In Praise of Cafeteria Mormonism – Patheos article

Great article Ann. They worded it very well, which seems so logical and common sense when you step back and see things in clear light. But that is not what the “fully immersed” are often able to accept.

I like this quote:

Those who take an all-or-nothing approach select verses like this (and there are many more) to validate their perspective.

But that’s just the point—everyone selects the verses that will bolster their position. Everyone does this, not just the “liberals” on the one hand or the “fundamentalists” on the other. Every great religious tradition, Mormonism included, is “internally plural,” in the words of religion scholar Scott Appleby. As he notes, “religious communities, in their self-understanding and in their orientation to the word, change constantly.”

Its just the way it is. Catholic, Muslim, and yes…even the restored gospel of Mormonism.

Some might also think this is heresy…but the point is a good one:

In other words, Jesus was a cafeteria Jew. He took a helping of everything at the buffet, but piled his plate high with the things he deemed to be best.

So what is the difference between the liberal cafeteria approach and the orthodox cafeteria approach? Would orthodox members say that there is a truth out there, and so they choose those scriptures that affirm the collective teachings, whereas the orthodox members criticize liberals for selecting scriptures or interpretations that are less common to the collective teachings? So both are choosing, but orthodox criticize liberals for deviating from norm?

I agree with Hawk. The only conceptual difference is self-awareness of what one is doing.

I really like the article.

I’ve heard it said that Paul was the first Christian, since he was the one who prompted the opening of the doors officially for non-Jews to be baptized without the need for circumcision. Before that, “Christians” merely were a unique sect of Judaism – no different, organizationally, than the Nazarenes and the Pharisees. Interestingly, it was Paul’s “agitation” (albeit, through a vision) within the top counsels that caused the change. (I see the situation with a few leaders and historians in the LDS Church doggedly focusing on researching the Priesthood ban issues as following the same model, and that is interesting in and of itself.)

I think there’s a lot of truth to that idea that Paul was the driving force behind creating a new, non-Jewish religion, and I think it bolsters the point that Jesus was not a Christian; he was a Jew. In that light, he absolutely chose and focused on the aspects of what he considered to be “pure religion” and ignored (with explanation) what he believed to be cultural (even within the law, like gathering food on the Sabbath).

Awesome article, thanks for sharing.

This, this, this:

In Christ’s cafeteria, your plate might look a little different than mine. But so long as we pay the price of admission and partake from the same buffet, there’s no reason we can’t all sit down and enjoy the feast together.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/peculiarpeople/2013/11/in-praise-of-cafeteria-mormonism/#sthash.7QRQbfVE.dpuf