tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post9208310233397211230..comments2024-01-07T12:38:39.465-06:00Comments on Clean Cut: "Uncomfortably negative for some, insufficiently critical for others"Clean Cuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383123314458721660noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-57275967727132470352012-05-19T16:19:50.317-05:002012-05-19T16:19:50.317-05:00Over the past few months I have become a big fan o...Over the past few months I have become a big fan of your blog. I love a candid history on the church. I hate feeling like the truth of our history is taken out for fear of us looking bad. Can you imagine what the Old Testament would look like if they had that attitude? At the same time I feel that there is a scary attitude of fault finding in the church. There seems to be a movement taking place right now, a following of people who find themselves to be way too deep for the common member including our leaders. I also am struggling with the balance of things. I want to know our true history but as I search for it I find way to much criticism at times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-72177763799606353842011-06-17T01:35:33.757-05:002011-06-17T01:35:33.757-05:00I've become a believer that the way a biograph...I've become a believer that the way a biography is approached by the writer makes all the difference in the world. For me, biographies are best when I am both inspired - and can relate to the person I am reading about.<br /><br />There are some LDS biographies I read that feel more like hagiography at times than biography. I always feel uncomfortable when I close a book and say, "That person is amazing, but sadly, there is no way I can ever become like him - or her."<br /><br />On the other hand, some authors approach their subjects like the human beings that they are. I don't think negativity or dirt is necessary by any means, but a reader has to be able to relate to the subject of the book in one way or another for the book to really be effective. <br /><br />The greatest men and women in the world became who they became because they persevered to overcome challenges and struggles. Those struggles don't have to manufacture evil where there is none, but they need to be acknowledged and discussed so that the reader is not merely inspired for the moment, but motivated for the duration.Kurt Manwaringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06490499860911273862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-8354736215611134492011-06-17T01:35:17.840-05:002011-06-17T01:35:17.840-05:00I've become a believer that the way a biograph...I've become a believer that the way a biography is approached by the writer makes all the difference in the world. For me, biographies are best when I am both inspired - and can relate to the person I am reading about.<br /><br />There are some LDS biographies I read that feel more like hagiography at times than biography. I always feel uncomfortable when I close a book and say, "That person is amazing, but sadly, there is no way I can ever become like him - or her."<br /><br />On the other hand, some authors approach their subjects like the human beings that they are. I don't think negativity or dirt is necessary by any means, but a reader has to be able to relate to the subject of the book in one way or another for the book to really be effective. <br /><br />The greatest men and women in the world became who they became because they persevered to overcome challenges and struggles. Those struggles don't have to manufacture evil where there is none, but they need to be acknowledged and discussed so that the reader is not merely inspired for the moment, but motivated for the duration.Kurt Manwaringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06490499860911273862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-58822221624672296552011-04-07T16:12:04.876-05:002011-04-07T16:12:04.876-05:00Very fine, and very helpful in maintaining healthy...Very fine, and very helpful in maintaining healthy perspective as the Age of Frankness overtakes the history of the Church. The framework you offer for understanding this helps me feel comfortable about this process - and confident in its outcome.Tristan Baierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11795662538547227116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-48409776257243918022011-03-17T00:12:17.089-05:002011-03-17T00:12:17.089-05:00Great minds think alike! I've recently discov...Great minds think alike! I've recently discovered this book, and have it on my (lengthy) to-read list. Your post makes me want to read it more!Mormon Heretichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06041005866499638646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-19414332439825183472011-03-06T19:11:03.977-06:002011-03-06T19:11:03.977-06:00Wonderful review, friend. I absolutely LOVE that ...Wonderful review, friend. I absolutely LOVE that book.Papa Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-42724747928874558412011-03-06T14:18:11.426-06:002011-03-06T14:18:11.426-06:00Arrington's memoir was one of the first book I...Arrington's memoir was one of the first book I read after my mission. I think your post sums up my feelings about it well.the narratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774503436545764912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-60855565932055194312011-03-06T14:03:06.779-06:002011-03-06T14:03:06.779-06:00Thanks, Clean Cut.
The perspective you offer here...Thanks, Clean Cut.<br /><br />The perspective you offer here reminds me of the First Presidency message in this month's Ensign. (Link here: http://lds.org/ensign/2011/03/looking-for-the-good?lang=eng)<br /><br />Elder Uchtdorf explains how so much of what we see as positive or negative depends on the way we choose to see it. It is almost like a Mormon version of karma. Life treats you the way that you treat life. <br /> <br />I appreciate the way you have explained it here.Mark Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-73477666600042493322011-03-06T13:00:46.636-06:002011-03-06T13:00:46.636-06:00Well-written post Clean Cut. I too responded posi...Well-written post Clean Cut. I too responded positively on my first reading of <em>Adventures</em> to the very paragraphs you chose to include. I agree that many of us aim to strike the right balance in our writings, and I think this post is a great illustration. Well done.aquinashttp://thepierianspring.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com