Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Dialetical Phenomenology and the 7 Dimensions of the Sacred courtesy of Ninian Smart in the context of the LDS religious tradition

[dimensionsoflds-blog]

Dialectical phenomenology is a religious studies theory made popular by scholar Ninian Smart. Put simply, Smart is concerned with how his seven dimensions of the sacred interact with one another in a specific religious tradition. It is an “attitude of informed empathy” when looking at various religious traditions and worldviews. To practice dialectical phenomenology, there are four basic steps: (1) identify a worldview to study (in this case, Mormonism), (2) try to suspend preconceptions (Smart calls this the epoché), (3) empathetic observation and neutral description of the worldview (this is phenomenology), and (4) describe and analyze how different anatomical structures of this worldview function together (dialectical phenomenology). Smart expands upon Gay Kessler’s four C’s of religious studies with his seven dimensions; these seven dimensions are the (1) ritual or practical, (2) doctrinal or philosophical, (3) mythic or narrative, (4) experiential or emotional, (5) ethical or legal, (6) organization or social, and (7) material or artistic. These seven dimensions and their interactions are vital for examining and understanding the Mormon faith, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, as they provide tangible ways for providing proof as to why people still practice this particular faith tradition.

Source:

Smart, Ninian. Dimensions of the Sacred: An Anatomy of the World's Beliefs. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1996.

[dimensionsoflds-blog]

The ritual or practical dimension is one that requires action by those who practice the faith; Smartt includes the practical caveat because he recognizes that some things that practitioners do may not be rituals. There are two main rituals in the Mormon church that are widely practiced and encouraged: baptism and marriage. Mormons believe that every adherent must be baptized through immersion, which is when the entire body is dunked under water by a religious authoritative figure. Mormons go so far as to baptize dead people as they see it as their duty to give everyone the chance to make it to one of three heavens. Similarly, marriage is an important ritual in the Mormon church. Mormons believe that marriage is one way in which they can develop the skills and virtues associated with being a god; therefore, the marriages done inside the Mormon Temple are for eternity and is separate from a government-ordained marriage, which is only until death. Marriage and baptism are two foundational rituals in the Mormon church that lay the land for other sacred customs.

Sources:

Bushman, Richard L. 2008. Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction. Very Short Introductions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspxdirect=true&db=nlebk&AN=220923&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Manos, John K. "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Salem Press Encyclopedia. Salem Press. https://ezproxy.mtsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=110642355&site=eds-live&scope=site.

[dimensionsoflds-blog]

The doctrinal or philosophical dimension is all about a religion’s doctrines and philosophies. Within the Mormon church, there is one primary doctrine that is the main focus of its adherents: the afterlife. The afterlife for the Mormon church has four main parts: three kingdoms of Heaven (the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, and the telestial kingdom) and Perdition (Hell). The best kingdom for Mormon adherents is the celestial kingdom; it is for those who have converted well enough and have lived the most Christ-like life. In the celestial kingdom, it is also possible to become a god in the Mormon faith. Each subsequent kingdom is for varying degrees less of following Jesus Christ’s example and Joseph Smith Jr.’s example. Perdition is the Mormon name for Hell, or complete separation from the glory and gentleness of God and Jesus Christ and are closest with the Devil. Mormons wish to live a spiritually-fulfilling and God-pleasing life on Earth, so that they may have a fulfilling and pleasurable life in the afterlife as it is for eternity. One way that this dimension interacts with a different one is with the ritual dimension. One way that a more spiritually-fulfilling life on earth may be had is through being baptized or getting married in the Mormon temple. This is seen highly in God’s eyes, and it is a way to better mimic God while on Earth so that one may get in a better Heaven and have a higher chance of becoming a god.

Sources:

"Kingdoms of Glory." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.lds.org/topics/kingdoms-of-glory?lang=eng.

Manos, John K. "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Salem Press Encyclopedia. Salem Press. Accessed April 24, 2019. https://ezproxy.mtsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=110642355&site=eds-live&scope=site.

[dimensionsoflds-blog]

The mythic or narrative dimension examines a religious tradition’s stories. The Mormon religious tradition falls under the Christian umbrella of faith, so they do believe and read from the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. What sets the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart from other Christian traditions are three other sacred texts: the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. The Book of Mormon lays the footwork for the Mormon church and the core beliefs of the denomination; this church was thought to be the original church that was supposed to be started by Jesus on Earth but was left to Joseph Smith to start. The book of Doctrine and Covenants provides Joseph Smith’s interpretations of biblical stories with many American settings. The Pearl of Great Price is a collection of Egyptian texts that Joseph Smith translated himself that formed the Books of Abraham and Moses.  These four texts are fundamental Mormon truths that are sacred and held to high esteem.

Source:

Manos, John K. "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Salem Press Encyclopedia. Salem Press. Accessed April 24, 2019. https://ezproxy.mtsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=110642355&site=eds-live&scope=site.

[dimensionsoflds-blog]

The experiential or emotional dimension analyzes a religious tradition’s important historical experiences that have caused important emotional reactions.  For the Mormon church, this takes place in New York state. Joseph Smith was visited in his dreams by an angel who revealed to him the location of engraved golden tablets near his home, which he found, translated, and turned into the Book of Mormon. This divine revelation sets the stage for the future of the church, and without it, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would have never been formed. This led to future revelations that shaped the direction of the church for years to come, and revelations still continue to shape the church through policy changes and creations.

Source:

Manos, John K. "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Salem Press Encyclopedia. Salem Press. Accessed April 24, 2019. https://ezproxy.mtsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=110642355&site=eds-live&scope=site.

[dimensionsoflds-blog]

The ethical or legal dimension illumines a religious tradition’s stance on certain ethical or legal issues. One way that the Mormon church decides a stance on ethical or legal issues is through evaluating it through their 13 Articles of Faith. These articles are a brief summary of their essential beliefs as a denomination, which everything must appease to be approved of by the Church. These codes set forth by the church attempt to frame legal and ethical dilemmas in ways that church members can easily chose which way to go that is seen as the ethical or correct way to choose. This interacts heavily with the doctrine dimension, because many of these Articles of Faith consist more of theological doctrine over ethical direction.

Source:

Bushman, Richard L. 2008. Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction. Very Short Introductions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspxdirect=true&db=nlebk&AN=220923&site=eds-live&scope=site.

[dimensionsoflds-blog]

The organization or social dimension looks at a religious tradition’s structure in society and how it presents itself. The LDS church itself has many branches, but it boils down to wards on its most basic and local level. There, it holds Sunday schools classes for children, young adults, and adults and prepares them for the next steps in the spiritual lives. Boys are prepared for priesthood, whiles girls are prepared for their wifely duties. Sunday school is open for everyone in the local community, but the temple/ward services are closed to LDS members only. 

Source: 

“How the Church is Organized.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.lds.org/topics/church-organization/how-the-church-is-organized?lang=eng&old=true

[dimensionsoflds-blog]

The material or artistic dimension looks at what things or artworks a specific religious traditions makes or values highly. In the LDS faith, one thing that they put forth a lot of effort in and value highly are their Temples. This physical representation of Heaven and Earth meeting in the Temple with their 6 steeples becomes for them an axis mundi of their faith. This place of worship no longer is a building with a roof and four walls but is a place to meet with Jesus face to face and learn to live a spiritually better and more fulfilling life.