Why does the church want active non-believers?

[_Doctor Steuss]

I think it's a hope of going to church resulting in a re-activation of belief. A kind of "if you keep attending, you will eventually feel the spirit again" type of thing.

At least that's the general feeling I get each time the bishop tries to give me a calling, despite knowing my feelings about the "truth" claims of the Church.

[_Lemmie]

"Re: Why does the church want active non-believers?"

For their children.

[_candygal]

Because I worked with and neighbors with so many in a small ward, they did not want me associated all. I am one of those that once I stepped out..I was not love bombed at all. This is okay with me..but they hurt my son on different levels..who is still a member.

had you been a big or small tithe payer in the two years before you stepped out, measured in terms of dollars within your ward?

A newly reactivated member..I went to the bishop and asked if I was paying enough..! I paid gross on income and annuity from my deceased husband..small ward could have used the tithes..but when I stepped out..they knew better..Bishop was one of my bosses and I was an angry soul.

[_kairos]

I travel often and visit wards in AZ, UT, CO ad VA- i have noticed a significant drop off of bearing testimonies on fast sunday about the "church is true or Joseph Smith saw God' basic stuff-especially from those who attend every sunday, the supposed TBM crowd. Are there more doubters out there-seems so.

[_Lemmie]

A newly reactivated member..I went to the bishop and asked if I was paying enough..! I paid gross on income and annuity from my deceased husband..small ward could have used the tithes..but when I stepped out..they knew better..Bishop was one of my bosses and I was an angry soul.

Sadly, If I recall correctly, your small ward wouldn't necessarily have kept your tithes for the ward's benefit. Tithing is sent to SLC, and many wards have an extremely small budget relative to their tithing contributions.

[_Themis]

But I understand your question. Is it better for the Church to keep non-believers in attendance?
I am not convinced that it is.

Keeping large numbers of non-believers in the pews will only help others to see the church is not true. I would like to see the church move away from their traditional beliefs that are obviously not true, and focus more on community.

[_Aero]

Every time someone leaves, it makes it that much easier for the next person to leave. By keeping non-believers in attendance but silent, they keep the appearance that everything is okay. That appearance is important. Seeing other people leave legitimizes it as a real choice for others that feel the same way. A choice is much easier to make the more people you see making that choice.

I'm reminded of an experience in high school. Several friends and I would go to a certain fast food restaurant. It was a tradition we had. Then one of us said he didn't want to go any more because he didn't really like the food there. We then all realized that we weren't fond of the food there but had just kept going because of the others. As soon as one person spoke up, the rest of us quickly agreed and we all stopped going. As long as we all kept going and remained silent about our preference, things just kept going as usual.

[_Mormon Think]

So the Church can always show every year that it is growing. I think the total number of members on the books has probably increased every single year. But as we know that net increase is getting smaller and smaller but the church would still rather say it has 15M members instead of 10M, regardless of how many are active or even still believe it.

Bill

[_sock puppet]

So the Church can always show every year that it is growing. I think the total number of members on the books has probably increased every single year. But as we know that net increase is getting smaller and smaller but the church would still rather say it has 15M members instead of 10M, regardless of how many are active or even still believe it.

Bill

If JFS can have a vision of the CK, why not TSM? He could see how many have accepted baptisms for the dead, and add them too to the 15m number.

[_Craig Paxton]

The church relies heavily on the effects of conformity. Every time someone leaves they weaken the church's continuation of the Asch conformity experiment.

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