ORCID
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1827-0051 (Leilani Naomi Mascio)
Abstract
This content analysis examines how members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) interact with doubting members in online forums, focusing on Facebook and Reddit. Analyzing 1,115 comments from four public posts (August 2024–January 2025), six emergent themes characterize these interactions: (1) normalizing doubt, (2) thought-terminating clichés, (3) bringing back to the fold, (4) hierarchical escalation, (5) attributing doubt to Satan, and (6) emotional reasoning. Findings reveal that LDS members overwhelmingly dominate these discussions, employing doctrinal language, personal narratives, and appeals to authority to reintegrate doubters. Notably, non-member interference was rare, suggesting moderated or self-selected engagement. The study highlights how digital platforms serve as spaces for communal care during faith crises, though their reliance on doctrinal shortcuts may inadvertently marginalize intellectual doubt. Limitations include platform-specific dynamics and the absence of offline comparisons. This research contributes to scholarship on religious doubt, digital community-building, and the interplay of emotion and authority in online Mormon discourse.
Recommended Citation
Mascio, Leilani Naomi and Smith, Ronald
(2025)
"A Content Analysis of Doubt: How Latter-day Saints Interact Online When One of Their Own Seeks Answers,"
Midwest Social Sciences Journal: Vol. 28:
Iss.
1, Article 12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/2766-0796.1194
Available at:
https://scholar.valpo.edu/mssj/vol28/iss1/12
Included in
Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Social Media Commons, Sociology of Religion Commons
