3: 100 (Orson Pratt)).
You’ll recall that the Jaredites (Book of Mormon people
whose history comprises the Book of Ether) descended from people who were
present at the tower of Babel Mosiah 28:17, Ether 1:33). You’ll further recall
that the central event of the story of the Tower of Babel is that God made
everybody forget their (Adamic) language, “counfounded” their languages, and
scattered the people (Genesis 11: 7-9; Ether 1:33).
Jared somehow had foreknowledge of what God was about to do, so asked his brother to ask God to spare them and their friends (Ether 1: 33-37). God listened and agreed. Consequently, the language that the Jaredites carried to the new world was the Adamic language—unreadable to the Nephites who discovered the 24 gold Jaredite plates (the as yet unnamed Book of Ether) and Urim and Thummim amongst the ruins of the final Jaredite battle (Mosiah 8: 8-11).[i]
There is an analogy, often employed by defenders of the Latter-day
Saint faith, when trying to divert attention away from critics of the faith.
(…and to be clear, I have used the names Ford and
Chevrolet randomly, for the purposes of the analogy—not as any reflection on
the cars or companies in any real sense)
It is some variation of the following:
If you were considering buying a Ford, would you go to
the Chevrolet dealership for information?
It is an analogy so flawed it beggars belief that
anybody with a capacity to reason would ever propose it.
The more appropriate analogy would be:
If you were considering
buying a Ford, and discovered
(i)
that 75%[i] of Ford buyers returned
their vehicle within the first year, never to buy another Ford, and
(ii)
that the Ford corporation was trying to
disparage those who returned their cars, saying that there was something wrong
with the car owner rather than something wrong with the car, and
(iii)
that the Ford corporation did not want
potential buyers to know why almost all previous buyers returned their cars…
…would it not be
incumbent on you to find out why almost everybody returned their cars, why the car
company was disparaging the returners, and what it was that the company did not want you to
find out prior to your purchase?
[i] LDS Statistician David
Stewart suggest a 20-30% retention rate for new converts (http://cumorah.com/lawoftheharvest.pdf
pp. 257-280), and GA Historian Marlin K. Jensen puts it at about 25% (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mormonchurch-idUSTRE80T1CM20120131)
What follows stands alone as an essay
At some point there will be a part 2. But for now. enjoy part 1.
[Inuit[i]]: 'If I did not know about
God and sin, would I go to hell?'
Priest:
'No, not if you did not know.'
[Inuit]:
'Then why did you tell me?'
Annie
Dillard[ii]
You don’t need salvation
Part 1. Ransomware
It seems that in
Mormonism (and to a lesser degree in the broader category of Christianity),
there is a proviso for those who die without hearing the gospel.
Proviso?
Accepting Jesus (and
whatever that may entail) is necessary for us to avoid an eternal punishment in
the form of being separated from the presence of God. That hardly seems fair to
those who don’t accept Jesus because of an accident of birth. A majority of
persons who have ever lived did not accept Jesus due to living their lives in a
time and/or place in which they never had a chance to hear the gospel.
The proviso I mention is for these people.
For example, 2
Nephi 9:25 tells us that “…where there is no law given there is no
punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation;
and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have
claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power
of him.” (italics added)
Similarly, Mormon 8: 22 tells us that “…all little
children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law.
For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore,
he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent;
and unto such baptism availeth nothing.” (italics added)
St. Paul seems to be in agreement with the Book of
Mormon on this matter, asking rhetorically “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and
how shall they hear without a preacher…” (Romans 10:14), and suggests something
akin to the provision spoken of above: “…but sin is not imputed when there is
no law.” (Romans 5:13). And although “through the law we become conscious of
sin…” (Romans 3:20), those that die without the law, per se, will still
be judged on essentially being a good person (if I’m reading St. Paul right): “it
is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers
of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by
nature do what the law requires…They show that the work of the law is
written on their hearts.” (Romans 2:13-15). (italics added)
Mormonism has an explanation for why those who die without hearing the gospel are not condemned. In 1st Peter, Chapter 3, we learn that Jesus, “being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (v. 18, 19, italics added).
That time my five-year-old brother was told Satan is out to get him…
Revised July 5th 2021
It started simply enough…
My daughter had recently returned from a
vacation, visiting her boyfriend who was studying at one of the LDS
post-secondary institutions. “Dad,” she told me, “they are all smoking pot and
having sex with each other. All of them.”
But then…
That same day there was a headline in our
local news about how an LDS bishop had sexually abused children, when in his
late teens, and had confessed to it while on a mission—from which he was
not sent home after the revelation. The judge in the trial concluded
that the LDS Church had covered up this abuse. I reflected that this was not
the first such headline that I had seen in recent years in my largely LDS neck
of the woods.
Still that same day I checked into
Facebook and was struck the number similar stories coming from my LDS and XLDS
friends.
There was the recent high profile case of
Joseph Bishop, the former President of the Provo Utah Missionary Training
Center (MTC) who admitted to police that he engaged in sexual
improprieties (allegedly including a sexual assault) with Sister Missionaries
under his stewardship, and who claimed to be a predator and sex addict.[i] An
official statement from the LDS Church indicates that the Church never knew of
the misconduct until 2010, some 26 years after the offending events, but his
statement to the police indicates that Bishop confessed his actions to his
ecclesiastical leaders immediately, yet served out his complete tenure as MTC
President.[ii]
One of Bishop’s alleged victims sued him and the Church. The case against
Bishop was dropped due to the statute of limitations having long past, however,
at that time, the judge ruled that the case against the Church for fraudulent
non-disclosure and fraudulent concealment could move forward.[iii]
There is the recent high profile case of
former BYU instructor and director of three LDS Temple Endowment ceremony films
(and cofounder of the Sundance Film festival), Sterling Van
Wagenen, who admitted to molesting a 13 year old boy[iv]
After pleading guilty to and twice being convicted of molesting under age
girls, Van Wagenen is serving 6 years to life.[v]
For his horrific crimes, Van Wagenen was disfellowshipped for two years from
the LDS Church.[vi]
A BYU professor charged with sexually
abusing students.[vii]
A Utah police officer/bishop involved in human trafficking[viii],
Sunday School teachers involved in child sexual abuse[ix],
Bishops and others in positions of trust involved in sexual abuse and child
pornography[x].
In recent years it has a been reported
that, per capita, Utah has the US’s highest rates of subscription to
pornography websites[xi],
and that “…Utah fosters unique cultural factors that may leave those with
susceptibility at an even greater predisposition to using and abusing
pornography.”[xii]
As of 2015, the popularity of “incest porn”[xiii]
was growing faster in Utah than in any other state[xiv].
And Utah has what could be described as a child pornography epidemic[xv] that,
when discovered/confessed, the LDS Church doesn’t necessarily report to the
police,[xvi]
and there seems to be cases where this child pornography is being treated
lightly by the courts in Utah.[xvii]
It has been reported that rape occurs at a
higher rate in Utah than in the rest of the USA[xviii],
and that although Utah is #8[xix] in
the US for overall rates of abuse, it is #1 in sexual abuse[xx],
with one in five children in Utah experiencing sexual abuse[xxi]. And
there is some concern that the LDS Church is perhaps more concerned with protecting
its image than it is with actually combating the problem[xxii].
The Church recently released a letter, signed by the First Presidency,
instructing local leaders to not participate in any court cases without first
consulting the Church’s lawyers.[xxiii]
And although the Church has a hotline for local leaders to report sexual abuse, it seems to be manned by lawyers from the Church’s legal alter-ego, the law firm of Kirton McConkie.[xxiv]
Kirton McConkie?
One of Kirton McConkie’s founding partners was one Bryan Lloyd Poelman, at one point the chairman of an anti-pornography group called Citizens for Positive Community Values. While a Stake President, Poelman was caught in the act with a prostitute. Although Poelman was excommunicated, Apostle Boyd K. Packer assured Poelman’s stake that “Whatever else will take place, there will be no eternal consequences.” (italics added). He went on to serve a seniors mission and to serve as a worker in the Salt Lake City Temple.
Kirton McConkie also employs one Thomas L. Monson (son of former LDS
President Thomas S. Monson), who was fired from his job as vice-president of
American Investment Bank, then quietly settled the related sexual harassment
suit against him.[xxv]
I reflected on my daughter’s observation
about her friends at her boyfriends’ LDS School[xxvi],
the local story about the bishop, and the stories referenced above, and
wondered if there could be something in LDS theology and culture that somehow
facilitates what appears to be an inability to control one’s sexual
proclivities.
Although this post is focused primarily on
LDS culture and theology, the reader may notice that many of the observations made
here can be applied to broader categories of religious morality.
