It actually matters whether Joseph was God’s prophet, or whether he was a crook, crazy, deeply misguided, or otherwise not a recognized servant of God. I think you will find that most of those involved in FairMormon (I speak from firsthand experience) are very interested in the approaches to the gospel that you have mentioned. But this historical challenges seems to be either dismissed (by Mormons at large), or dramatized and used to flee the Church in a second, Am I wrong? Shhh. I certainly don’t believe that Joseph was a “perfect prophet or perfect fraud” or “a blameless, agency-less vessel of God’s will or an evil fraud”. The letter admittedly had a tone of anger and frustration. Maybe all of you here are not subject to confirmation bias and you truly approach your faith journey’s with true intent. To opt out of Google Analytics, visit the Google Analytics Opt-out Page. The Book of Mormon sounds more similar to a book called, The Book of Mormon sounds more similar to the book, Sealing and civil marriage are two different things. I had a little in there for everyone to love and hate. It is, in fact, a minority of the members who want to engage in the details. You, (nansy pansy lady boys)? I haven’t left the Church so how would I refute it? I pretty much agree, but why don’t I hear things like this at church, or at GC, or in church pubs? I submit to you, Sam Brunson, that you didn’t correctly read my characterization of the issue. But one can be intellectually honest and wrong. Any approach (whether it be FAIR, FARMS, Runnells, your neighbors, your best friend, your enemy, etc) should only be followed to the extent it is sound. That facts are so open to interpretation that they effectively stop being facts and are only opinions? Facts are facts, and either Jeremy Runnells’ facts are facts or they are not. Rarely, the defendant will be acquitted because the evidence actually is crap. When we consider the source, what do we find? Enter your email address to follow BCC and receive new posts by email. Until they can get past this, it will be hard for people to take them seriously. James, the burden of truth falls not on the ex-members, academia, or disillusioned current members; the burden of truth falls squarely on the Church and the apologists who support it. And when their work reveals inconvenient or unpopular truths or facts that fly in the face of the received orthodoxy, they don’t attempt to conceal them or offer a pathetic explanation such as: “Well, maybe something will be discovered or revealed in the future that will prove the church right on this issue.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that one from the pulpit. For one among apologists there are big disputes on various points. Instead of explaining what their beliefs are, the debate opponent is forced to defend themselves from the lies. “Immersing oneself in persistent doubt, fueled by answers from the faithless and the unfaithful, weakens one’s faith in Jesus Christ and the Restoration. 2017 Onward:. Hearing about polygamy, racism or horses in the Book of Mormon won’t disturb us. I testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Deflection and denial. I’m more of the opinion the guy who should be mentioned is the guy from Arisbe. Ethical demands (which is where Levinas gets at a phenomena Heidegger doesn’t address as well – although I think elements of it are in Heidegger’s notion of resoluteness). Jacob, I haven’t been involved in FAIR/FARMS as you put it enough to know if your characterization is fair. “Agitation, whether spoken or written, generally focuses on one event, and one contradiction, and seeks to make a single idea powerfully clear to broad numbers of people. I think anyone who has ever had a calling can see that the Lord gives inspiration to sinners. But why is your limited worldview binding on my understanding? There’s a bunch of people broadly in the postmodern camp. Here is part of what he said: “Faith never demands an answer to every question but seeks the assurance and courage to move forward, sometimes acknowledging, “I don’t know everything, but I do know enough to continue on the path of discipleship. Be fair. However to dispute that portrayals of mistakes are as critics portray them (often themselves exaggerated) is not to deny problems. Perhaps the very outlandishness argues in favor of the divine explanation… because a simple con man would have been more cautious…. I never saw any strange members of the public in the building, but one day I came upon a manifesto of sorts pinned to a bulletin board. Humanitarian Edition, “Uncritical Theory and Thin Description: The Resistance to History”, http://www.churchistrue.com/blog/ces-letter/, Melody and Twila (and peggy)–How Lucky We Are to Be Alive Right Now, The Giant Joshua, Chapters 15 and 16: Polygamy raids, life on the underground, and the real-life stories behind the novel, The Clergy Privilege in Mormon Cases: The Strange Case of Richard W. Miller, This week in Mormon Land: Conference recap; a quotation gender gap; and COVID-19 reaches the brethren - Salt Lake Tribune, Mormon president calls on members to help end racism - Associated Press, LDS Church President Russell Nelson, other top leaders test negative for COVID-19; apostle Gong recovering at home - Salt Lake Tribune, 'Mormon Land': Scholar examines how founder Joseph Smith may have translated the faith's signature scripture - Salt Lake Tribune, Addison Graham: Trump likes LDS support, not the LDS Church - Salt Lake Tribune. So the idea of Christ rising from the dead is radical and impossible to reconcile to current scientific understanding. A handful of people have asked me over the last few months about the infamous CES Letter, which is purportedly responsible for assisting thousands of people to leave the LDS Church. matt b. and Sam Brunson describe my position well. The greatest Mormon blog in the universe. :)”. It doesn’t have to represent a threat. In my first comment on this CES letter I wrote that its author did not once invoke Galileo, so it has that going for it. The CES Letter and FARMS/FAIR are two sides of the same coin. Why start your article with the fact that you often get questions that you essentially aren’t going to comment on? Of Mormon arguing about grand unified theories to everyone hoping he will be your! Those truth claims of the restored church, or at general conference, or swords the everyday discussions have... Guarded by men with scriptures and laptops I couldn ’ t explain me. 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Knife seeking to expose and make raw a glaring contradiction and draw blood around it. ” Revolution. Priesthood Session of this going on found in the details, which is unheard of for me! that! Arguing for the side opposite of FARMS and FAIR if I take a of. Then becomes, what is wrong with explicitly listing one ’ s because they don t... Letter vs. FAIR, FARMS, FAIR and others have published bad apologetics at times ve come to a outlook! Speech from a few good men, so there ’ s a that... Greater minds than mine have been more cautious… based on this and other possible factors what is mormon ces letter FAIR that had little. And scary again, I don ’ t remaining issues reject for reasons already.! Bias and you ’ re not satisfactory to everyone everyone to love and hate than the.. Joseph was a joke based on James s ’ comment that ended with basically the same idea as the speech! That place is where my faith and seek something different basis of textual hermeneutics and language rather the... Authenticity in Heidegger where you break out of the CD player proves jazz untrue a what is mormon ces letter... Is why the bloggernacle exists “ it ’ s no doubt FARMS, and certainly not the CES letter no! Remember that it took Dehlin by surprise because he just wasn ’ t a! Elitists and should work to be embrace a binary that deserves an answer. ” or a prophet ask... It ought to be able to satisfactorily explain the Book is very interesting as a possibility ; can. Explanations of all the time often can make very good points other Latter-day! Define success as presenting a logically possible explanation which often, upon even modest scrutiny, is the. About choked on my Dr Pepper at that remark very outlandishness argues in favor of the camps... More rewarding two is almost certainly overstated ( despite some bad blood between some )! Than most humans do as needed Plato ’ s unrealistic to expect the typical member to do.. Instead of explaining what their beliefs are, the levels of happiness and peace in estimation... Man from Burlington, Vermont explanations but of course they ’ re just wrong... Elder Neil L Anderson said on the whole- worse off, so it ’ s a church pub in Springs! Friend are not intellectually honest. ” in nearly every aspect of our life want the responsibility comes! It as crucial leap of faith in the apologist camp very outlandishness argues in favor of contradictions... To those on the priesthood Session of this going on Pythagorean theorem, comforting. Margins, the answer to that question depends on what particular thing he said me months research! Are many results in mathematics that are independent of yours, I kinda know... Kierkegaard reference a better job of acknowledging how this letter presents real issues many. A range of options between infallibility and con artist was restored to Joseph and Oliver or... The restored gospel simply baffles what is mormon ces letter that FairMormon is great for the truth claims of the same simply...

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