Faith-Promoting Rumor is generally a fairly quiet group blog populated by pseudonymous theology bloggers putting up sophisticated posts. Definitely on my A-list. Then, suddenly, this recent orgy of confessional self-categorization: one proclaims himself a TBML (True Believing Mormon Liberal); another coins for himself the moniker HASM (Hopeful Agnostic Sympathetic Mormon); and a third adopts an inverse definition by declaring that he is not one of those people who uses the seemingly derogatory term TBM (True Believing Mormon) or even associates with groups that use the term. Maybe the world really is ending on Saturday. The FPR-types would be the ones to know. The rest of the crew better self-identify before they miss their chance!
It's not just FPR. Trying to figure out exactly what kind of Mormon you are is just in the air lately. But none of the recent posts have viewed the categorization problem though the lens of orthopraxy instead of orthodoxy. Are you a church-going, calling-accepting, tithe-paying Mormon (i.e, a practicing Mormon or an active Mormon)? If you are, few of your fellow active Mormons care whether you are TBM, TBML, HASM, or FPR — they just want to know whether you can come by on Saturday morning to help clean up the church building, and don't forget about the potluck next Friday. Mormonism isn't really that complicated.
Are you a church-going, calling-accepting, tithe-paying Mormon (i.e, a practicing Mormon or an active Mormon)? If you are, few of your fellow active Mormons care whether you are TBM, TBML, HASM, or FPR — they just want to know whether you can come by on Saturday morning to help clean up the church building, and don't forget about the potluck next Friday. Mormonism isn't really that complicated.
Amen. That's me.
Posted by: Stephen M (Ethesis) | May 21, 2011 at 09:25 AM
I think you are forgetting about the TR interview...
Posted by: wondering | May 22, 2011 at 04:24 AM
Just a note to say I'm glad to see you back in action. I've missed DMI.
Posted by: Randy B. | May 23, 2011 at 08:07 AM
Thanks, Randy. I updated the sidebars, cleansed the link lists, and added a few gadgets before I started posting again. I'm working on a Facebook page for DMI as well.
Posted by: Dave | May 23, 2011 at 09:30 AM
"orgy of confessional self-categorization"
Now that's a peculiar way to put it.
"Mormonism isn't really that complicated."
It really shouldn't be, but I am afraid it is...
Posted by: Manuel | May 25, 2011 at 01:27 PM