The story is not surprising, but the comments do lead to an interesting exchange:
Scott B wrote:Oh yes, when you're living in a society with different norms, it makes complete sense to live in a protective bubble where everyone looks the same, acts the same and have the same point of view on everything...
Loftier-Lore wrote:@Scott B.
This "bubble" as you call it is what many religions refer to as a "Zion" society". We just as well accuse God of living in a bubble, His Zion. The ultimate goal of Christianity to become "one", one with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
As we consider each and everyone's unique contribution diversity is good in many senses of the word, but when we our diversity puts us add odds with God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it really becomes a manifestation of sin and corruption. Embracing diversity in that sense causes us to fall short of being one, one as a people and one with God. The great intercessory prayer (John 17 particularly vs John 17:20) is largely about creating that unity, oneness, Zion, or... bubble as you call it.
I think what the LDS/BYU are doing here is refining their focus and resources on preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Refinement comes in stages and takes time. But I am glad you recognize the direction of practicing Christians as being different. If we want to be on the path towards a society of love and unity, it should be different. It might even look like a bubble.
In Mormonism, you are in fact discouraged from being different. The ultimate goal being to end up exactly like God and Jesus. Though other religions teach we should try and be like Jesus in thought and action, I'm not certain of any other religion outside of Mormonism where this is interpreted so literally. From the white shirt and ties, skin color, who you can and can't love, Mormonism is about stripping away everything unique about you and replacing it with their version of Jesus.
It's a depressing Heaven to think of that all individual thought and diversity is replaced with "oneness".
