My experience in the Bloggernacle in the last sixteen years has opened my eyes to the fact that there are many other concerns on the minds of church members than the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I don’t think the author intended the following quote to include Latter-day-Saints but unfortunately it applies and fits all to well when it comes to what is routinely discussed in the ‘nacle.
“For many, the beautiful and deep doctrine of the Atonement is summarily dismissed and placed on the back shelf with the facile response, ‘Just believe and be saved.’ Why such an approach? Perhaps Hugh Nibley best articulates the reason:
‘So cool has been the reception of the message [of the Atonement] that through the centuries, while heated controversy and debate have raged over evolution, atheism, the sacraments, the Trinity, authority, predestination, faith and works, and so on, there has been no argument or discussion at all about the meaning of the Atonement. Why were there no debates or pronouncements in the synods? People either do not care enough or do not know enough even to argue about it. For the doctrine of the Atonement is far too complicated to have the appeal of a world religion.’
Satan has been successful in diverting much of the Christian world’s attention from the one doctrine that can save us, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, to the ancillary doctrines that have meaning only because they draw their sustenance from this redeeming event. Like a skilled magician, Satan’s every move is to divert our attention and dilute our focus from the primary object at hand, namely Christ’s atoning sacrifice, in hopes we will turn exclusively to doctrines of secondary and far lesser import. His diversionary tactics have been, and will be, of such global proportions that John tragically exclaimed, ‘Satan . . . deceiveth the whole world’ (Revelation 12:9; see also D&C 10:63). After all the sleight of hand ceases and the smoke clears, it is still Jesus Christ, his Atonement, and our obedience to him that saves us—nothing else can do it.” The Infinite Atonement, Tad R. Callister, Pages 15-16.
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Fortunately, I disagree. I have seen many discussions over the last 12 years being entrenched in “Mormon” blogs that go after the Atonement and seek the optimal explanation, theory or allegory to make sense of it. Although the noise of other topics seems to be louder, I don’t think this Easter season is finding a gap where the Atonement should be in our lives.
dallske–
I wish I could agree with you. The vast majority of blog post are focused on far lesser concerns. It is easy to prove this claim. Can you find a small percentage, say 20% of the post in the Bloggernacle addressing the Atonement and the doctrine of Christ?
So mere volume is your argument? Do you think that is valid? Secondly, the bloggernacle is not only vast in number of blogs, but vast in number of posts. I know I don’t read them all, especially the ones that I don’t find substantial or worth my time. Thirdly, how do you justify the bloggernacle representing “church members” in general? I know the conservative explosion on the bloggernacle has had a couple years to settle in, but I still highly doubt the ‘nacle successfully represents the church population in any significant sense.
I agree with you, Jared. Great quote. I hope I can improve in concentration to this central doctrine in the coming year.
Yes, I agree with Jared too. Other than sitting quietly for the Sacrament, there is often no mention of Christ and the Atonement during church…..we really do sometimes focus on the lesser things. The lesser couldn’t exist without the Atonement.