Would this change your decision to be active or not?

[_Gadianton]

Look no further than Internet Mormonism if you want to cut down your home teaching. Whether Internet Mormons do this or not is up to them, but the point is, it's up to them. As FAIR/MAD puts it, "Mormonism has no systematic theology" and that Mormons are "postmodern" - by which they mean the truth is their own personal quest which can be just about anything.

[_karl61]

I actually have thought about this for a long time. Before the last six months of reevaluating things, I thought that there should be a ward for people that struggle with addictions, mental health problems or people that have been disfellowshiped or excommunicated; usally the former leads to the latter. It could be one ward per stake. It's a place to feel like you belong to a group searching for peace and happiness but have struggles that normal Bishops don't have the expertise to deal with and could actually do far more damage if giving advice. What would the results of this: More TBM's not wearing a mask. The church has a history of giving adoring history of Joseph Smith and company to it's members that in the end result the members just give adoring history back when interviewed for temple recommends. People laugh now but when the church only has 10 percent of it's current membership in the future it will not be so funny, infact, it might make people cry. It sounds like this is something that comes from the large and spacious buildings at FAIR or FARMS.

[_MishMagnet]

Lighten up, people! It's a joke!

On the other hand, my attempts at returning to religion have been much to make fun of myself for. I tend to choose churches for the religiously challenged. They are the equivilant of wearing one of those helmets that keep you from injuring your brain on the playground. There are a lot of really fun churches out there that are like a big fluffy dessert that one can eat with their hands. Choirs that sing Styx, John Lennon's Imagine while the offering is being collected, Hello it's Jesus on the Line complete with telephone props, lots of cheering, gay men fighting over the chapel's Christmas decorations. Good times.

[_huckelberry]

Nightmare lite is still nightmare

[_MishMagnet]

Was that to me? Cause, yeah, I haven't been able to stick anywhere for very long. It always comes down to justification of the unethical and my Jesus is better than your Jesus, my God is right and your God is not so right. I know I'm right and you only think you are right.

These have been my ATTEMPTS at returning to religion.

[_charity]

Lighten up, people! It's a joke! .

Thanks, mish. One of my sons-in-law sent it to me this morning and I thought it was funny. I put it up on MA&D, too.

I don't think it is funny that people feel like they can't stay in the Church, for whatever reason.

I really didn't think it would come to a discussion about why people really do leave the Church, but several of you have mentioned it.

I do not disbelieve any of your own experiences. My experience has been different. I know some people who have left the Church. These are the reasons. And these are the reasons stated by the person him/herself. I am not speculating.

1. Got involved in a commercial personal improvement program which conflicted with Church teachings.
2. Would not belong to a Church which did not condemn capital punishment.
3. Thinks God did not answer his prayers when he was doing everything he should be doing and God should have.
4. Decided members are snooty and judgemental.
5. Excommunicated for adultery.

I don't know any other individuals who have left the Church. I am not including partially active people who still identify themselves as members, even if they do not attend regularly.

[_karl61]

In a way it's kind of funny because the Church actually turns into that great and abominable Church, that great whore where people taunt and laugh at others. Just look at the current church : The great whore has secret combinations, makes fun of people, and fills the earth. It's a pretty simple observation. They have become the enemy.

[_Yong Xi]

I actually have thought about this for a long time. Before the last six months of reevaluating things, I thought that there should be a ward for people that struggle with addictions, mental health ..........

Be careful here, styleguy! Ray A might be selected bishop of this ward!

[_Some Schmo]

Unless the church changed it's doctrine to completely comply with my current lifestyle and started paying me to attend, I would never go back.

In other words, I don't need the church. It makes me wonder what kind of person really does.

[_truth dancer]

Hi Charity...

Your list pretty much confirms what we are suggesting.

1. Got involved in a commercial personal improvement program which conflicted with Church teachings.

In other words... the church does not seem true.

2. Would not belong to a Church which did not condemn capital punishment.

In other words, the church does not seem right (or aligned with his/her personal beliefs).

3. Thinks God did not answer his prayers when he was doing everything he should be doing and God should have.

In other words, the church/God does not feel right or seem true or live up to its teachings in his/her experience.

4. Decided members are snooty and judgemental.

This sounds like someone who no longer attends church because it is an unpleasant experience. I doubt the person stopped believing because of snooty members... unless of course members were making fun, ridiculing, mocking him/her because they didn't know about the realities of the church issues. (smile) I just do not see someone who believes the LDS church is the one and only way to God, to all of a sudden stop believing this because someone was a bit rude. I could see someone looking at the world, at members, at our human species and realizing that members are no different than anyone else, that there are good and bad in every belief system, and the LDS are not somehow more special, kind, holy, or Christlike, hence nothing special about the church?

5. Excommunicated for adultery.

Are you suggesting that this person had a full blown testimony, had an affair then decided the church was not true?

Maybe, but more likely the person, after moving away from the church had a chance to reevaluate. In other words, it was not the affair that caused disbelief but being removed from the situation enough to step back and examine life.

~dancer~