I've Got My Spine, You've Got Your Orange Crush
Hmmm. Apropos of Linker – Dreher – Poulos – is it just me, or does “moralistic therapeutic deism” sound far more compatible with a certain religion’s articles of faith than with orthodox Christianity? Articles 2, 9 and 13 could be imported into the Rousseauian catechism almost completely without violence, and any description of the American civic religion that doesn’t contain some version of Article 10 would seem to me to be missing something rather important. Or perhaps we’re just saying Harold Bloom was right after all?
I think Bloom is right. I think there’s cultural selection pushing toward Mormon-like 7 Habit of Highly Effective People self-realization theologies. One of Mitt Romney’s political liabilities is that traditional Christians resent that Mormons are closer than they to the ideal of the perfect American.
— Will Wilkinson · Apr 13, 06:46 PM · #
There are also countervailing pressures specific to Mormonism pushing Mormons to a greater emphasis on grace and atonement.
I think what you’ll find is that every American religion is experiencing at least some pressure towards MTD.
— Adam Greenwood · Apr 13, 06:56 PM · #
If your point is that Mormonism emphasizes American-style self-improvement more than other Christian religions, then you (and Mr. Wilkinson) are certainly right.
If, however, you mean to imply that Mormons are especially prone to believe in the sort of “God just wants me to be happy” escapism that Mr Dreher often complains about, that just doesn’t jibe with how most Mormons view sin and repentance.
— Matthias · Apr 13, 08:48 PM · #
Perhaps it’s not an accident that the United States spawned both Mormonism and Unitarian Universalism? And why to a large degree, the Episcopal Church is more American than Anglican?
— Mark in Houston · Apr 14, 01:08 AM · #