MORMONISM... MINGLED WITH MEMETICS

KINDS OF MEMES, MORMONS, AND APOSTASY

 

 

Like any memeplex, Mormonism can be broken down into its various components:

1. philosophical memes: abstract, intangible ideological principles, beliefs, and interpretations
2. tangible memes: concrete actions, objects, and situations associated with activity in Mormon church
3. organizational memes: rules, church discipline, hierarchy, administrative affairs, business
4. social-psychological memes: ways of relating to oneself and others, ways of conveying feelings and emotions

• Note: these 4 categories correspond to Jung's intuition, sensing, thinking, and feeling, respectively

Several years ago I first realized that "The Church" means vastly different things to different members. For me, my personal religion focused on philosophy (aspect 1) and social psychology (aspect 4). Church theology gave me a way of interpreting the world around me, other fields of knowledge, and man's past, present, and future. In addition, church teachings gave me a tool for understanding and influencing my inner psychological world, my moods, and my relationships with others. This came across in my teaching and leadership callings in the church.

• But lo and behold, it turned out that other "righteous" members of the church had completely different ideas of things!

Here are my observations:

People tend to "go astray" according to their Jungian preferences and to be conservative in the other areas. For example, I first "went astray" philosophically (intellectually) -- by accepting abstract explanations of things that contradicted views expressed in the church -- and psychologically -- by finding more effective tools to help regulate my moods and inner balance. It took much longer for me to "tangibly" go astray -- by changing my actual lifestyle and day-to-day habits -- and "organizationally" -- by learning not to fear church systems, hierarchy, and well-wishing church bureaucrats.

I have friends who have "gone astray" tangibly -- by having sex outside of marriage or breaking other rules of behavior -- yet are almost unable to comprehend that church theology and abstract explanations of things that they have heard their whole life are also baloney. Some of these people have no fear facing church hierarchy yet become helpless when loved ones say they are suffering because of their actions. Others are able to easily maneuvre around the feelings of well-wishing friends and family, yet quail at the thought of having to appear at a church court. And so on.

Keep these four categories in mind. We'll come back to them for sure.