New Testimonies On Ex-MST

[_asbestosman]

Why isn't Kip Thorne on that site?

[_ExMormonScholar]

[quote="JoeSmith"

I have no problem with polyandry or polygamy or lying about it. I would lie about it too if I was faced with hostile mobs who were waiting with zeal for an excuse to attack and burn the Mormons out of existence.

And I have no problem with accounts of the first vision. In fact, I would be suspicious if they were exact. A con man would certainly get his or her story straight.

With all the negatives you mentioned, it is quite surprising that Mormons are by and large decent and god-loving people.

You would be suspicious if they were exact? An honest man has no reason to lie or make up different versions. If something as important as the first vision happened in my life, I would tell the same story exactly the same time each time. And mentioned it to family and friends right after it happened. Not wait decades later to say, "Oh by the way everyone, I saw God. I mean lots of angels and God.. Or was it God and Christ together at once? I'm not quite sure. But I am sure the church will tailor it over the years according to their needs."

95% of Mormons don't even know the 'real' history of Mormonism.

[_JoeSmith]

Good points Exmoscholar. Are you a member why me?

I think ex-mst is a good idea. Except for the cheezy stock photo. Make it like a family or something.

[_CaliforniaKid]

If something as important as the first vision happened in my life, I would tell the same story exactly the same time each time.

I suspect you might be surprised at how your tellings of important events in your life have changed over the years.

[_MrStakhanovite]

That's Tom Donofrio! Let me guess, you don't know who he is, right?

I don't, all I got from google was his article in the postmormon online mag and 10 apologist articles attacking it.

[_TAK]

A silly site. "Scholars" individually seem weak. .

Unlike the Mo site where half the posts are from LD$ Inc employees including a dead one..

[_JoeSmith]

If something as important as the first vision happened in my life, I would tell the same story exactly the same time each time.

I suspect you might be surprised at how your tellings of important events in your life have changed over the years.

Nothing in Josephs life was more important. He saw God and Christ. How could he get sooo many big details mixed up over the years. That's ridiculous. It's like your wedding day. Ten years later your like "Well, I think my parents were there. I know my Dad was, but was my Mom?

If Joe really had a vision he would've remembered it perfectly. After all, he was a genius. Moved up the Masonary ladder pretty quick, which takes lots of memorization. He learned languages really easy.

You can't tell me he wouldn't remember exact details. Lame..

[_Gadianton]

Hi there CKid,

I don't think there are many benefits to testify as an ex-mormon scholar. There is no BYU equiv of a feeding ground where one only rises in popularity by talking trash about the spirit etc.

Even DCP notes he's been saddened by non-BYU types that won't risk their careers for his pet project. For ex-mos its much worse, among other things, its not really polotically correct to vocally criticize a religion, any religion.

[_Danna]

OK, since this board is chocker with exmormon scholars, who would post a 'testimony' now that the site appears to be developing into another quality hub of the exmo online world?

I have found it very interesting to read the personal experiences of people who do publish critical material. The site is valuable for that reason as a typical (well, my chapel-mum's) reaction to a critical book is an attack on the author's motives, morals, sincerity, or reaction to taking offence. I am hoping that Grant Palmer will post as he copped a bit of flak in absentia and it would be great to be able to point chapel-mum to the site for his story and then hopefully have her look around a bit. If they go the MST route and put some dead ex-mos' stories on, that would be great (Fawn Brodie etc).

Separating 'scholars' and others was a good idea as it provokes thought as to the actual scholarly credentials on MST and is pre-emptive of attacks on exmo credentials. It is a bit sad the distinction is considered valid though, I suspect some of the better testimonies will be found in the 'Other' section. There are likely masses of exmo scholars who have lost religion as a whole, without putting in the research effort into Mormonism specifically, that the 'others' have. Not that atheist/agnostic stories are less valid, just that those who lose Mormonism before losing religion as a whole make for a more relevant 'testimony'.

It looks like 'scholar' is being used for PhD level university researcher/lecturer? That is massively more strict than MST. Surely Lyndon Lamborn is a scholar? And MDs and other non-university employed doctors are not scholars presumably?

Anyway - I think a critical density is being reached where those posting their stories are not in as much danger of singling themselves out for attack by the lunatic fringe. I posted earlier that I would be reluctant to paint a target on my back in such a fashion, but there is safety in numbers. Is anyone thinking of sending in a story? Or is the requirement to 'unmask' still too risky for family or employment reasons.

[_Paul Osborne]

Hahahahahaahahaha!!!

Jesus Christ superstar! Your avatar is truly inspiring.

Paul O