Mormon Materialism

"One World Is Enough: Few philosophers describe themselves as “materialists” these days. The contemporary understanding of gravity as not a strictly material entity, for instance, have made “physicalist” a more common description. The Brigham Young University philosophy professor James Faulconer, in a short primer on Mormon metaphysics at Patheos, explains why Mormons, at least, remain materialists. Joseph Smith claimed, according to Faulconer, that “everything is material even if there is material that we presently cannot see or understand.” That “everything” includes God the Father, even if he is morally perfect, immortal, and otherwise so different from humans in degree as to be practically inscrutable. Faulconer thinks this materialism cashes out in at least two ways. First, he sees it as explaining why Utah “produces a disproportionate number of scientists,” and why his own university supports scientific inquiry so enthusiastically. Second he thinks it might account for the Mormon interest in and enthusiasm for business. Without a belief in another “spiritual” world, Mormons can view practicing business in this world as another way of faithfully practicing their religion. Indeed, Faulconer hopes that precisely because Mormons are materialists, that they inhabit the only world that exists, they may be more responsible stewards of it."

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/stone-links-nagel-agonistes/