Intellectuals in the church

[MikeWaters]

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition

intellectual -noun

A person who engages in academic study or critical evaluation of ideas and issues. (See intelligentsia.)

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Is it really a good idea to make "intellectuals" a dirty word in the church? Is there a Stupid Movement in the church?

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition

intellectual -noun

A person who engages in academic study or critical evaluation of ideas and issues. (See intelligentsia.)

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Is it really a good idea to make "intellectuals" a dirty word in the church? Is there a Stupid Movement in the church?

YES. Thank you. I've been trying to make this point for quite some time. I hate the term and how it's used.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by jay santos

YES. Thank you. I've been trying to make this point for quite some time. I hate the term and how it's used.

You left out the second definition:

Anyone Rocky disagrees with.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

You left out the second definition:

Anyone Rocky disagrees with.

I think those are more properly termed "so-called intellectuals"

[DrumNFeather]

I think the big thing lost in this whole discussion is the fact that the church encourages its members to be educated. How many times have we heard President Hinckley tell young men and young women to get as much education as possible?

If one follows the prophets counsel and goes and gets an education, he or she may be faced with a situation where a belief is challenged...and whatever that individual does with that challenge will aid defining or redefining his or her beliefs.

For some people, those questions lead to more questions and so on and so forth...right out of the church.

For others, the questions lead to a strengthening of the belief system.

I wonder if anyone would agree that to truly be an intellectual in the sense that it is being portrayed here and in the documentary, one must first conceed that what he or she currently believes might be wrong.

Another question to ask on the flip side would be, can one truly seek additional education and understanding and still feel that his or her current belief system is right?

I would also add that I firmly believe that the Bretheren are all very smart, very intelligent, and very capable men who have done their own searching and scholarship and have not received the callings in the church that they currently have by being blind followers or sheep.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition

intellectual -noun

A person who engages in academic study or critical evaluation of ideas and issues. (See intelligentsia.)

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Is it really a good idea to make "intellectuals" a dirty word in the church? Is there a Stupid Movement in the church?

What, me worry?

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by DarkBritches

I don't understand the problems with intellectuals. If someone called me an intellectual I would be really happy.

Most won't, so don't worry. Disagree with Rocky and he'll call you a flaming intellectual who is going to hell because he says so.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by DarkBritches

I don't understand the problems with intellectuals. If someone called me an intellectual I would be really happy.

That's because you define it differently. It seems there are as many definitions as people who comment on it. But the most common definition is:

An LDS intellectual (it's better to put it in quotes "intellectual") is one who likes to explore controversial church history or doctrinal topics, publishes in or reads Sunstone, is borderline apostate and probably should be excommunicated, usually believes the brethren are manipulative and anti-thinking, and doesn't really have a testimony.

I don't like the definition by the way.

I don't like the flip side, either. Or the definition the LDS intellectuals use to self-define themselves.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by jay santos

That's because you define it differently. It seems there are as many definitions as people who comment on it. But the most common definition is:

An LDS intellectual (it's better to put it in quotes "intellectual") is one who likes to explore controversial church history or doctrinal topics, publishes in or reads Sunstone, is borderline apostate and probably should be excommunicated, usually believes the brethren are manipulative and anti-thinking, and doesn't really have a testimony.

I don't like the definition by the way.

I don't like the flip side, either. Or the definition the LDS intellectuals use to self-define themselves.

Definition 3 of intellectual:

A person who likes to spend a lot of time discussing the definition of intellectual.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by jay santos

Or the definition the LDS intellectuals use to self-define themselves.

What would that be?