Runtu wrote:Yeah, that rings true for me, too. As depressing and devastating as it was to realize what the church was, I had to just let go and stop making excuses for what I knew wasn't true. Fighting reality does not make for good mental health.
Finally, my mental health issues make perfect sense ;-)
I don’t know man… I just don’t know. Some days, I look at Mormonism and think to myself “It has some cool philosophies, and it’s fun to contemplate, but it just ain’t what it claims to be. And there sure isn’t a super-ghost looking down on me.” But then, other days I just can’t let go… in fact I don’t want to.
It used to be that I would defend it, and while doing so I would occasionally feel as if I was defending my beliefs. More and more, there’s a growing disconnect and it feels like more-often-than-not, I’m defending the beliefs of others.
Dunno… just dunno.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." ~Charles Bukowski
Doctor Steuss wrote:Finally, my mental health issues make perfect sense ;-)
I don’t know man… I just don’t know. Some days, I look at Mormonism and think to myself “It has some cool philosophies, and it’s fun to contemplate, but it just ain’t what it claims to be. And there sure isn’t a super-ghost looking down on me.” But then, other days I just can’t let go… in fact I don’t want to.
It used to be that I would defend it, and while doing so I would occasionally feel as if I was defending my beliefs. More and more, there’s a disconnect and it feels like more-often-than-not, I’m defending the beliefs of others.
Dunno… just dunno.
You know, the best thing about it is that you can take Mormonism on your own terms. You don't have to accept everything, and you don't have to reject everything. Just do what feels right to you, and you'll be fine.
For me, dropping the pretense of belief was what felt right. I still go to church most of the time, and that works fine for me.
Doctor Steuss wrote:I don’t know man… I just don’t know. Some days, I look at Mormonism and think to myself “It has some cool philosophies, and it’s fun to contemplate, but it just ain’t what it claims to be. And there sure isn’t a super-ghost looking down on me.” But then, other days I just can’t let go… in fact I don’t want to.
It used to be that I would defend it, and while doing so I would occasionally feel as if I was defending my beliefs. More and more, there’s a growing disconnect and it feels like more-often-than-not, I’m defending the beliefs of others.
Dunno… just dunno.
[MADB TBM]It's because you're spending too much time amongst the apostates at MDB.[/MADB TBM]
WK: "Joseph Smith asserted that the Book of Mormon peoples were the original inhabitants of the americas"
Will Schryver: "No, he didn’t." 3/19/08
Still waiting for Will to back this up...
Who Knows wrote:[MADB TBM]It's because you're spending too much time amongst the apostates at MDB.[/MADB TBM]
I dunno. I was thinking that part of it for me was realizing two things from my participation on the other board:
1. The apostates were not generally foaming at the mouth, evil types (PP and Merc, excepted, of course).
2. The apologists didn't have good answers for the tough questions.
Mormonism has more of a grip on you know then it even did. Bet you spend more time with it and on it then you ever did before. of course in a different way. Why don't you just pull down your really bad web site and move on?
He has the missionary zeal. How is this any different than TBMs handing out brain-dead sappy giveaway cards to all and sundry? Just as we went on missions because we felt we had something we needed to share with others, Infymus now believes he's helping people by steering them clear of Mormonism, or out of it, as the case may be. He sees the church as a net negative, and wants to do something about it. How is that so bad?
I just find it odd that he more likely then not spends more time with things LDS then he ever did. If he really so despises the Church why not move on? Why spend so much time with it? He seems more hung up then he probably ever was as an active LDS. I am not sure I said it was bad, but it seems odd.
No, here is the deal Jason... You have NO idea how much time I spent in Mormonism. Reading the Book of Mormon 17 times in a little under four years should give you an idea. One of the few who have read the JOD, HOC, all the works of WW, Joseph Smith, JSF, JAS, Joseph Smith, BY should give you an idea... I spent countless countless hours studying, reading, praying, paying, obeying.
It is nothing different now, it is just that my attention is now diverted.
Mormonism has more of a grip on you know then it even did. Bet you spend more time with it and on it then you ever did before. of course in a different way. Why don't you just pull down your really bad web site and move on?
He has the missionary zeal. How is this any different than TBMs handing out brain-dead sappy giveaway cards to all and sundry? Just as we went on missions because we felt we had something we needed to share with others, Infymus now believes he's helping people by steering them clear of Mormonism, or out of it, as the case may be. He sees the church as a net negative, and wants to do something about it. How is that so bad?
I just find it odd that he more likely then not spends more time with things LDS then he ever did. If he really so despises the Church why not move on? Why spend so much time with it? He seems more hung up then he probably ever was as an active LDS. I am not sure I said it was bad, but it seems odd.
I find it odd that it seems odd! Surely a TBM would understand the zeal we have been raised with to follow the philosophy "once warned, warn your neighbor." Is it because you think that when we leave the church, we leave behind our entire life? You might be surprised to find that for many of us, when "in the church," we sought after spiritual experiences, and after leaving, we still seek out spiritual experiences. They might look different to the TBM, but they are quite powerful and real...even as an "exmo."
My personal approach is much less to "de-convert" Mormons than it once was. I find the project quite negative. I think if one is having challenges in the church, they will seek us for help. If not, it's just negative energy, in my opinion...but I respect those that have the zeal to do what they do.
I find it interesting that when I met Infymus, he was a rather warm and friendly kind of guy, not the raving lunatic who hates all things Mormon. Of course we who were so committed to the church have strong feelings about it.
Runtu wrote:I find it interesting that when I met Infymus, he was a rather warm and friendly kind of guy, not the raving lunatic who hates all things Mormon. Of course we who were so committed to the church have strong feelings about it.
Those feelings eventually mellow, with time. For most anyway. You know the saying?
God Grant Me The Serenity
To Accept The Things I Cannot Change
Courage To Change The Things I Can
And The Wisdom To Know The Difference
No one can change the past, but certainly learn from it. The people who really want to learn about Mormonism will seek out information. Most in real life Mormons I know, who are good friends, could not care less.
Ray A wrote:Those feelings eventually mellow, with time. For most anyway.
Yes, they do, at least they have for me.
No one can change the past, but certainly learn from it. The people who really want to learn about Mormonism will seek out information. Most in real life Mormons I know, who are good friends, could not care less.
I have seen the same thing. Most of my family doesn't care, so I don't talk about it.
Mormonism has more of a grip on you know then it even did. Bet you spend more time with it and on it then you ever did before. of course in a different way. Why don't you just pull down your really bad web site and move on?
He has the missionary zeal. How is this any different than TBMs handing out brain-dead sappy giveaway cards to all and sundry? Just as we went on missions because we felt we had something we needed to share with others, Infymus now believes he's helping people by steering them clear of Mormonism, or out of it, as the case may be. He sees the church as a net negative, and wants to do something about it. How is that so bad?
I just find it odd that he more likely then not spends more time with things LDS then he ever did. If he really so despises the Church why not move on? Why spend so much time with it? He seems more hung up then he probably ever was as an active LDS. I am not sure I said it was bad, but it seems odd.
No, here is the deal Jason... You have NO idea how much time I spent in Mormonism. Reading the Book of Mormon 17 times in a little under four years should give you an idea. One of the few who have read the JOD, HOC, all the works of WW, Joseph Smith, JSF, JAS, Joseph Smith, BY should give you an idea... I spent countless countless hours studying, reading, praying, paying, obeying.
It is nothing different now, it is just that my attention is now diverted.
Ignore Jason, he stands for nothing and is afraid to stand up for his own beliefs.
I applaud your efforts Infymus. I refer people to your site and Deconstructor's site all the time. A true asset in the battle against the evil LDS Empire.
Unlike Jasson who really does nothing for how he feels, you are doing something about your feelings, you are engaged.
Please keep your website up. For many, it can be the armor piercing bullet that finally lets the sunshine and fresh air into their cold and confined existence as a Mormon.