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Apostates are courageous. “There is a bravery,” writes John Allen Paulos, “associated with disbelief and honest doubt.” For many individuals, their loss of faith was frightening, emotionally and psychologically, and yet they had to admit and accept their loss of faith, despite the consequences. It takes a fair amount of nerve and guts to openly reject something that is extremely important to one’s parents or grandparents or friends, to choose not to participate in something that much of one’s community or society deems as noble, to assert one’s lack of faith in a world populated by people of faith. And sometimes the stakes of apostasy can be quite high, particularly within fundamentalist circles or strongly religious societies. Apostates are also bright. Inquisitiveness, intellectualism, academic engagement, and/or a love of reading were common traits among most of the men and women in this study. Apostates are also keenly moral; those who have rejected religion actively desire a world of fairness, kindness, goodness, and justice. Apostates are also relatively individualistic and self-reliant. Although they perhaps miss the comfort of community that came with their earlier religious involvement, they don’t feel the need any longer to belong to a community of believers given their own lack of belief; they aren’t quite comfortable in religious or social organizations that make them feel as though they are part of a conforming herd. Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

RayAgostini wrote:I recommend you also read: Leaving the Fold: Candid Conversations with Inactive Mormons.

You can read it at the: Signature Books Library.

Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

bcspace wrote:

Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

As a TBM, I'm not limited in any way. Certainly not in these areas.

bcspace wrote:

Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

As a TBM, I'm not limited in any way. Certainly not in these areas.

bcspace wrote:

Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

As a TBM, I'm not limited in any way. Certainly not in these areas.

they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor.

Franktalk wrote:But what moral structure do they now have? Why their own. And what charities do they form with their new friends? Why none of course. But then again maybe I am just not aware of the international charity of deniers. Someone help me out here.