OPEN LETTER to Runtu

[_Daheshist]

Thanks Runtu. You looked into Daheshism. That's all I can ask of you. Daheshism teaches that it does not matter what religion we belong to. We are judged by our works alone. It is better to live without religion, and lead a good life, and with religion and lead a bad life or not so good life. I've known plenty of Mormons who would be better off without religion, because it does not make them good people. Not saying you! I know you took your Mormonism seriously. So did I. Unfortunately, most do not.

I'm glad you are no longer depressed. I've had depression before, its a BITCH. Gets better with time. Once my labido went down to near zero, I wasn't depressed anymore. So I think it has a lot to do with certain hormones.

And, yes, you live in Houston. I remember that now. Makes sense about oil industry training. I'm ordering a hard copy of your book soon. Take care.
Darrick

[_Runtu]

Thanks Runtu. You looked into Daheshism. That's all I can ask of you. Daheshism teaches that it does not matter what religion we belong to. We are judged by our works alone. It is better to live without religion, and lead a good life, and with religion and lead a bad life or not so good life. I've known plenty of Mormons who would be better off without religion, because it does not make them good people. Not saying you! I know you took your Mormonism seriously. So did I. Unfortunately, most do not.

I'm glad you are no longer depressed. I've had depression before, its a BITCH. Gets better with time. Once my labido went down to near zero, I wasn't depressed anymore. So I think it has a lot to do with certain hormones.

And, yes, you live in Houston. I remember that now. Makes sense about oil industry training. I'm ordering a hard copy of your book soon. Take care.
Darrick

I used to live in Houston. I live in Utah now. Thank you for the kind words. Depression is the worst, and I'm glad mine is under control. You take care, too.

[_Samantabhadra]

I consider myself a Christian, but I do enjoy reading about other religions.

Sorry, I guess I missed some of the context for this. Are you not currently a member of any Church, and if so, would you like to be?

I discovered this board (and Mormonism) in the context of doctoral research on ritual practice in Christianity and Buddhism. I don't pretend to have any answers, but in my experience, the Christian Churches with the most to offer are the ones--like the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholics--with Apostolic Succession, that believe in the "real presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.

[_Runtu]

Sorry, I guess I missed some of the context for this. Are you not currently a member of any Church, and if so, would you like to be?

I discovered this board (and Mormonism) in the context of doctoral research on ritual practice in Christianity and Buddhism. I don't pretend to have any answers, but in my experience, the Christian Churches with the most to offer are the ones--like the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholics--with Apostolic Succession, that believe in the "real presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.

I am a member of the LDS church, and that most likely is not going to change anytime soon.

[_MCB]

Are you not currently a member of any Church, and if so, would you like to be?

I am Catholic, and have never been Mormon. However, I have seen Mormonism in action, and, in many ways, it is quite scary. Many non-believers go inactive, or attend only to get along with family members, or survive in close-knit, judmental communities. They should be given the respect they deserve for doing so. There are difficult decisions, and the decisions are theirs to make. If they, and the doubters were to exit, what would be left would be the nucleus of a group rivaling the Nazis in their hatred of others.

There is no need to tell them to seek another church; they will find it as they heal.

[_Samantabhadra]

I am Catholic, and have never been Mormon. However, I have seen Mormonism in action, and, in many ways, it is quite scary. Many non-believers go inactive, or attend only to get along with family members, or survive in close-knit, judmental communities. They should be given the respect they deserve for doing so. There are difficult decisions, and the decisions are theirs to make. If they, and the doubters were to exit, what would be left would be the nucleus of a group rivaling the Nazis in their hatred of others.

There is no need to tell them to seek another church; they will find it as they heal.

Thank you for this, it is very helpful.

[_Quasimodo]

Do you have any interest in Buddhism?

Hi Samantabhadra!

Personally, I find it fascinating. I haven't quite decided whether to call it a religion or a philosophy, though.

[_harmony]

If they, and the doubters were to exit, what would be left would be the nucleus of a group rivaling the Nazis in their hatred of others.

I think this is huge overkill. A group rivaling the Nazis in their hatred of others? Seriously? Not even close.

[_Gadianton]

I discovered this board (and Mormonism) in the context of doctoral research on ritual practice in Christianity and Buddhism. I don't pretend to have any answers, but in my experience, the Christian Churches with the most to offer are the ones--like the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholics--with Apostolic Succession, that believe in the "real presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.

Welcome to the board. It looks like you've also discovered MDD based on another post. I highly, highly recommend that you register on MDD and post this! Let them know that the Mormon Eucharist is inferior on these grounds and if you have some kind of argument that involves history all the better. Definitely cite your credentials as a Phd student to back up your case.

[_Samantabhadra]

Personally, I find [Buddhism] fascinating. I haven't quite decided whether to call it a religion or a philosophy, though.

The interesting thing about the "religion" vs. "philosophy" distinction is that those words have only had their modern sense for about two or maybe three hundred years at the most. Prior to and even during the European Enlightenment, what we call "science" today would have been called "natural philosophy," and "religion" would have been unintelligible apart from "Christianity." Buddhism has aspects of both philosophy and religion, but doesn't really fit neatly into either category, especially not once you start looking at Buddhist ritual practice. So my personal feeling is that the best way to understand Buddhism, as well as Christianity, is to explode "religion" vs. "philosophy" (or even better "religion" vs. "science") as a false dichotomy, or the relic of a bygone era in human history, or in any case as a set of Western cultural categories that don't really have any applicability to Buddhism.

Welcome to the board. It looks like you've also discovered MDD based on another post. I highly, highly recommend that you register on MDD and post this! Let them know that the Mormon Eucharist is inferior on these grounds and if you have some kind of argument that involves history all the better. Definitely cite your credentials as a Phd student to back up your case.

I LOL'd while reading this. Yeah that is tempting, on the other hand I would prefer to be able to read MDD instead of being banned from even looking at their discussions.

P.S. Bertrand Russell is one of my all-time personal heroes. I don't agree with him about Christianity but that doesn't prevent me from admiring him (both him personally and his enormous contributions to mathematics, philosophy, etc.) immensely. The Philosophy of Logical Atomism changed my life.