Blogger Explains Why They Declined Invitation From Sunstone

[Indy Coug]

http://www.sixteensmallstones.org/declining-sunstone-an-argument-against-bloggernacle-participation-by-the-faithful?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sixteensmallstones+%28sixteen+small+stones%29&utm_content=FaceBook

[Brian]

My thought after reading through this was if something cannot stand up to scrutiny, what's the value?

[creekster]

My thought after reading through this was if something cannot stand up to scrutiny, what's the value?

Really? Out of curiosity what makes you think that was his argument?

[The Rambam]

The bottom line is that he believes that salvation is only to be had through the Church. Anything that weakens the loyalty and fidelity of individuals to the Church is evil. Because honest and open discussion of Church history and Church governance and even doctrinal developments and changes will tend to weaken loyalty and fidelity individuals have towards the Church (this is his assumption), such discussion is evil. So he only engages in biased and selective discussion of issues related to the Church.

I admire his honesty. If you believe in the clipboard/checklist God bound by earthly Church leaders (they bind in heaven after all), then this is the only rational course of action. If you love your neighbor, lie to him. Truth is subordinate to salvation.

[Brian]

i saw that in items 6,7,8.

item 6:
“See! We are all ‘Buffet-Mormons.’ We all pick and choose.” The difference is that they publish their differences publicly and defend them with arguments meant to convince others that the acts and counsels of the united authorities are wrong, and agitate to produce division in the church over those issues with which they disagree. It is not the disagreement but the public opposition that make it apostasy.

item 7:
"There is a difference between disagreeing privately with the united authorities of the church and losing confidence in them. “Taking your complaints to the Pub” is an act of no-confidence. Those who have confidence in the leaders of the church don’t publicly agitate against them. Faith is fundamentally Trust and when you cease to trust you cease to be faithful."

item 8:
"Much of the bloggernacle discourse is focused on finding and exposing the frailties and errors of those who hold priesthood keys. It puts people at risk by undermining their confidence in those to whom the Lord has given authority to bind us to Him."


Is the confidence deserved or valid? I'm not saying it is or that it isn't. But when extraordinary claims are made, they should be able to stand up to scrutiny and analysis. Some homework is needed to verify that the confidence is well placed. He seems to be claiming that the case is closed.
There are clearly douche-bags on both sides of the aisle, but there are also a lot of thoughtful believers and skeptics who do a nice job at investigating the validity of the "confidence".


And, "united" church authorities?
Really....

[Jeff Lebowski]

That guy is a nut. I have read his essays before.

[SeattleUte]

Speaking from an Orthodox POV he's right. Faith is an act of will, and his reasoning makes as much sense as advice from your personal trainer as to how not to slide off the exercise wagon.

He's well aware that his kind of belief can't survive socratic exchanges. Indeed, as I've noted, the very type of dialogue his kind of belief incites has limited material and becomes uninteresting.

[TripletDaddy]

It is a little like discussing one’s marriage difficulties, concerns, or criticisms in a pub, and soliciting public comments from everyone present, while avoiding discussing the problems with one’s own spouse.

Well, there's the answer. People with doubts and concerns that are looking for answers and explanations should take those doubts and concerns up directly with the Church. Problem solved.

[ERCougar]

Well, there's the answer. People with doubts and concerns that are looking for answers and explanations should take those doubts and concerns up directly with the Church. Problem solved.

Ha...that was exactly my thought.

[Jacob]

How embarrassing...that Indy didn't get his subject and pronoun to agree on the singluar form in the title to this thread.

[Paperback Writer]

Well, there's the answer. People with doubts and concerns that are looking for answers and explanations should take those doubts and concerns up directly with the Church. Problem solved.

We all know that the brethern in the COB look forward so much to their daily mail asking for answers and explanations. So much so, that members are directed to their local leaders who are not authorized to give definitive answers and explanations to most inquiries.