Reform Mormonism? The Future Splintering Of The Church?

[Scott Lloyd]

An interesting blog post from our friend Daniel Peterson with an associated link.

 

The projected scenario he describes sounds vaguely familiar -- as though something similar had happened in real life fairly recently (wink, wink; nudge, nudge).

Edited February 17, 2015 by Scott Lloyd

[Uncle Dale]

Our friends headquartered in Rome once pondered
similar weighty matters, in their own jurisdiction --

 

results?

Russian rite
Ruthenian rite
Slovak rite
Romanian Byzantine rite

Their priests get to wear black hats, have long beards
and (in some cases) have a wife and kids at home.

(The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop of Canterbury
and Martin Luther's ghost remain apostates, however)

When the Mormon Church splits, I want to fellowship with
the schismatics who end up with the Colesville Tabernacle...

 

UD

[teddyaware]

An interesting blog post from our friend Daniel Peterson with an associated link.

 

The projected scenario he describes sounds vaguely familiar -- as though something similar had happened in real life fairly recently (wink, wink; nudge, nudge).

 

What Peterson is describing here is nothing less than a Nephite dissenter/Gadianton robber type secret combination. While I believe the prophecies in the scriptures testify that a conspiracy of this sort will not ultimately succeed in accomplishing its designs, nevertheless, knowing the adversary is the original, most cunning and most successful master of deceit of all time, I wouldn't be very surprised if he attempted an "inside job" of this sort. If it does happen, I believe the conspirators will sooner or later be detected and cast out before the Church is irreparably harmed. 

[pogi]

The silly thing is that all of the apostates would have every thing they are arguing for with the previously splintered Community of Christ.  Don't we have enough variety of fundamentalist and liberal branches of theology to choose from already?

[Uncle Dale]

The silly thing is that all of the apostates would have every thing they are arguing for with the previously splintered Community of Christ.  Don't we have enough variety of fundamentalist and liberal branches of theology to choose from already?

Sounds like an opportune time for me to establish the CoCBoAp

(Community of Christ, Book of Abraham professing)

I'll be accepting applications for FP, Q12, and Presiding Patriarch

just as soon as I get my headquarters set up on a fishing boat

anchored outside the U.S. three mile limit.

UD

[Buzzard]

I wouldn't be surprised if the CofC had a minor bump in membership, especially in Utah.  I know some folks who live down the street from their building in Orem, and they tell me that only about a half dozen cars show up for Sunday services.  Maybe they could use a little boost. 

[ERayR]

The silly thing is that all of the apostates would have every thing they are arguing for with the previously splintered Community of Christ.  Don't we have enough variety of fundamentalist and liberal branches of theology to choose from already?

 

There is always those who love the neighborhood but once the move in want to change it to be like the neighborhood they left.

[Paddy]

An interesting blog post from our friend Daniel Peterson with an associated link.

The projected scenario he describes sounds vaguely familiar -- as though something similar had happened in real life fairly recently (wink, wink; nudge, nudge).

Looks like Daniel has finally reveilled his secret plan.

[Ham Clam]

Looks like Daniel has finally reveilled his secret plan.

Dan Peterson for Prophet. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Coreyb]

I believe a future schism in the church is inevitable, we have had them in the past and we will have them again. Though I could see a schism coming from a reform group of "progressive" Mormons, I think it is far more likely to come from a more religiously "conservative" group with views like that of Denver Snuffer or Rock Waterman. The problem is, if a leader were to break off from the church with a following, they would have to occupy the very top position in order to have a legal claim to any assets. I have a hard time believing anyone would be able to infiltrate the top leadership as brother Peterson suggests, ( how would you go about becoming a young apostle?). It would be more likely that someone would get into a high position and then change their views. A successful schism would require gaining assets as much as gaining people, because people are most likely to follow the money, or whichever leader owns the temples, meetinghouses, storehouses and malls. Without assets, the schismatic group would be required to do a lot of proselytizing in order to have any chance of competing with the mainstream, and they would have to gain non Mormon converts as well. That is the drawback a progressive style church has vs a conservative one. What would be the message? Who has authority (an important question in mormonism) if we aren't sure if there is a personal God? Imagine if John Dehlin decided to start a reform mormon church. He might get a good amount of attendance and support initially, but how would he keep members active in the long run? Many of his followers no longer believe in God, or are disillusioned with all religion. How would that level of belief play out in the nitty gritty of regular worship? And how would he attract any adherents that do not already come from a mormon background.

[The Nehor]

Sounds like an opportune time for me to establish the CoCBoAp

(Community of Christ, Book of Abraham professing)

I'll be accepting applications for FP, Q12, and Presiding Patriarch

just as soon as I get my headquarters set up on a fishing boat

anchored outside the U.S. three mile limit.

UD

 

I call President of the 12.

[rockpond]

An interesting blog post from our friend Daniel Peterson with an associated link.

 

The projected scenario he describes sounds vaguely familiar -- as though something similar had happened in real life fairly recently (wink, wink; nudge, nudge).

 

I think one problem with Peterson's "plan" is that many of those things are likely to happen before someone young could rise to the position of prophet.

[Coreyb]

The most likely future schism to happen in my opinion, the mainstream allows full LGBT equality, including temple sealings, and a decent sized chunk of conservatives break off, possibly including some general authorities.

[Scott Lloyd]

I believe a future schism in the church is inevitable, we have had them in the past and we will have them again. Though I could see a schism coming from a reform group of "progressive" Mormons, I think it is far more likely to come from a more religiously "conservative" group with views like that of Denver Snuffer or Rock Waterman. The problem is, if a leader were to break off from the church with a following, they would have to occupy the very top position in order to have a legal claim to any assets. I have a hard time believing anyone would be able to infiltrate the top leadership as brother Peterson suggests, ( how would you go about becoming a young apostle?). It would be more likely that someone would get into a high position and then change their views. A successful schism would require gaining assets as much as gaining people, because people are most likely to follow the money, or whichever leader owns the temples, meetinghouses, storehouses and malls. Without assets, the schismatic group would be required to do a lot of proselytizing in order to have any chance of competing with the mainstream, and they would have to gain non Mormon converts as well. That is the drawback a progressive style church has vs a conservative one. What would be the message? Who has authority (an important question in mormonism) if we aren't sure if there is a personal God? Imagine if John Dehlin decided to start a reform mormon church. He might get a good amount of attendance and support initially, but how would he keep members active in the long run? Many of his followers no longer believe in God, or are disillusioned with all religion. How would that level of belief play out in the nitty gritty of regular worship? And how would he attract any adherents that do not already come from a mormon background.

Unitarian Universalist/Mormon hybrid?

[Coreyb]

Unitarian Universalist/Mormon hybrid?

Why would someone join that unless they come from a mormon background?

[rockpond]

The most likely future schism to happen in my opinion, the mainstream allows full LGBT equality, including temple sealings, and a decent sized chunk of conservatives break off, possibly including some general authorities.

That possibility scares me.

In his August 2014 MS interview Terryl Givens commented on the relatively young age of Mormonism. He noted that it was about at this age that the Catholic Church formed the councils to agree on doctrines. Or something like that... I'm doing my best to recall his brief comment. Just thought it was interesting.

[Pahoran]

An interesting blog post from our friend Daniel Peterson with an associated link.

 

The projected scenario he describes sounds vaguely familiar -- as though something similar had happened in real life fairly recently (wink, wink; nudge, nudge).

What?  You're posting links to a "for-profit" blog?

 

Is there no end to your depravity???

 

Regards,

Pahoran

[The Nehor]

I call President of the 12.

On second thought I will accept the post on condition that me and all members of my family be exempt from all Chirch rulings on milk strippings. I do not want to be a silly cautionary tale.

[Uncle Dale]

On second thought I will accept the post on condition that me and all members of my family be exempt from all Chirch rulings on milk strippings. I do not want to be a silly cautionary tale.

 

That will require a special dispensation --

available only upon elevation to the

anointed quorum...

 

UD

(I'll see that it's done by proxy before

the first day of Eosturmonap.)

[Scott Lloyd]

Why would someone join that unless they come from a mormon background?

It was intended as a joke.

[Scott Lloyd]

What?  You're posting links to a "for-profit" blog?

 

Is there no end to your depravity???

 

Regards,

Pahoran

(lol) Oh yes. I forget these things.

[Scott Lloyd]

That possibility scares me.

In his August 2014 MS interview Terryl Givens commented on the relatively young age of Mormonism. He noted that it was about at this age that the Catholic Church formed the councils to agree on doctrines. Or something like that... I'm doing my best to recall his brief comment. Just thought it was interesting.

So it's about this point in our history when we can expect a general apostasy to get into full swing? Is that why I'm seeing all the time-specific prognostications lately? You know: within 40 years this will happen, or within 25 years that will happen, etc.

[hagoth7]

Sounds like an opportune time for me to establish the CoCBoAp

(Community of Christ, Book of Abraham professing)

I'll be accepting applications for FP, Q12, and Presiding Patriarch

just as soon as I get my headquarters set up on a fishing boat

anchored outside the U.S. three mile limit.

UD

I'll volunteer for nursery.

[Sevenbak]

An interesting blog post from our friend Daniel Peterson with an associated link.

 

The projected scenario he describes sounds vaguely familiar -- as though something similar had happened in real life fairly recently (wink, wink; nudge, nudge).

 

I think there's already close to a hundred splinter groups.  I say bring on a few more!

[rockpond]

So it's about this point in our history when we can expect a general apostasy to get into full swing? Is that why I'm seeing all the time-specific prognostications lately? You know: within 40 years this will happen, or within 25 years that will happen, etc.

 

I don't think that's what I was saying.  But I'm not totally up on my Catholic history.  I didn't think that they considered the Nicean Council to be an apostasy.  I believe it was an attempt to bring everyone together and reach a consensus.  But I also don't really see that as something that we'd have happen within our structure.