Reasons the unstated assumptions required to accept or reject this belief (the Church uses logical fallacies) are true.
Straw man: Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk in 1985 titled "Reading Church History" where he warns members about "alternate voices" that might present challenging or controversial aspects of Church history. He said, "Alternate voices are usually negative. They specialize in sowing doubts and nurturing grievances. They see only weaknesses and faults and are blind to the inspired accomplishments and miracles that surround them." This could be seen as a straw man argument as it generalizes critics and their concerns. (Source: Elder Dallin H. Oaks, CES Symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History, 16 Aug. 1985)
Appeal to authority: An example is the teaching that when the prophet speaks, the debate is over. This phrase comes from a 1945 Improvement Era message by President Heber J. Grant, which said, "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan—it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy." (Source: Improvement Era, June 1945, 354)
Begging the question: An example is found in the LDS missionary guide, "Preach My Gospel," which instructs missionaries to encourage investigators to ask God if the Book of Mormon is not true, promising they will receive a confirmation of its truth. This assumes the Book of Mormon is true and that personal spiritual experiences are a reliable test of truth. (Source: "Preach My Gospel," p. 39)
False dilemma: LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley said in General Conference in 2002, "Each of us has to face the matter—either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is the Church and kingdom of God, or it is nothing." This statement presents a false dilemma, not allowing for nuance or middle ground in belief. (Source: President Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, April 2003)
Straw man: Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk in 1985 titled "Reading Church History" where he warns members about "alternate voices" that might present challenging or controversial aspects of Church history. He said, "Alternate voices are usually negative. They specialize in sowing doubts and nurturing grievances. They see only weaknesses and faults and are blind to the inspired accomplishments and miracles that surround them." This could be seen as a straw man argument as it generalizes critics and their concerns. (Source: Elder Dallin H. Oaks, CES Symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History, 16 Aug. 1985)
Appeal to authority: An example is the teaching that when the prophet speaks, the debate is over. This phrase comes from a 1945 Improvement Era message by President Heber J. Grant, which said, "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan—it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy." (Source: Improvement Era, June 1945, 354)
Begging the question: An example is found in the LDS missionary guide, "Preach My Gospel," which instructs missionaries to encourage investigators to ask God if the Book of Mormon is not true, promising they will receive a confirmation of its truth. This assumes the Book of Mormon is true and that personal spiritual experiences are a reliable test of truth. (Source: "Preach My Gospel," p. 39)
False dilemma: LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley said in General Conference in 2002, "Each of us has to face the matter—either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is the Church and kingdom of God, or it is nothing." This statement presents a false dilemma, not allowing for nuance or middle ground in belief. (Source: President Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, April 2003)
Unstated assumptions required to accept/reject this belief:
To Accept:
- The LDS church does indeed use logical fallacies to retain members.
- Logical fallacies are inherently wrong or harmful.
To Reject:
- The LDS church does not use logical fallacies, or if it does, they are not significant in retaining members.
- Logical fallacies may be acceptable in certain contexts or for certain ends.
Alternative ways to express this belief could include:
- It's inappropriate for the LDS church to use logical fallacies to maintain membership.
- The LDS church shouldn't rely on logical fallacies to retain its followers.
- Employing logical fallacies as a means to keep followers is not a practice the LDS church should engage in.
Objective Criteria for Assessing the Validity of this Belief:
- Evidence of the church employing logical fallacies as a tool to maintain membership.
- Statements from the LDS church leadership encouraging the use of logical fallacies.
- Accounts of members who felt they were manipulated by logical fallacies.
- Peer-reviewed studies or articles discussing the use of logical fallacies in religious retention, specifically in the LDS church.
Reasons to agree: +
- The LDS church exploits people by tricking them with the confirmation bias, when they tell people to bear their testimony of things, before they really know it is true.
- Reasons to agree: +
- The confirmation bias is a tendency of people to favor information that confirms the hypotheses they have already accepted. A series of experiments in the 1960s suggested that people are biased toward confirming their existing beliefs. Later work re-interpreted these results as a tendency to test ideas in a one-sided way, focusing on one possibility and ignoring alternatives. In certain situations, this tendency can bias people's conclusions. Confirmation biases contribute to overconfidence in personal beliefs and can maintain or strengthen beliefs in the face of contrary evidence. When the Church tells people to "find their testimony in the process of bearing it" they use the confirmation bias, to make people feel good about what they just said.
- The LDS church is wrong to tell people that "good feelings" are valid reasons to believe the church.
- The LDS church is wrong to tell people that "bad feelings" are valid reasons to disbelieve those who criticize the church. People who were raised in the church will naturally experience bad feelings when considering the concept that everything they once believed might be wrong. These feelings are natural to the situation, independently of are going to have good feelings when deciding to stay in the church their parents friends, and family were are in. These feelings naturally arise from friends, family, and tradition independently of the truthfulness of the church.
Common or Shared Interests:
- Truth and integrity in religious practices.
- Fair treatment of individuals within the church community.
- The well-being of the LDS church community, despite differing opinions on how to achieve it.
Opposing Interests or Obstacles:
- Prioritizing unity and strength within the LDS community over critical examination of retention methods.
- Personal and emotional investments in the church that may make objective assessment difficult.
- Resistance to acknowledging potential flaws in the church's practices.
- Believers may argue that the LDS church uses methods common to many religions to maintain membership, and these methods should not be labeled as "logical fallacies."
- They may argue that feelings, both positive and negative, play a crucial role in religious belief and community, and shouldn't be dismissed as invalid.
- They might state that focusing on the experiences of those who feel misled ignores the experiences of those who find genuine fulfillment in the church.
Scriptures that disagree: -
Images That agree: +
Images That disagree: -
Videos (e.g., movies, YouTube, TikTok) That agree: +
- "The Village" - This film illustrates how a community can use fear and misinformation to control its members.
- "The Truman Show" - This movie portrays a man's journey of questioning and escaping a manufactured reality.
- Ex-Mormon TikTok - A collection of user-generated videos on TikTok discussing personal experiences with leaving the LDS church.
Videos (e.g., movies, YouTube, TikTok) That disagree: -
- "God's Army" - A film depicting the struggles and faith of LDS missionaries.
- "The Other Side of Heaven" - A movie based on the experiences of an LDS missionary, showing his faith and commitment.
- LDS General Conference YouTube Channel - A collection of videos featuring speeches and lessons from LDS General Conference.
Website that agree: +
- Recovery from Mormonism - A website providing resources and support for those questioning or leaving the LDS church.
- The CES Letter - A document outlining many criticisms of LDS doctrine and history.
Websites that disagree: -
- FairMormon - A website dedicated to defending the LDS faith against criticisms.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official Site - The official website of the LDS church, providing doctrinal teachings and resources.
Podcast that agree: +
- "Mormon Stories" - A podcast featuring interviews with individuals about their experiences in the LDS church.
- "The CES Letter Podcast" - A podcast delving into the contents of the CES Letter and criticisms of the LDS church.
Podcast that disagree: -
- "The Daily" by the LDS church - A podcast featuring daily spiritual teachings and insights from LDS leaders.
- "FairMormon Podcast" - A podcast that addresses criticisms of the LDS church.
Unbiased Experts who agree: +
- Steven Hassan - A mental health professional specializing in cult behavior and mind control techniques.
- Robert Jay Lifton - A psychiatrist known for his studies on the psychological causes and effects of war and political violence, and for his theory of thought reform.
Unbiased Experts who disagree: -
- Terryl Givens - A well-known LDS apologist and scholar of religion and literature.
- Richard L. Bushman - A prominent historian and member of the LDS church.
Benefits/Costs:
Benefits of Agreement:
Psychological Freedom: Agreeing with the notion that the LDS church uses logical fallacies to retain members can potentially lead to psychological freedom. The awareness and understanding of such tactics may help individuals exercise their free will and make informed decisions.
Intellectual Growth: The process of questioning, analyzing, and evaluating these tactics can stimulate intellectual growth and critical thinking.
Authenticity: Acknowledging these tactics could lead to a more authentic faith journey, as it encourages individuals to seek truth based on reliable evidence and personal conviction, rather than emotional manipulation or logical fallacies.
Costs of Agreement:
Potential for Disillusionment: Disagreeing with the idea that the LDS church uses logical fallacies could lead to feelings of disillusionment or betrayal if an individual later realizes these tactics are being used. This could result in emotional turmoil.
Relationship Strain: Disagreeing with this belief could potentially strain relationships with family and friends who accept that the church uses such tactics. This could lead to social exclusion, loss of community, or familial tension.
Loss of Familiar Framework: The LDS Church, like many religious institutions, provides a moral framework, community, and sense of purpose. Ignoring or denying the church's use of logical fallacies might prevent an individual from critically examining their moral and ethical outlook.
Pursuit of Truth: Both sides are likely interested in the pursuit of truth, though they may have different views on how to best achieve this.
Respect for Religious Freedom: Both sides likely value religious freedom, including the right to critically examine one's beliefs and the teachings of one's religious institution.
Opposing Interest:
Interpretation of Evidence: Those who agree that the LDS Church uses logical fallacies may desire to examine and discuss evidence that supports this view, while those who disagree may resist or reject the same evidence.
Value of Faith Versus Skepticism: Those in agreement might value skepticism and critical thinking over faith when it comes to religious beliefs, whereas those in disagreement might prioritize faith.
The most promising strategies to foster dialogue and mutual respect, highlight logical fallacies, and guide all participants toward the truth
Education: Encourage everyone to learn about logical fallacies and how they are used in discourse. This can be done through workshops, seminars, or even online courses. Highlighting the importance of critical thinking skills and logical reasoning in everyday decision-making can also help.
Open Dialogue: Establish platforms where open and respectful conversations can take place. This might be a physical meeting or an online forum. The key is to ensure that everyone feels heard and that their perspectives are respected.
Neutral Facilitators: Employ neutral facilitators in discussions to ensure the conversation remains balanced and fair. These individuals can help keep the discussion on track, mediate disputes, and help participants recognize when a logical fallacy has been used.
Constructive Criticism: Encourage the practice of constructive criticism, where logical fallacies can be pointed out not as a personal attack, but as a means to improve one's argument and understanding.
Transparency: Encourage transparency in discussions, particularly where religious beliefs are concerned. This can involve acknowledging biases and being open about the sources of information.
Promote Empathy: Foster an environment that promotes empathy and understanding. Encourage participants to consider the perspectives of others, even when they disagree. This can help to decrease hostility and increase respect among differing viewpoints.
Use of Evidence-Based Arguments: Promote the use of evidence-based arguments in discussions. This can help to shift the focus from subjective feelings or beliefs to a more objective assessment of the facts.
