Do you like Mormons?

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by All-American

Then she doesn't do the one thing I consider to be the true bane of Mormon culture: look down upon those who don't like it.

I have only two grievances against "Mormon culture": 1, I don't particularly think of it as high quality; and 2, it is often accepted as being especially pertinent to our religion to the extent that those that do not embrace it are considered as being of a lesser spiritual status.

Case in point: one apartment in my mission housed four elders. One sunday, we were listening to Handel's Messiah-- truly inspired music, if ever music was inspired. One elder pressed the stop button and announced that we would now be listening to some "Church" music. He then proceeded to put in a CD of the Best of EFY.

I have no quarrel with imperfect people striving to be more perfect. If your family enjoys that particular brand of movie, music, et cetera, that doesn't bother me in the least. I do get a little annoyed when my spirituality is called into question if I don't think anything of it; and often, it has been.

I seriously don't think I know a single person that fits your description. I live in the heart of Utah County and have for my entire adult life. I live and work with nothing but LDS and mostly active LDS. So there are some cheesy and trite aspects of Mormon culture. It sounds like you're the one looking down your nose at people.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

I used to get really upset and annoyed by Mormon pop culture, etc. I still feel annoyed, but not quite as much lately.

I'll take Mormon pop in a heartbeat over Oklahoma's "Jesus is my boyfriend and I love him" culture.

The only solution to the annoying aspects of Mormon pop culture is to reintroduce Mormon socialism or educate people about the evils of giving money to exploiters of the faith.

I have a couple of Christian talk stations programmed in on my AM band. I love listening to some of their gospel preachers--it's hilarious to hear all the "Amens" and "That's rights" in the background. Occasionally they get a black preacher on there, and man can they preach.

After about 10-15 minutes, it gets annoying though. I need calm in between bouts of screaming.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by Tex

I have a couple of Christian talk stations programmed in on my AM band. I love listening to some of their gospel preachers--it's hilarious to hear all the "Amens" and "That's rights" in the background. Occasionally they get a black preacher on there, and man can they preach.

After about 10-15 minutes, it gets annoying though. I need calm in between bouts of screaming.

I watch this stuff on TV all the time. It's better than Comedy Central.

[All-American]

Originally Posted by jay santos

I seriously don't think I know a single person that fits your description. I live in the heart of Utah County and have for my entire adult life. I live and work with nothing but LDS and mostly active LDS. So there are some cheesy and trite aspects of Mormon culture. It sounds like you're the one looking down your nose at people.

If you haven't, good for you. I admit that the resentment of Mormon Culture is derived in part from a very different way of thinking than most are familiar with-- and it wouldn't surprise me if I was indeed looking down my nose at people.

It ultimately boils down to frustration with a people that is capable of being so much more than it is, and bristles at the suggestion that improvement is possible. We are effectively telling people that they will serve funeral potatoes and a green jello salad at the feast of the bridegroom.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by All-American

We are effectively telling people that they will serve funeral potatoes and a green jello salad at the feast of the bridegroom.

How exactly are we doing this?

[FMCoug]

I voted no mainly to keep up the "FM hates Utah Mormons" thing.

I actually tried to answer this from the outside looking in. If I were not one, would I like them. I had to say no. Too insular and provincial.

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by All-American

If you haven't, good for you. I admit that the resentment of Mormon Culture is derived in part from a very different way of thinking than most are familiar with-- and it wouldn't surprise me if I was indeed looking down my nose at people.

It ultimately boils down to frustration with a people that is capable of being so much more than it is, and bristles at the suggestion that improvement is possible. We are effectively telling people that they will serve funeral potatoes and a green jello salad at the feast of the bridegroom.

I'm not sure what you mean here. Are you saying Mormons aren't trying to improve? It seems that's all we talk about - "we need to do better".

[All-American]

Originally Posted by Venkman

I'm not sure what you mean here. Are you saying Mormons aren't trying to improve? It seems that's all we talk about - "we need to do better".

I was not saying Mormons aren't trying to improve-- I was saying Mormons have intertwined culture and worship past distinguishability, and as a result, one who holds no affinity for the culture is seen as despising the religion.

As for trying to improve, well . . . I think too many of us are perfectly content with a terrestrial lifestyle, since it's better than telestial.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by All-American

I was not saying Mormons aren't trying to improve-- I was saying Mormons have intertwined culture and worship past distinguishability, and as a result, one who holds no affinity for the culture is seen as despising the religion.

As for trying to improve, well . . . I think too many of us are perfectly content with a terrestrial lifestyle, since it's better than telestial.

So I take it you have produced magnificent works of art and music that put the standard Mormon cheesy culture to shame? You have created enduring classical literature and film on a much higher plane than other Mormons. Or you make fun of the products of a small, regional, fairly new religion?

Let's give LDS culture another 100 or 200 years with economic propsperity and a membership of 50M or more before we judge too harshly.

[All-American]

Originally Posted by jay santos

So I take it you have produced magnificent works of art and music that put the standard Mormon cheesy culture to shame? You have created enduring classical literature and film on a much higher plane than other Mormons.

As a matter of fact, yes, I have-- the rest of the world just hasn't embraced it yet.

I don't find this argument to be particularly relevant. Do you likewise believe we shouldn't make negative comments about a pourous secondary or a poor quarterback unless we are or have been All-Pro candidates ourselves?

Originally Posted by jay santos

Or you make fun of the products of a small, regional, fairly new religion?

Let's give LDS culture another 100 or 200 years with economic propsperity and a membership of 50M or more before we judge too harshly.

You're missing my point. I don't care for the product of our culture, but I don't criticize those who do enjoy them. I do criticize those who think that our culture is an essential part of our worship.