Crass Sentimentality

[Ron Beron]

I recently received the latest book catalog from Deseret Book and was was looking through the pages and except for a few exceptional titles the vast majority were fairly weak in gospel doctrine, but long in promoting a floppy testimony based on stories short on reality and long on sappy sentimentality. I was reminded of a talk given years ago by Prof. Noel B. Reynolds which addressed this...

Quoted in Sunstone 6:4/6 (Jul 81)

"Because our youth often respond positively to sentimentalism," he warned, "there is a danger that we might cater to that in the Church instruction more generally." And although sentimentality is perhaps a good thing in intimate relationships, Reynolds expressed his concern that "it should never be leaned upon as a substitute for spirituality. Reliance on sentimentality will stunt our own spiritual growth by misleading us and filling our understanding with false experiences."

Speaking more personally, Reynolds described his dismay after being told by two publishing houses which cater to an LIDS audience that they were primarily interested in books either authored by well-known Mormons or so simply written that they gave people a warm comfortable feeling without any challenging ideas. Such material fosters flabby reasoning which can easily make us vulnerable to false gospels, moralistic movements, and the irresponsible claims of some scholars and scientists.

In closing, Reynolds advised students to "develop a responsible awareness of the foundations of any discipline" they chose to pursue in order to assess for themselves "the strength of the theories and evidences that are under discussion. Mormonism is a distinctly intellectual faith," he concluded. "From the beginning, great importance has been placed on giving a full picture of the world and its relationship to God to the humblest member."

Does the publications of Deseret, et al seem to cater to crass sentimentality or is it just my aged cynicism?

[Storm Rider]

My answer would be I am not sure. This world should be one of balance. There is room for all things. It would be a dreary world in deed if all that we heard was based on right angles, exact lines, and cold logic.

We admire and pursue intellectual pursuits not because it is our foundation in faith, but because it expands the mind. The moment we move or emphasize the world Ratio and leave behind the world of Fides, is when our world becomes out of kilter and our foundations begin to disintegrate.

Everyone is on the path together; some are further along than others. Let us not denigrate those that feast upon milk while others begin to partake of meat.

[Ron Beron]

My answer would be I am not sure. This world should be one of balance. There is room for all things. It would be a dreary world in deed if all that we heard was based on right angles, exact lines, and cold logic.

We admire and pursue intellectual pursuits not because it is our foundation in faith, but because it expands the mind. The moment we move or emphasize the world Ratio and leave behind the world of Fides, is when our world becomes out of kilter and our foundations begin to disintegrate.

Everyone is on the path together; some are further along than others. Let us not denigrate those that feast upon milk while others begin to partake of meat.

I would certainly not denigrate those, but I cannot helped but be reminded of the "Left Behind" series which sentimentalizes the latter days. Rather than promote a proper understanding it fills the mind, and presumably the heart with a silly understanding of the actual events that will transpire.

Conversely, while it is good to teach gospel topics in a serialized manner especially to kids I don't think that using fictional characters and events is the proper way to do it. It romanticizes the seriousness of such issues. Again, to draw upon a fictional event watching the movie "Titanic" I was struck that we are swept into this prurient love affair of two fictional characters while the actual real story of love (the elderly couple who die in their bed holding each other or the mother reading to her children) are simply relegated to a small smidgen of film play. Reality is better than fiction.

[Calm]

I made the same observation when I got the ad a week or so ago to my daughter. Usually there's more serious works included, though I haven't taken a look at the ads for many months, so I don't know if this is a trend. This time of year I was hoping for a good history book for my husband or dil. Hopefully this was only a fluke that there were so few attractive titles as I know lots of people that are interested in at least quality history related material.

When I was teaching the scriptures to Primary kids I had a real problem with a few of them that saw the fictionalized video accounts as canon, so to speak, enough so that it got in the way of teaching some of the principles. Otoh, I 'broke' into the BOM by reading "A Child's Version" and I was the one most at home with the actual scriptures in my classes so I think the simplified versions can have some value as long as they don't replace the real thing. Plus I think the very simple book versions that allow the reader to supply most of the 'flesh' are best rather that the videos or extensive storytelling details added as that imposes another's viewpoint on a child or even an adult, one that they may never be able to distance themselves from. For example, my first thought when Moses is discussed is no matter how hard I try usually overlaid on a visual of Heston, with too any nuances colored by his personality rather than actual information from the text. From what I heard people say, this is not uncommon but most don't seem to think there's anything problematic about it.

Edited November 25, 2011 by calmoriah

[Storm Rider]

It is true that I seldom, maybe once per year, look at books from DB; it is just not where I buy books. I have heard from some that LDS families libraries consist of scriptures, then those that add Deseret books. That appears the total of most books found in LDS homes according to some critics.

For me, I own scriptures aplenty, bibles of various sorts, sacred texts from most, if not all, major religions, and then hundreds of great texts. I suspect that I am not alone on this forum.

My position is that that we each learn differently and we are at different stages of growth. I see no benefit in forcing all to a specfic level and all to grow at the same pace.

Can Deseret Book do a better job? I expect so, but then none of us should feel forced to purchase all our books from the source. It would be interested in hearing what DB thinks their purpose is and how well they think they are doing it.

[Garden Girl]

I too have a problem with the majority of DB catalog selections... However, our DB in Portland near the temple is actually very good with more serious selections, but, it is still not on a par with selections that many of our posters would want, but then is that DB purpose? The more intellectual publications by LDS (and other) authors of religion oriented topics are more likely printed through university presses or other publishers, and perhaps that is as it should be... with DB providing selections for a wider LDS audience of varying levels.

GG

[Freedom]

The problem with doctrinal books is that people naively accept them as scripture. I have found that the bretheren have stopped writing doctrinal books and I am grateful for it. Bruce R McConkie and Joseph Fielding Smith introduced a lot of false notions. In fact, I believe they are responsible for many church members rejecting evolution. Also, DB is in the business of selling books. If you filled the brochure with books like Rough Stone Rolling, nobody would every buy anything. I am not suggesting that people with our interests are somehow superior. We just have different interests. Most people are simply not interested in learning about the often esoteric topics that get discussed here. Most watch reality TV and love a good heart warming story to help them through their day.

[wenglund]

I would think myself somewhat snobbish were I to judge the DB selection as "crass sentimentality." As I see it, selection in retail stores tends to be market driven, and so at best I may reasonably consider the DB offerings to be of a different taste than mine. To each their own.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[rpn]

I would certainly not denigrate those, but I cannot helped but be reminded of the "Left Behind" series which sentimentalizes the latter days. Rather than promote a proper understanding it fills the mind, and presumably the heart with a silly understanding of the actual events that will transpire.

The OP's reference to this series is quite interesting. I think that the series made it really clear that God would have a prophet in the last days and people need a living prophet --- after all that is what the characters did in the series. And I think that the series no doubt started lots of discussions about what it means to stand up for one's faith, and how one follows God and the law or when civil disobedience is required ---- discussions which SHOULD take place long before anyone is likely to have to do so in the moment. And I think that the series caused thought about what the mark of the beast will be --- I ended up considering that it might be personal debt, or credit cards --- again something that will sneak up on and maybe overcome those who have never thought about what it could be and how they could avoid getting it. The more scenarios one has considered how to react to, the easier it will be to handle whatever comes. So I don't think that they are mere sentimentality: books, even ones that speculate on future events, but also ones that teach or share examples can bring peace. And it doesn't take much to put them above most of the drivel that is being published today.

[Ron Beron]

I would think myself somewhat snobbish were I to judge the DB selection as "crass sentimentality." As I see it, selection in retail stores tends to be market driven, and so at best I may reasonably consider the DB offerings to be of a different taste than mine. To each their own.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Too be honest I am a bit snobbish, but given limited funds I think that the church's flagship publisher could come up with books other than teenage drivel (did I say that?). When I first joined the church I was fascinated by the sheer volume of informative material. I remember when Nibley was required reading for the priesthood quorums. Now, we have the principles. Given that rant I am more than thankful for the Neal Maxwell Center's contribution as well as Gospel Link. Other than that there is always Signature and other publishers.