The anger of exmos...

[_why me]

I like the part when Korihor says: I do not deny the existence of a god, but I do not believe that there is a god.

I think that there is much wisdom in that sentence. I look at it the same way when it comes to the LDS church. An exmo should say: I do not deny that the LDS church may be true, but I do not believe that it is true.

Should they adopt Korihor's thinking? I'm sure you think so; there must be profound satisfaction in thinking that they, like him, will end up deaf and mute beggars who die the same lousy death.

I made comments about Korihor on the MAAD board. I think that his position is quite clear. He takes an agnostic/atheist position which seems logical. God cannot be disproven nor at this moment can the Book of Mormon. To say, I do not deny that the LDS church may be true but I don't believe it is true would ease the 'pain'.

I think that exmos would have cause for anger if the church was actually proven false. But not now. There is logic in Korihor.

[_why me]

I can only give you my opinion. If I lost absolute faith in the LDS church, I would be the happiest person alive. And why not. The loss of belief would free me from a religious tradition. And it would also give me opportunities to discover other truths.

I am the happiest persons alive, along with my wife, kids, and my brothers and their families.
However, I love to come here to poke fun at the mindless fools, scaredy cats, and hypocrites like yourself. If I sound angry its is because I am have soo f___ing much fun doing it.

When I was 19, I lost my faith in god. I did not get angry at god. I was sad however because I wanted to believe. But I did not get angry. How could I get angry at god for loss of belief in him? It wouldn't make sense.

Oh and that was what 30 years ago? Lemme guess what happened next...

You joined the Mormons during your darkest days, only to shortly later go inactive. Years later you pop up on the internet and defend it as if were a true believer.

Yawn.

Until you return to 100% activity, full tithe paying and a regular attendee of green and white masonic PJ parties, you are nothing more to me than a hypocrite.

No, I lost my faith in god when I was a Mormon. Hence, I became inactive.

[_Polygamy Porter]

I can only give you my opinion. If I lost absolute faith in the LDS church, I would be the happiest person alive. And why not. The loss of belief would free me from a religious tradition. And it would also give me opportunities to discover other truths.

I am the happiest persons alive, along with my wife, kids, and my brothers and their families.
However, I love to come here to poke fun at the mindless fools, scaredy cats, and hypocrites like yourself. If I sound angry its is because I am have soo f___ing much fun doing it.

When I was 19, I lost my faith in god. I did not get angry at god. I was sad however because I wanted to believe. But I did not get angry. How could I get angry at god for loss of belief in him? It wouldn't make sense.

Oh and that was what 30 years ago? Lemme guess what happened next...

You joined the Mormons during your darkest days, only to shortly later go inactive. Years later you pop up on the internet and defend it as if were a true believer.

Yawn.

Until you return to 100% activity, full tithe paying and a regular attendee of green and white masonic PJ parties, you are nothing more to me than a hypocrite.

No, I lost my faith in god when I was a Mormon. Hence, I became inactive.

You make abso-friggin-lutely no sense.

Please tell us all why you defend the only true church of this god you claim to have lost faith in?

[_Yoda]

I am the happiest persons alive, along with my wife, kids, and my brothers and their families.
However, I love to come here to poke fun at the mindless fools, scaredy cats, and hypocrites like yourself. If I sound angry its is because I am have soo f___ing much fun doing it.

That, and you like to have cyber sex with me in chat.

;)

[_Trevor]

...does it seem to others like why me and Ray A are the same person?

[Guest]

..If I lost absolute faith in the LDS church, I would be the happiest person alive. And why not. The loss of belief would free me from a religious tradition. And it would also give me opportunities to discover other truths...

..I just don't understand the anger and bitterness of the exmos. The loss of testimony should bring happiness and not pain. Or it should bring sadness but bitterness? No.

Why me,

I think the anger factor has been addressed sufficiently and within reason by many here.

Now about happiness. I think our definitions of happiness are not one in the same.

You (and I) have been taught by the prophets that "it is the church or nothing". If we are willing to believe this bald faced lie (and TBM Mormons have to) we make an incorrect assumption that those that reject the church would reject morality, ethical judgement and consequence - because there is none without the Mormon God. Mormons are taught that if the church is not true there could not possibly be a God. How dastardly. The alusion that there would no longer be laws to encourage restraint would make some happy - are you one of them? I wouldn't think so.

Rejecting the lies and other wickedness of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not negate my sense of right reason. I think those inside the church have a tendency to even unconsciously look outside with envy, "wow, those guys can do anything they want. They are no longer held to human decency by guilt or fear. I'm stuck abiding by the rules because (i think) I know they are true". I did not reject goodness because I rejected the church. I reject the church because because I would choose goodness.

I like the part when Korihor says: I do not deny the existence of a god, but I do not believe that there is a god.

I think that there is much wisdom in that sentence. I look at it the same way when it comes to the LDS church. An exmo should say: I do not deny that the LDS church may be true, but I do not believe that it is true.

A few exmos may harbor this delusion, but I think you describe the rebelious uninformed - you know, those that figure someday they should repent and go back - only because they don't know it's a fraud.

The church is not God. God is not the church. The church in not true, even if I believed it were true (and apologised for it).The Gospel is not a church or the church - and the church is certainly not the Gospel - although that is what many of us were indoctrinated with all of our life.

[_Yong Xi]

...does it seem to others like why me and Ray A are the same person?

I was thinking they exhibit some common characteristics. I decided that Why Me is Ray A. "lite" or Ray A. in embryo.

[_Inconceivable]

One other note:

My wife and several others have asked me, "Now that you think you know the truth about Mormonism, has it made you happier - or even more at peace?".

This is not a valid question.

Truth is not defined by either peace nor happiness. The truth is simply correct information that can, by it's very nature illicite an emotional response - peace, happiness, euforia, sadness, fear, betrayal, devastation, humiliation, depression, vindication or even nothing at all. It is causing me to re-evaluate what I thought brought me peace.

What these TBM's are meaning to say is, "now that you have rejected happiness, has it made you happier?".

Well that is not what I did (I rejected the allusion of happiness). But so long as they (TBM's) see the church as synonomous with happiness, well, they'll never get it.

And no. I'm not happier now (yet). I am still angry, even vexed. But I'll probably get over it in time.

[_Trevor]

I was thinking they exhibit some common characteristics. I decided that Why Me is Ray A. "lite" or Ray A. in embryo.

Whew! So I am not alone on this. Maybe they are simply pals who are out to show those ex-Mos right.

[_guy sajer]

Why Me makes the common mistake of projecting his theoretical course of action (theoretical as it exists only the abstract for him--and herein lies another lesson, presuming you'll behave a partiuclar way in the abstract doesn't always play out as supposed in the concrete) as the standard, without acknowledging the very real empirical fact that different people respond differently to the same or similar things. There are a range of responses, typically, and no "right" response. There may be some "wrong" ones, but there are no "right" ones.

Memo to Why Me: YOU do not set the standard for appropriate behavior. Just because YOU'D do something a particular way doesn't mean it is appropriate for everyone else to do it the same way. How is it that you have lived as long as you have and you still haven't figured out this rather self-evident truth?

The stereotype he invokes about "angry" ex-Mos is so old and tired. He's been visiting this board for how long and he still cannot identify the range of personalities and responses on display here?

This does not say much good about his power of perception.