Masculinity and Mormon Apologetics

Last updated on: March 5, 2013 at 2:55 pm by Guest Contributor

Masculinity and Mormon Apologetics 2013-03-05T14:55:10-05:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We are pleased to have this guest entry by Mrs. Silence Dogood, a friend of the blog.

Have y’all heard about the latest squabble amongst apologists and academics?

Anyways, the main lesson that has seemed to come out from the most recent spat is the vast and increasing divide between the two fields. Though someone can certainly use scholarly tools in making apologetic arguments, and someone can certainly become too apologetic in their scholarship, the works of the current generation of Mormon scholarship and Mormon apologetics are leading in drastically different directions; the former is focused on integration within broader fields, collaborations with competing ideas, and relevancy to areas outside of Mormonism proper, the latter is trenchant in resuscitating old debates, responding to dated critiques, and fighting tired battles. Perhaps the major source of division is the outlook toward outside critics and collaboration with those who don’t share the Mormon worldview. As Richard Bushman put it in a 2007 Journal of Mormon History article, “The apologists want to war with the critics; the historians ask them out to lunch.”

But beyond the mere difference in quality, purpose, and audience, all contributing reasons for why apologetics is not counted as academically viable even at BYU, perhaps this fighting outlook is indicative of another division between apologetics, at least as practiced by those formerly associated with FARMS and now part of the Mormon Interpreter, and the modern academy: a not-too-far-from-the-surface embrace of masculinity as viable form of academic approach.

This is not to say that apologists are outright in defending certain ideas of gender, because gender is hardly ever a point of interest in their writing. (However, the decision to avoid gender, and therefore reaffirm assumed notions of gender, is a gendered argument in and of itself.) But their general approach and tone is reminiscent of the current nostalgia for manliness, an anxiety that is currently in vogue among certain demographic and ideological backgrounds. In hearkens back to the Muscular Christianity at the turn of the 20th century, and privileges qualities of confidence, aggressiveness, and overbearing strength; its idol is Teddy Roosevelt, and its activities reflect physical regiments like rough riding, boxing (without gloves!), and, importantly, military imperialism. (See the connection between this nostalgia and Mormon manliness here.)

One could see such an outlook throughout the apologetic work that seeks, engages, and destroys opponents. (And fits in nicely with the Wheat and Tares analogy Smallaxe introduced.) One of my advisors at BYU once referred to FARMS as “intellectual face-masking.” Indeed, sports metaphors are common and apt when discussing apologetics—recall Neal A. Maxwell’s famous counsel that there be “no more slam dunks”—and are indicative of the very male space in which apologetics takes place. If you were to vocalize a common FARMS or Interpreter article in your mind, I bet it would a male voice, perhaps even Dwayne Johnson. In short, the apologetic world is a very gendered world, one in which validity not only hinges on the strength of the argument but the strength of the arguer—and that strength is often presented through, and decided by, gendered notions of masculinity most akin to a barroom brawl. This is not only embodied in the FARMS/Signature wars that are very much reminiscent of knock-down-drag-out fights, but the fitting description of apologetic circles as the “old boys’ club.”

Compare this to the modern academy that, while it still has a long way to go, has consciously sought to better establish space for female scholars. This has led to a change in dominant topics—from institutional and intellectual histories that privileged dead white men to cultural and social history that integrated broader demographics—to a change in general tenor and tone. This has come through both institutional requirements (like equal-opportunity legislative acts) as well as a conscious decision that things needed to change. Mormon Studies is lagging behind in these developments, as seen in this year’s Church History Conference that features a topic that limited female participation to zero, but the youngest practitioners of the field are being educated at schools and institutions that recognize these gendered tensions and are thus wary antiquated institutional frameworks. This is perhaps among the reasons that FARMS has left a limited legacy and claims minimal prodigies; even during this period of erupting numbers of Mormon graduate students and young scholars interested in Mormon studies, very few are interested in taking up apologist mantle.

Beyond mere rhetoric, there are practical consequences for this approach and framing. Of the many authors who have contributed to the Mormon Interpreter thus far, only one was a woman; of the thirty-six people who serve on the journal’s various boards, only four are not men. I would imagine (and hope) that the Interpreter has approached more women than that. Perhaps women don’t want to sign on because of the topics the journal explores just as much as the tone it takes; in many ways, though, that is a distinction without a difference. Regardless, there is something about the Interpreter’s approach that is more appealing and conducive to male scholars, a fact that should be acknowledged and analyzed.

Rather than engaging the nuances and complexities of various ideas and critiques, sometimes it is much easier—not to mention more satisfying—to challenge the critic to a duel.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

March 4, 2013

adjustment to the book of abraham in the new edition of the scriptures

Next Post

March 5, 2013 Approaching Antiquity: BYU Church History Symposium 2013

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2013 Scriptures Administrative Apologetics Atonement Bible Book of Mormon Book Review BYU Doctrine Extra-Biblical Literature Family Feminism Guests History LDS Church History Leadership Marginalia Metaphysics Mormon Culture Mormon Studies Personal Issues Political Philosophy Politics Scripture Sexuality Speculation Spotlights Studying Religion Ten Tidbits The Tenure Track Theology Tips on Applying Series Tips on Being an Independent Scholar Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz