“How Low Can Humans Plunge!”: Facilitating Moral Opposition in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

J. E. Sumerau; Ryan T. Cragun

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.12.1.02

Authors

J. E. Sumerau The University of Tampa, U.S.A.
Ryan T. Cragun The University of Tampa, U.S.A.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.12.1.02

Keywords:

Mormonism, Religion, Morality, Pornography, Social Inequalities

Abstract

In this article, we examine how religious leaders teach their followers to protect themselves and others from pornography. Based on archival materials from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, LDS Church, or Mormons), we analyze how LDS leaders, responding to the expansion of pornographic influence over the past 40 years, facilitated moral opposition to pornography by teaching their followers to (1) set moral examples for others, (2) save their women, and (3) protect their children. In so doing, however, LDS leaders, regardless of their intentions, reproduced cultural and religious discourses that facilitate the subordination of women and sexual minorities. Likewise, these discourses suggest strong negative outcomes associated with pornography. In conclusion, we draw out implications for understanding the facilitation of moral opposition across religious traditions, and the consequences these actions may have for the reproduction or reduction of social inequality.

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Author Biographies

J. E. Sumerau, The University of Tampa, U.S.A.

J. E. Sumerau is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at The University of Tampa. Zir research focuses on historical and interpersonal relationships between sexualities, gender, religion, and health in the lives of sexual and religious minorities. Ze has published over twenty academic works in numerous professional journals and edited volumes.

Ryan T. Cragun, The University of Tampa, U.S.A.

Ryan T. Cragun is an Associate Professor of Sociology at The University of Tampa. His research focuses on Mormonism and the nonreligious and has been published in numerous professional journals. He is also the author of several books.

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