Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

“Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”

 

When a pastor on Christian radio used this phrase, I hadn’t heard it before, so here’s what it means.

 

Moralistic=There is good and bad behavior

Therapeutic=Feels good or beneficial

Deism=God isn’t personal

 

In other words, good or bad behavior is determined by whatever feels good since any higher power, if there is one, doesn’t get involved your daily life.

 

“…every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.” -Alma 30:17

 

Our world has many individuals, often with the best intentions, who preach the importance of living however ‘feels right’. This often presents as a belief that they can determine their own truth or reality including gender, sexual orientation, and their own spin on religion (or no religion). 

 

These individuals often choose to feel attacked or offended when others, especially for religious reasons, disagree with what ‘feels right’ to them.

 

Maybe, instead of figuratively rushing for swords and donning armor, it’s worth discussing WHY so many individuals of faith are raising voices of concern.

 

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Two Simple Truths

First, God is our Heavenly Father and we are His spirit children

Second, our Father (God) knowns everything and loves us

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Children often can’t understand the things that dad and mom see so clearly; it doesn’t make any sense why loving parents would advise not eating the entire bag of Halloween candy in one sitting–or avoiding bad friends–or not using drugs–etc. Children, and teenagers, often become angry or bitter over boundaries or advice that were given for their own good the whole time.

We are God’s children. When our loving and wise Heavenly Father speaks through prophets, whether scriptural or current, He speaks because He cares.

It’s so easy for kids to disagree with loving parents, decide those parents clearly exist only to spoil the fun, and head off on a rebellious spree that usually ends in regret.

Unlike fallible mortal parents, God loves us perfectly AND he knowns everything. He is never wrong. When He warns that disobeying eternal law leads to regret and pleads with us to keep an eternal perspective, He knowns exactly what He is talking about. Our Heavenly Father is trying to lead us to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.

Teaching us eternal truth/reality like

“Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God…”

and

“Gender [male and female] is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”

is all about offering us, God’s spirit children, the guidebook to a happy eternal life

God shares these truths out of love. He wants us to come home to Him!

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Finally, I know it’s easiest to, figuratively, storm out and slam the door while yelling “YOU HATE ME!”–I’ve done it plenty of times! But maybe take a minute to consider that loving eternal parents, righteous prophets, and true friends actually love you– that’s why they speak up. These people are tied into eternal truth that’s been around since the beginning of time and all they want is for you to be eternally happy.

They care enough to say something.

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