THE AUTHENTIC SELF

Matt Warren
Jul 30, 2017 · 2 min read

Often you’ll hear progressive Mormons claim they’re bound to believe in this or that, because they have a duty to be true to their “authentic self.”
The prototypical progressive plight goes something like this:

“Years went by in which I drudged through life as a believing member, but always felt this nagging and persistent force — a yokefellow called the “authentic self” — tugging me in a different direction. I travelled in darkness for years, not because I was blind, but because I lacked light. When I realized this, a personal Via Dolorosa led me toward enlightenment — toward self-discovery — toward self-fulfillment — toward (wait for it) my authentic self.”

Okay, that’s fair. We all want to be “true to ourselves.” Nobody want’s to practice self-deceit or wear a disguise. But lets break this down.

Deductively, there must be two “selves.” One of the two selves is influenced by a loyalty to church authority. The other “self” (the “authentic” one) is influenced by progressivism.

But here’s the problem. There’s actually a third “self” whose existence is ignored. This self is the one that often overlooks God’s will in its pursuit of carnal pleasure or desire. In Mormon doctrine, this “self” is called the “natural man.” Every time I’ve heard the term “authentic self” used by a progressive Mormon, it’s been for the purpose of describing the “self” that coincidentally reinforces the person’s progressive bias.
The narrative continues toward a path that blames the church for imposing restrictions that inhibit the discovery or fulfillment of this “authentic self.”

Never, does the person consider the possibility that the “authentic self” is actually the “natural man.” Such pseudodoxy is a problem, because it illustrates a salient immiscibility between progressivism and Christ’s restored gospel. One popular progressive dictum holds that human authenticity is morally positive (because, “I was born that way”) — that we can’t be held morally accountable for things natural to us. This conflicts directly with the gospel teaching that natural inclinations in opposition to God’s laws are to be suppressed or perhaps even overcome.

Again, the problem is not in one’s search for the “authentic self.” The problem lies in the misidentification of the authentic self. I’ve yet to meet a progressive Mormon who has proudly discovered that their “authentic self” doesn’t agree with their preconceived ideologies and worldviews.
Strange, isn’t it.

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