How to Stay in the LDS Church after Losing Your Faith

[_antishock8]

[_Moniker]

The US was founded by people who held to Christian principles. Right or wrong, that IS this country's legacy.

I think calling those principles Christian is a stretch. There is more of Greek Philosophy, the Enlightenment, and English Common law then anything uniquely Christian.

Paine: "Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst."

"Take away from Genesis the belief that Moses was the author, on which only the strange belief that it is the word of God has stood, and there remains nothing of Genesis but an anonymous book of stories, fables, and traditionary or invented absurdities, or of downright lies."

And there are MANY more quotes that can reflect the philosophy (and not in a glowing rosy love of Christianity) that swayed the founding fathers in that time.

They shucking off the King (the mouthpiece of God) was a radical step that is very telling.

New thread! New thread! New thread!

[_Moniker]

Ren, are we derailing?

Hmm - could be :)

I suppose the title of this thread is 'How to stay in the LDS church after losing faith', and my Sister certainly hasn't lost faith. So yeah - might be going off-topic a bit.

She has said (something like): "Even if it's not as true as I think it is, I still think it is a good way to live, and raise my family".
I take that to mean: :I don't have to believe every last bit of it to think it's a life worth living.

But my Sister hasn't 'lost faith'. No-where near it. So yeah, might not be strictly on topic. But I think the principle is the same. The principle that you don't need some 'minimum' level of belief to find it (overall) a 'plus' in one's life.

Well, I wanted to talk about PROPHETS! So, it's just ME going off-topic? As usual!!

[_Jason Bourne]

I also understand that not everyone is like me and some people may be happy as peaches to sit quiet on the bench and sleep through sacrament meeting every Sunday for forty years. I have a hard time understanding people like that as I am quite passionate about what I believe, but I do understand they exist.

But you see once again it is not that simple. I don't sleep at church, I enjoy it about 60% of the time. I have faith in a God, and I hope Jesus was what he claimed. I think Joseph Smith was inspired in many aspects to bring truths to the earth but also that he got some thing wrong. I do not believe one group has all truth and most have some. I believe participating in religion for me is worthwhile. I enjoy the spirituality I get, what it does for my personal relationships, it help me ponder life in ways I may not and I enjoy the social aspects as well. That is where I am at now. Could I go another way? Sure, I could decide to leaev at some point or become more TBM again or who knows. But I have goign on three years now and this is where I am at and am quite happy. I think John's approach is good and healthy. He says it does not work for all and he does not marginalize those who choose to leave.

[_antishock8]

[_Jason Bourne]

Have to say I have a difficult time with this idea...

Participate in church, let your children learn that the LDS church is the one and only true church, that the prophet speaks to Christ, that Joseph Smith was a fabulous noble man, that the Book of Mormon is true, that the Bible is the word of God, that woman are marginalized, that obedience is everything, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc., then come home and tell them it is not true?

It doesn't make sense to me.

~dancer~

You need to listen to the podcast before you conclude what you just did.

[_SatanWasSetUp]

The US was founded by people who held to Christian principles. Right or wrong, that IS this country's legacy.

I think calling those principles Christian is a stretch. There is more of Greek Philosophy, the Enlightenment, and English Common law then anything uniquely Christian.

Yes. It is interesting that the First Amendment dealt with religion and for some reason it did not say "We are a christian nation." If they wanted to, the founders could have put the argument to rest right there, but they didn't. There was a variety of religious beliefs among the founders. They don't come across to me as preachers, but more like intellectuals trying to put together a new government based on the best ideas out there.

[_Jason Bourne]

what in your life is perfect? Do you agree with everything the US Government does? Is there stuff you teach your kids about that it does that are not good? If you think there are bad things in the USA why don't you leave it too? Is the LDS Church and religion the only thing that is black and white in your life?

One could leave the US, but then one would just be trading one imperfect governement for another.

That's not the same thing as leaving your church in order to escape religion altogether. Children have to be exposed to one government or another to live in the civilized world. Religion is no such requirement.

Besides, we can learn much from the government. Why foist two poorly run, not entirely honest organizations on your kids? Doesn't one suffice?

Yes that is true if one decides to reject religion entirely. But then again, you still have other systems of belief to work with. Science is not perfect either? Do you reject it because it can and does change based on new findings?

[_Jason Bourne]

Don't your kids participate fully as we write this? If you believe what you just wrote the next question is why. Runtu, I would especially like you to listen to this podcast.

Most of my kids do participate. It isn't my choice whether they participate or not; it's theirs. They know where I stand and why.

But sure, I'll listen. I just don't see myself being able to go through the motions again. It just doesn't work for me.

Not trying to bring you back in the fold. But if you think your children are being poisoned I am amazed you do not attempt to stop them.

So, do you tell them you believe Joseph Smith was a false prophet, that the Church is nothing about what it claims? Do you share historical complexities with them?

[_Runtu]

Not trying to bring you back in the fold. But if you think your children are being poisoned I am amazed you do not attempt to stop them.

So, do you tell them you believe Joseph Smith was a false prophet, that the Church is nothing about what it claims? Do you share historical complexities with them?

Did you hear me say that I think they're being poisoned? Wow. They know that I don't believe and they know why. They know that my wife believes and why she believes. That's about all I can do, isn't it? I have no desire to proselytize my kids out of the church. They can make their own decisions, and I will support them. My oldest son has chosen to leave the church, and I fully support him. His reasons are different from mine, and that's OK with me. I have a child who thinks I am headed for outer darkness, and I get a lot of guilt tripping about my choices. I feel pretty sad about it, but that's how she sees her world. Again, that's her choice, not mine.