| |
| author |
Abigail Eve Harper
| | title |
An Analysis of How the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Working Towards a Peaceful Society
| | abstract |
This thesis analyzes the teachings, theology, and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints (LDS) through the inverted lens of Johan Galtung's theory of the violence
triangle. Galtung theorized that violence occurs in direct forms, structural forms, and cultural
forms. He speculated about an inverse being true, where peace exists in direct, structural, and
cultural forms as well. This thesis looks at the ways the LDS church's culture, actions, and
structure are peaceful and in what ways they are not. The overarching principle within the LDS
church that lends itself towards building peace is that it's theology, teachings, and practices
invert the idea of what power is. Where power is most often understood as control, which is an
inherently violent assumption, power in LDS theology is the choice to have love unfeigned for
all, which gives it a foundation of peace. Starting on such a foundation has given the LDS church
the foresight and the direction to build up a peaceful culture, actions, and structure. However,
because humans are neither innately good nor evil but a combination, so too is the LDS church.
While it strives for peace, some of its teachings and practices can be and have been warped to
justify the use of violent power. This analysis breaks down the subtleties between the peaceful
and violent happenings in the LDS church.
| | school |
The Theological School, Drew University
| | degree |
M.A. (2026)
|
| advisor |
Jonathan Golden
Melanie Johnson-Debaufre
|
| full text | AHarper.pdf |
| |
