I was listening to a LOST podcast. One of the callers was introducing her theory on the TV show and referred to the Jacob/MIB characters (you don't need to know the show to get this question) as God and Satan. She said something like "the show is about free will and the Satan character is trying to restrict man's free agency." Is this an LDS-unique doctrine and the caller was LDS or is this a common doctrine?
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Not unique to LDS, at least in my modest studies.
Many other churches reference the agency of man. One of the best examples of this would be the Baptists, and in particular, Charles Sturgeon.
The New Hampshire Confession is a doctrinal standard for Baptists (something akin to their own Articles of Faith) and some, including Sturgeon, have referenced the agency of man in their interpretations of the New Hampshire Confession.
I came across the New Hampshire Confession when studying up on the Wentworth Letter/Articles of Faith....and was struck by how......*ahem*.....similar the formats appeared. The New Hampshire Confession was written in 1833. The Wentworth Letter.....1842.
See for yourself...
Fitter. Happier. More Productive.
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If she used the term free agency i suspect there is a good chance she is LDS. Thenotion of free will or agency is not unique ot the LDS faith but I can't recall ever coming across the term "Free Agency" anywhere except LDS sources (it is not in the scritpures, btw).PLesa excuse the tpyos.Comment
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The Baptists dig "free agency."Originally posted by creekster View Post
From the Confession (chapter 9..."Of God's Purpose and Grace")
Odd that of all groups, it would be the Baptists that are tied to Mormon doctrine.We believe that Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end;Fitter. Happier. More Productive.
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I'm not sure exactly if she used the term free agency, maybe just agency. And the doctrinal issue I'm specifically curious about is the doctrine that Satan has or had a plan to restrict human's agency.Comment
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Ineresting. I Cant recall ever coming across it. In fact, look at this from wikipedia:Originally posted by TripletDaddy View Post
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_agency"]Free agency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File
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Further, in a recent conference address one of the speakers (Christofferson?) made the point of aying the term was not in the scriptures and really meant free will. (I recall this becaseu I have had the argument of whether it is a correct term with others before). Even so, it appears your point is well taken and that the baptists (or at least some among them) have used the term.PLesa excuse the tpyos.Comment
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Not literally.Originally posted by Indy Coug View PostYou don't watch very much ESPN, do you?PLesa excuse the tpyos.Comment
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Is that an LDS doctrine?When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.
--Jonathan SwiftComment
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I believe MEP believed and taught it, so it must be.Originally posted by SeattleUte View Post"In conclusion, let me give a shout-out to dirty sex. What a great thing it is" - Northwestcoug
"And you people wonder why you've had extermination orders issued against you." - landpoke
"Can't . . . let . . . foolish statements . . . by . . . BYU fans . . . go . . . unanswered . . . ." - LA UteComment
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It would be interesting to know the Genesis of the phrase "free agency" within our own culture. As you have pointed out, it simply doesn't exist in the scriptures. Who was the the first to coin it?Originally posted by creekster View Post
Side note: Conversely, the "Elijah/turn the hearts of the children" passage is unique in that it is one of the few (only?) passages that exists in all 4 standard works.
PS the interesting thing about the Baptist recognition of "free agency" is that it seems to be a tangible nod to the notion of "works," as opposed to grace, which is often the hot button topic of debate when discussing theology with friends or co-workers. Agency as a principle tenet would seem to imply that choices and actions are a critical aspect of salvation. It would be cool to ask a Baptist about this and watch them break down and start sobbing, admitting that they have been wrong all along and that works ARE important. Take that, argumentative Baptists!Fitter. Happier. More Productive.
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"free agency" is one of those terms that automatically raises my hackles. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's such an oxymoron. Whoever dreamt it up was really ignorant or totally brilliant.When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.
--Jonathan SwiftComment
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If it raises your hackles, then I'm going with the latter.Originally posted by SeattleUte View PostComment
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I read a great book by Joseph Fielding McConkie on agency. Fus does not trust a damn thing by any mcconkie though. He sustains the prophet, but and if.
But in book he says free agency is not in scriptures. And another intersting concept we are told Satan wanted to force us to be good. Not true at all. He wanted to save us all. How he would do that did not answer. Interesting perspective on that topic.Comment
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grapevine, next time skip the JFM book and just check out your topical guide for "free agency." It is free and only takes about 3 minutes.Originally posted by grapevine View PostFitter. Happier. More Productive.
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