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| − | {{question}}
| + | #REDIRECT [[Question: Can Latter-day Saints be divided into two distinct groups called "Internet Mormons" and "Chapel Mormons"?]] |
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| − | ==Question==
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| − | A friend tells me that no one can ascertain what Mormons ''really'' believe because "Internet Mormons" and "Chapel Mormons" often disagree on fundamental issues. What is this "divided Church" he's talking about?
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| − | ===Source(s) of the criticism===
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| − | *{{AntiBook:Abanes:Becoming Gods|pages=13}}
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| − | *Jason Gallantine, "Internet Mormonism vs. Chapel Mormonism: Has The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints split into two different religions (without even knowing it)?" (website) <!-- http://www.mormoninformation.com/imvscm.htm -->
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| − | ==Response==
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| − | This specific terminology was introduced by a critic of Mormonism, Jason Gallentine, who identifies himself as "Dr. Shades."
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| − | His argument began with a survey he posted on an Internet message board.{{ref|drshades1}} Mr. Gallentine later presented his theory at the 2004 Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City.{{ref|sunstone1}} It is clear from his comments — and from his lack of rigorous survey methodology — that he started with a polemical argument and conducted his research to fit his predetermined conclusions.
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| − | Many of the issues that Mr. Gallentine thought showed a difference between "Internet Mormons" and "Chapel Mormons" are not fundamental to Mormon belief. For example, his questions about [[Global or local Flood|the extent of Noah's flood]] and [[Archaeology and the Hill Cumorah|the location of the Hill Cumorah]] are topics of debate among believing Latter-day Saints, and are not matters on which anyone bases their testimony of the restored gospel.
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| − | Another issue that must be considered is that these differences in perspective existed long before the Internet allowed Latter-day Saints to discuss various views, and will continue long afterwards. There are members of the LDS faith who could be classified as "Internet Mormons" (using "Dr. Shades'" schema) who never used the Internet — including those who died long before the Internet was invented. There are also very active LDS members on the Internet who are best classified as "Chapel Mormons." Gallantine himself acknowledges this on his web site, stating that "Internet Mormonism—at least in its embryonic form—has been around much longer than the Internet itself has. Again, the name 'Internet Mormonism' merely calls attention to the place at which one is most likely to encounter this brand of Mormon thought."
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| − | LDS belief is more of a broad spectrum, not two isolated positions. Most Latter-day Saints do not sit exactly at the opposite points "Shades" proposes; they are somewhere in-between. This being the case, there isn't some kind of tension that exists between two groups which are clearly delineated — rather, they blend into each other. Only if you ''start with a need to separate Mormons into groups for polemical purposes'' does such a system make any kind of sense at all.
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| − | Most FAIR volunteers would be classified by Mr. Gallentine's survey as "Internet Mormons", and yet they still attend church every Sunday, participate in regular callings, and have disagreements among themselves on the finer points of LDS belief. And yet this alleged conflict has no significant impact on the Church or their participation in it.
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| − | When people complain about not being able to determine what Mormons (collectively) believe, the real issue they miss is that the Church does not tell its members what to believe. There is a lot of room for divergent views, and the Church thrives on the idea that its members are a vital part of the search for truth. The questions in the temple recommend interview have very little to do with doctrine and very much to do with actions. Ultimately Church leaders are trying to determine if members are dedicated followers of Jesus Christ.
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| − | Anti-Mormon critics want to label various views as being somehow heretical and not reflective of most Latter-day Saints. They do this so they can dismiss arguments that defend the gospel from their attacks.
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| − | ==Endnotes==
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| − | #{{note|drshades1}}"Dr. Shades" [Jason Gallentine], "Internet Mormons vs. Chapel Mormons: The research project", ''Zion's Lighthouse Message Board'' ("ZLMB"), 8 June 2004. {{link|url=http://p094.ezboard.com/fpacumenispagesfrm71.showMessageRange?topicID=50.topic&start=1&stop=25}}
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| − | #{{note|sunstone1}} Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium, Salt Lake City, 2004 {{link|url=https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_session&category_id=11&product_id=1483&Itemid=41}}
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| − | ==Further reading==
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| − | ===FAIR wiki articles===
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| − | {{CultureAttitudeWiki}}
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| − | ===FAIR web site===
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| − | {{CultureAttitudeFAIR}}
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| − | ===External links===
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| − | * {{FR-12-2-19}} <!--Tvedtnes-->
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| − | {{CultureAttitudeLinks}}
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| − | ===Printed material===
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| − | {{CultureAttitudePrint}}
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