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Take the poll to indicate if you are an intellectual! Fwiw, I think “intellectualism” is defined differently by those who speak about it as being dangerous. I think most of the top global leadership would answer, honestly and correctly, that they are intellectuals, based on the definition here. I think they see “intellectualism” as a reliance exclusively on the mind with no reliance on the spirit / heart / feelings / etc. If that is the foundational definition, I agree that it can be dangerous, particularly in dealing with and understanding people.
I understand that some people’s interests, temperment, and personality make church culture a less than great fit from the start. I do not believe that to be the case with me. I am a “So Called Intellectual” I believer I am more of a thinker than an intellectual. I am more of a doer, probably not all that smart. Maybe I don’t even know what makes a person an intellectual. My avatar is the answer. 42 is the answer. I am a gay, intellectual Mormon with feminist and socialist leanings. Is that OK? turinturambar, my oldest daughter is a socialist-leaning (and, after serving a mission in Germany, probably will come back a Social Democrat), fiercely feminist, intellectual woman. She isn’t gay, but she supports gay rights and is frustrated regularly by conservative tendencies in the Church. Is there a place for you in the Church? I sure hope so. Is there a place for you in your particular ward? I believe so. If not, you’re welcome to move to Carson City and sit with me and my family each Sunday. (I would stay away from GodIsLove’s area, though.
:silent: )turinturambar wrote:I am a gay, intellectual Mormon with feminist and socialist leanings. Is that OK?
YES!
Pres. Uchtdorf:
Quote:It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true.
And
Quote:If you could see into our hearts, you would probably find that you fit in better than you suppose. You might be surprised to find that we have yearnings and struggles and hopes similar to yours. Your background or upbringing might seem different from what you perceive in many Latter-day Saints, but that could be a blessing. Brothers and sisters, dear friends, we need your unique talents and perspectives. The diversity of persons and peoples all around the globe is a strength of this Church.
And
Quote:The Church is designed to nourish the imperfect, the struggling, and the exhausted. It is filled with people who desire with all their heart to keep the commandments, even if they haven’t mastered them yet.
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng A friend of mine spends a lot of time in France. In France, people frequently self-describe as intellectual. In English speaking countries, we simply don’t do that. I’ve been described as such, but wouldn’t self-describe thus. I am somewhere between social democrat and socialist. I am not a conservative or a liberal, and certainly not a godless communist! It makes me despair when low paid people vote for politicians who serve big business interests and work against them.
turinturambar wrote:I am a gay, intellectual Mormon with feminist and socialist leanings. Is that OK?
Well, I’m not gay but can sympathize with the rest! I do think gays are unfairly treated by the church.
Socialism does have doctrinal roots in the church, United Order, statements about wealth by Jesus etc. Even stuff in the BoM.
This is a really hard question to answer. I think I am intelligent (IQ), I rated well on the tests. I was very successful in my career in computing and had the Emotional Quotient (EQ) as well to be a good manager. I can usually read people and situations well and mostly know how to act/react. I am good at problem solving. If I don’t know something, I can usually learn it, even if it is somewhat painful to do so.
However, I see an intellectual as one who likes to discuss and explore topics in conversation with other intellectuals. That is not me. On this forum (and others) there are conversations where I step out as I just don’t understand them and, more importantly, don’t want to spend the time understanding them. I am not one for creating new theories eg I excelled in maths, but only after the formula/method was given to me, I could not get there myself. I do not enjoy debate, especially where there are a lot of grey areas or if I don’t have a solid opinion based on my own research.
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