Rameumptom Ruminations: 009: Cafeteria Mormonism

Mormons on all sides of the spectrum talk about Cafeteria Mormonism. In this episode, Scott discusses his theory that everyone in the church is a Cafeteria Mormon. Each member of the church has a different level of understanding of the church and the world around them. Taking the concepts from the previous episode and meshing them with a hint of Buddhism he breaks down the idea in a way to give authority to choose back to the individual. Everyone has the inherent authority to decide what resonates with them. Sources Alagadupama Sutta: The Water-Snake Simile Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu The Blessed One said: “Suppose a man were traveling along a path. He would see a great expanse of water, with the near shore dubious & risky, the further shore secure & free from risk, but with neither a ferryboat nor a bridge going from this shore to the other. The thought would occur to him, ‘Here is this great expanse of water, with the near shore dubious & risky, the further shore secure & free from risk, but with neither a ferryboat nor a bridge going from this shore to the other. What if I were to gather grass, twigs, branches, & leaves and, having bound them together to make a raft, were to cross over to safety on the other shore in dependence on the raft, making an effort with my hands & feet?’ Then the man, having gathered grass, twigs, branches, & leaves, having bound them together to make a raft, would cross over to safety on the other shore in dependence on the raft, making an effort with his hands & feet. Having crossed over to the further shore, he might think, ‘How useful this raft has been to me! For it was in dependence on this raft that, making an effort with my hands & feet, I have crossed over to safety on the further shore. Why don’t I, having hoisted it on my head or carrying it on my back, go wherever I like?’ What do you think, monks: Would the man, in doing that, be doing what should be done with the raft?”