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Here are more assertions from the Newsweek article that bears on some other discussions we’ve been having: 1) “The desire to avoid asking for assistance from non-Mormons has also influenced the church’s structure, which requires nearly every member to contribute to the common cause. [lists our long sunday worship, tithing, temple work, economic outreach activities…etc]…and continues…
“In an age of spiritual consumerism, when many people regard religion as a therapeutic lifestyle aid, faith is often expected to serve the individual. For Mormons, it’s the other way around.
The result is an organization that resembles a sanctified multinational corporation — the General Electric of
American religion, with global ambitions and an estimated net worth of $30 Billion”.
2) “Consider the TV and Internet ad campaign recently started by the Church: A range of people describe their everyday lives and finish up with the phrase “And I’m a Mormon”. Church spokesman Michael Purdy describes the ads as an attempt to downplay Mormon “otherness”. The message “Mormons are just like everyone else”.
Except that they’re not. And its their distinctiveness that is influencing the broader culture. ….Then the article describes how Jet Blue CEO David Neelman gives up salary to fund needy employees, and regularly sheds his suit and tie in favor of a flight attendant’s uniform, and Stephen R. Covey writes books that disseminates the ‘upwardly striving Mormon outlook into a method for becoming a highly effective person….and Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series ‘gives vampires a Mormon makeover, with the lead character, Edward Cullen, serving as a sexy model of moral purity and chastity.”
Quote:1) “The desire to avoid asking for assistance from non-Mormons has also influenced the church’s structure, which requires nearly every member to contribute to the common cause. [lists our long sunday worship, tithing, temple work, economic outreach activities…etc]…and continues…
“In an age of spiritual consumerism, when many people regard religion as a therapeutic lifestyle aid, faith is often expected to serve the individual. For Mormons, it’s the other way around.
The result is an organization that resembles a sanctified multinational corporation — the General Electric of
American religion, with global ambitions and an estimated net worth of $30 Billion”.
I thought this was very insightful – the bit about being required to participate is key to Mormonism. I think that when we aren’t doing something in the church, we aren’t mentally and spiritually fully in the church.
Quote:2) “Consider the TV and Internet ad campaign recently started by the Church: A range of people describe their everyday lives and finish up with the phrase “And I’m a Mormon”. Church spokesman Michael Purdy describes the ads as an attempt to downplay Mormon “otherness”. The message “Mormons are just like everyone else”.
Except that they’re not. And its their distinctiveness that is influencing the broader culture. ….Then the article describes how Jet Blue CEO David Neelman gives up salary to fund needy employees, and regularly sheds his suit and tie in favor of a flight attendant’s uniform, and Stephen R. Covey writes books that disseminates the ‘upwardly striving Mormon outlook into a method for becoming a highly effective person….and Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series ‘gives vampires a Mormon makeover, with the lead character, Edward Cullen, serving as a sexy model of moral purity and chastity.”
I don’t know that I would go so far as to say Mormons are influencing the culture or having their “moment.” Maybe, maybe not. The Twilight observation is interesting. As these Twilight Tweens grow up, are more of them going to eschew sex for hot chastity? Er, not sure . . .
I think it depends which country you are in. As far as no 1 goes, this applies more to the USA. In most other developed countries there is a far more developed system of state support.
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