The MADB Body Count

[_Buffalo]

Enlighten us all.

I misspoke. My apologies.

No problem

[_Sophocles]

How many of here would consider themselves to have been struggling members whose experience with MADB and/or apologists was a catalyst in the loss of their faith in the LDS Church?

I was further gone than a "struggling member" by the time I found ZLMB. More like a tentative apostate. I was already convinced that the Mormon church was not what it claimed to be, but some of it seemed so obvious that I feared I might be missing something. Maybe I was actually being deceived by Satan.

I sincerely wanted to find how people who were aware of all these issues in church history and doctrine still managed to believe. Maybe they knew something that I didn't.

After witnessing both the poor arguments and bad behavior of LDS apologists at ZLMB, I became convinced that I wasn't missing anything after all. The case against the church really was as obvious as it appeared, and the apologists delivered exactly what you would expect from defenders of a false belief.

I believe the apologists cemented me in my disbelief in a way that no one like Fawn Brodie or the Tanners ever could.

[_Buffalo]

Will MADB claim another body in the case of Nomad/Will Schryver? He's starting to sound a little bit cynical about mopologetics.

[_Tim the Enchanter]

It's hard to say how big of a role the MADB really played in me transitioning from struggling to disbelieving, but the way I would describe it is that I was standing there in the Mormonism room, with my hand on the door handle of the exit, scared to death of what might be on the other side, when I turned to the MADB to see what those who had studied all the same things I had but still maintained their belief in the church thought about the issues giving me trouble. I posted briefly, indicated I was a struggling member, and was basically told that I didn't have faith and was denying past spiritual experiences. MADB helped me realize I was in the wrong room and that my only choice was to exit.

[_Nomad]

Will MADB claim another body in the case of Nomad/Will Schryver? He's starting to sound a little bit cynical about mopologetics.

I've always been skeptical about a lot of the apologetics that are popular these days. For what it's worth, I don't think Will is nearly as cynical about that stuff as I am. But wait ... we're the same person, right? lol Or at least we have been for the past year. Before I spoke favorably about Will's KEP stuff, I wasn't even on the radar of the people here, even though I'd been posting at FAIR for years, and even a little bit here.

[_Buffalo]

Will MADB claim another body in the case of Nomad/Will Schryver? He's starting to sound a little bit cynical about mopologetics.

I've always been skeptical about a lot of the apologetics that are popular these days. For what it's worth, I don't think Will is nearly as cynical about that stuff as I am. But wait ... we're the same person, right? lol Or at least we have been for the past year. Before I spoke favorably about Will's KEP stuff, I wasn't even on the radar of the people here, even though I'd been posting at FAIR for years, and even a little bit here.

I have to give you some credit - you're stepping up your game now. At least you're working on not using the same tone (or even the same sentences!) as Will.

Even DCP admits that he thinks you're Will.

[_Nomad]

I have to give you some credit - you're stepping up your game now. At least you're working on not using the same tone (or even the same sentences!) as Will.

Even DCP admits that he thinks you're Will.

Actually, I'm pretty sure DCP knows now that I'm not Will. I've sent him e-mails from my in real life account. But don't let what DCP knows get in the way of what you believe.

[_keithb]

For me, the MAD board did contribute to my disillusionment with the church. I used to post over there under various handles in 2010,but I never found the arguments fully convincing. I was bothered by a seemingly routine dismissal of science by some there, particularly when it came to things like carbon dating and Noah's ark.

I also like PolygamyPorter's analogy of a cheating spouse. For me, the crisis in my life that actually allowed me to stop believing in the Mormon church was that I found out my ex-wife was cheating on me. So, for me, the realization that the church isn't true is rooted in that experience, even though the justification for staying away from the church is rooted in science, history, and reason.

It was actually not long after I filed for divorce that I found the NOM message board and this message board. The things I read on here more or less cemented my disaffection.

[_Buffalo]

I have to give you some credit - you're stepping up your game now. At least you're working on not using the same tone (or even the same sentences!) as Will.

Even DCP admits that he thinks you're Will.

Actually, I'm pretty sure DCP knows now that I'm not Will. I've sent him e-mails from my in real life account. But don't let what DCP knows get in the way of what you believe.

Whatever makes you happy. I like your new persona better than your old one, so by all means, keep it up. ;)

[_bcspace]

That is a pretty good list for an examination of conscience for a TBM.

Yes thank you. I have examined my conscience and I freely admit to some Pride and Selfishness. A Judgemental Attitude is not in and of itself a sin (1 Cor 6:2) and no LDS person believes that we are punished for the sins of our ancestors (you're out of context here). But by and large, pretty good so far.