Exmos

[_John Larsen]

When I had my name removed, I didn’t know the Corporation wasn’t what it claimed to be. All I knew was that I was in complete disagreement with the Mormon God, and I turned my back on him and his doctrine. The Mormon God was a racist, a murderer and a God that wanted strict obedience and money before he would ever love you.
....
.

God is always the same. How he is portrayed is the fault of the people. Not God.

Does God hold any responsibility to correct the wrong portrayal, especially by those in power?

John

[_Some Schmo]

When I had my name removed, I didn’t know the Corporation wasn’t what it claimed to be. All I knew was that I was in complete disagreement with the Mormon God, and I turned my back on him and his doctrine. The Mormon God was a racist, a murderer and a God that wanted strict obedience and money before he would ever love you.
....
.

God is always the same. How he is portrayed is the fault of the people. Not God.

This is totally true. He never existed in the past, doesn't now, and never will.

[_barrelomonkeys]

There is a natural tendency for all people to share their beliefs and world views with others. I don’t know why we tend to see this as such a negative in people who disagree with us.

I tend to recoil from people that sense that their truth Trump's my views. I have no problem with others that share their beliefs. I welcome it as long as they respect my ability to disagree.

I think the idea that you have a truth, in the LDS Church, and that some were sent to other cultures to preach this truth, regardless of cultural norms, certainly could desensitize people to the sense that some people don't wish to have whatever truth others claim to hold.

I mentioned that when I was a child in Japan I often participated in the festivals that occurred right outside my home at the Shinto Shrine. I respected all customs and cultural norms and tried to make as little impact as possible as I attempted to blend in. I could see how those that perhaps were not taught to respect others beliefs may also carry over a bit of the insensitivity when they leave?

There were a few posters that I thought of when I made that thread. Infymus wasn't one of them. There are some that proclaim their truths while disparaging other views. This just appears, to me, to not be very effective.

:)

[_karl61]

You know when people think they have the truth as they have that special gleam/beam in their eye.

[_beastie]

1. How did you feel when you figured out that the church isn't what it claims to be?

2. How do you feel now towards the church?

1. I was devastated, but, at the same time, relieved that I no longer had to worry about why God wasn't answering my prayers about the truthfulness of the church. I was relieved I no longer had to twist myself into pretzels finding ways to continue believing. I was also frightened, because my entire world paradigm had been pulled from me and I felt like I had to figure out everything from scratch.

2. Ambivalent. I do believe the church's influence creates a barrier between my Mormon family and me. But, overall, I view it as just one more conservative (socially and politically) religion that, while offering opportunities for service and tribal affiliations, also tends to divide its members from others. If I lived out west, the church would probably irritate me more than it does, but in my life, the only time I think about it is when I visit this board or my family.

[_Mister Scratch]

1. How did you feel when you figured out that the church isn't what it claims to be?

2. How do you feel now towards the church?

1. I was devastated, but, at the same time, relieved that I no longer had to worry about why God wasn't answering my prayers about the truthfulness of the church. I was relieved I no longer had to twist myself into pretzels finding ways to continue believing. I was also frightened, because my entire world paradigm had been pulled from me and I felt like I had to figure out everything from scratch.

(emphasis added)

What wrong with that? Sure, I may have a big ego, but my knowledge is vast! ; )

[_Jason Bourne]

(regarding Infymus's post)

Mormonism has more of a grip on you know then it even did. Bet you spend more time with it and on it then you ever did before. of course in a different way. Why don't you just pull down your really bad web site and move on?

He has the missionary zeal. How is this any different than TBMs handing out brain-dead sappy giveaway cards to all and sundry? Just as we went on missions because we felt we had something we needed to share with others, Infymus now believes he's helping people by steering them clear of Mormonism, or out of it, as the case may be. He sees the church as a net negative, and wants to do something about it. How is that so bad?

I just find it odd that he more likely then not spends more time with things LDS then he ever did. If he really so despises the Church why not move on? Why spend so much time with it? He seems more hung up then he probably ever was as an active LDS. I am not sure I said it was bad, but it seems odd.

[_Doctor Steuss]

[...] relieved that I no longer had to worry about why God wasn't answering my prayers about the truthfulness of the church. I was relieved I no longer had to twist myself into pretzels finding ways to continue believing. [...]

To me, this rings a little too close to home.

[_Runtu]

[...] relieved that I no longer had to worry about why God wasn't answering my prayers about the truthfulness of the church. I was relieved I no longer had to twist myself into pretzels finding ways to continue believing. [...]

To me, this rings a little too close to home.

Yeah, that rings true for me, too. As depressing and devastating as it was to realize what the church was, I had to just let go and stop making excuses for what I knew wasn't true. Fighting reality does not make for good mental health.

[_barrelomonkeys]

(regarding Infymus's post)

Mormonism has more of a grip on you know then it even did. Bet you spend more time with it and on it then you ever did before. of course in a different way. Why don't you just pull down your really bad web site and move on?

He has the missionary zeal. How is this any different than TBMs handing out brain-dead sappy giveaway cards to all and sundry? Just as we went on missions because we felt we had something we needed to share with others, Infymus now believes he's helping people by steering them clear of Mormonism, or out of it, as the case may be. He sees the church as a net negative, and wants to do something about it. How is that so bad?

I just find it odd that he more likely then not spends more time with things LDS then he ever did. If he really so despises the Church why not move on? Why spend so much time with it? He seems more hung up then he probably ever was as an active LDS. I am not sure I said it was bad, but it seems odd.

It appears to me that Infymus is angry. Is that not a valid emotion?

People are in various stages of the loss of their faith on this board. Some seem to linger on one emotion for longer than others, they each deal with their loss of faith in their own manner.

What do people mean by 'move on'? I see this term flung about often (I personally bristle at it) and don't quite understand. If someone is still reeling from whatever impact their loss of faith had upon them personally why would anyone else assume they could just up and forget about it? It seems so silly really as if you must discount the various stages that a person deals with when their entire world view radically shifts.