DiscussMormonism.com

The church I was raised in values unquestioning obedience over critical thinking. This caused trauma and cognitive dissonance when I questioned church doctrine and official history. In online forums and support groups, former and questioning Mormons gather and offer comfort. Some of us are prominent, such as Steve Benson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist, or singer Tal Bachman. Most of us are quiet dissidents who wish to lead conscientious lives.

I was born into an multi-generational Mormon pioneer family. The mantle of those ancestors who made the ultimate sacrifice while crossing America’s plains to Utah weighed heavily on me as I grew up romanticizing the church’s worldwide missionary successes.

But I struggled after realizing that Mormonism’s claims about anthropology, history and other subjects contradict reason and science. While many faiths’ irrational claims are obscured by centuries of myth and rubble, the LDS church lacks the moderation and scholarship of its older peers. It also stifles efforts to openly question church pronouncements, labeling such behavior as Satanic.

Critics of Mormonism include geneticists, Egyptologists and even the Smithsonian Institution, which stopped Mormon apologists from claiming the institute viewed the Book of Mormon as a factual document.

While studying at Brigham Young University, I spiritually imploded after learning these things and other facts outside official church curriculum. Disturbed, I met with a high-ranking Mormon leader who told me to quit reading historical and scientific materials because they were “worse than pornography.” BYU’s dean of religious education wouldn’t answer my growing list of questions. Other leaders told me that questioning is acceptable so long as it’s done secretly. I became distraught. For years my faith was an unshakable part of my identity, and if I openly voiced my concerns I risked rejection from the community I loved. Since Mormonism is highly centralized, without the local doctrinal flexibility that exists in Judaism and many Christian churches, I had no place to live a moderated, reformed existence.

Salt Lake City’s male gerontocracy told me to avoid books and marry, but I could not stomach all their teachings. For example, mainstream Mormons banned polygamy in 1890 to obtain Utah’s statehood, but they continue to perform temple ceremonies that “seal” one man to multiple women in the hereafter. My idea of heaven did not involve a husband whose love could be shared with many wives.

Staying in the church meant I would have my family, but I couldn’t pretend to believe. And it was difficult to live a fulfilling life without Mormonism. My parents shut me out of their home for nearly five years because of religion, and some former friends shunned me.

Buffalo wrote:I too hope Romney wins, for the same reason as you. My LDS family & friends don't want him to win, because of the increased scrutiny that it will put on the church.

Rambo wrote:

Buffalo wrote:I too hope Romney wins, for the same reason as you. My LDS family & friends don't want him to win, because of the increased scrutiny that it will put on the church.

Are you serious? I don't think my family and friends have thought of this. They think the increased attention will be a good thing because they only see the church in a good light. Plus they think that any attention is always good for the church. I'm thinking your family and friends know some of the problems and know they are hard to handle. Sounds like they are more advanced on the issues than my famly and friends.

Rambo wrote:Both my family and I want Romney to win the GOP nomination but we both want it for different reasons.

DarkHelmet wrote:I think Mitt has had it easy so far. If he wins the nomination (looks likely), then Obama's chicago political smear machine kicks into gear, I don't think anything in his past will be off-limits, including his faith. I'm sure his campaign has all the "tired old anti-mormon lies" in a file, with a strategy on how to use it if they have to. It's not like Obama is worried about losing the Mormon vote.

zeezrom wrote:I don't get the Mittens thing. Is this a play on Mitt Romney's candidacy or something?