My fear: being wrong about whether the church is true or not

[_karl61]

For me when I read an insiders view of Mormonism by Grant Palmer - it seems the truth was fading in and out of my mind. I think when you review the basic issues there it becomes clearer. You should also sign up and watch what happens at the MAD board. You can also compare books at signature books with the faith promoting materials and you see what is going on. When I started seeing this the only thing that became clear is that I have a limited time on this earth with no surety of an afterlife.

[_LifeOnaPlate]

For me when I read an insiders view of Mormonism by Grant Palmer - it seems the truth was fading in and out of my mind. I think when you review the basic issues there it becomes clearer. You should also sign up and watch what happens at the MAD board. You can also compare books at signature books with the faith promoting materials and you see what is going on. When I started seeing this the only thing that became clear is that I have a limited time on this earth with no surety of an afterlife.

Grant Palmer is a very poor historian.

[_Some Schmo]

I like what Richard Dawkins said when he was asked, "Well what if you're wrong?" He said something like, "Well what if you're wrong about Zeus, or Wotan, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or a whole host of past civilizations' gods? What makes you right and them wrong? What if I'm wrong? Well, so what?"

And that's what it really boils down to: the majority of people in the world and who have ever been born are most likely wrong about whatever they think/thought, so the real question becomes, "Is it really worth worrying about?"

But here's an even more important question you should be asking yourself: What kind of god is it that would determine the eternity of your fate based on an almost imperceptible blip on the radar of eternity? In other words, does it really seem valid or fair to condemn a person for all time based on what they did (in utter ignorance, mind you) for say, 80 years? Any god that capricious is not one I'd worship, no matter what. If there is a god, and he is that way, he'll get a major "F*** YOU!!" from me before he sends me... wherever.

If you consider the true ramifications of the crap religious people would have you believe, you cannot help but think, “This is some majorly bogus feces they're pushing out of their mouths.”

Don’t waste your precious time with irrational god fears. It’s just silly. It’s the equivalent of fearing the imaginary monster in your closet. There are far better and more valid things to get scared about, if you’re prone to excessive fear.

[_antishock8]

I went from fear to remorse, and from remorse to peace. I'm currently hoping to transition from peace to happiness within the context of a temporary existence. We give meaning to our own lives, and it's this endeavor I'm doing now.

You forgot to mention the "lashing out in odd anger at Mormons" aspect of your journey.

You mean swiftboating Mormons by telling them the truth? I think you have more issues with what is being said rather than your interpretation of the tone of what's being said. I participate on boards like this for myself (timekiller), lurkers, and for people who are having doubts. You, me, and any discussion we have isn't so much about us; it's for those who are reading and need a different perspective other than the one being given to them by the Mormon church, Mormon culture, or a Mormon family. Balance is important, and I encourage anyone reading this anonymously to read as much as possible from all sources, and then sort things out for yourself.

[_Who Knows]

I have a fear, that if the LDS church were actually true, then that would mean god exists, and he's one seriously twisted dude.

[_LifeOnaPlate]

I went from fear to remorse, and from remorse to peace. I'm currently hoping to transition from peace to happiness within the context of a temporary existence. We give meaning to our own lives, and it's this endeavor I'm doing now.

You forgot to mention the "lashing out in odd anger at Mormons" aspect of your journey.

You mean swiftboating Mormons by telling them the truth? I think you have more issues with what is being said rather than your interpretation of the tone of what's being said. I participate on boards like this for myself (timekiller), lurkers, and for people who are having doubts. You, me, and any discussion we have isn't so much about us; it's for those who are reading and need a different perspective other than the one being given to them by the Mormon church, Mormon culture, or a Mormon family. Balance is important, and I encourage anyone reading this anonymously to read as much as possible from all sources, and then sort things out for yourself.

Balance is important. I would also add prayer to the list of needs, you ommitted that.

But really, clearly I, as a Mormon, would discourage any inquiry, reading, studying, etc.

[_antishock8]

I went from fear to remorse, and from remorse to peace. I'm currently hoping to transition from peace to happiness within the context of a temporary existence. We give meaning to our own lives, and it's this endeavor I'm doing now.

You forgot to mention the "lashing out in odd anger at Mormons" aspect of your journey.

You mean swiftboating Mormons by telling them the truth? I think you have more issues with what is being said rather than your interpretation of the tone of what's being said. I participate on boards like this for myself (timekiller), lurkers, and for people who are having doubts. You, me, and any discussion we have isn't so much about us; it's for those who are reading and need a different perspective other than the one being given to them by the Mormon church, Mormon culture, or a Mormon family. Balance is important, and I encourage anyone reading this anonymously to read as much as possible from all sources, and then sort things out for yourself.

Balance is important. I would also add prayer to the list of needs, you ommitted that.

But really, clearly I, as a Mormon, would discourage any inquiry, reading, studying, etc.

Well, good. It looks like you're starting to finally be honest. That's a babystep in the right direction, LoaP.

[_the road to hana]

I have a fear, that if the LDS church were actually true, then that would mean god exists, and he's one seriously twisted dude.

It's also possible that some things inside Mormonism are universally true, but that their notion of God is incorrect. There are enough things about Mormonism that can falsify its origins on its face; that doesn't mean that some principles to which they adhere ("Love your neighbor," for example) aren't universally "true" (whatever that means).

I sort of reject the notion of something being "true," because it's misleading language. A church can be the legitimate heir of a particular tradition, I suppose, but that doesn't necessarily make it God's mouthpiece, or even make God exist.

[_karl61]

For me when I read an insiders view of Mormonism by Grant Palmer - it seems the truth was fading in and out of my mind. I think when you review the basic issues there it becomes clearer. You should also sign up and watch what happens at the MAD board. You can also compare books at signature books with the faith promoting materials and you see what is going on. When I started seeing this the only thing that became clear is that I have a limited time on this earth with no surety of an afterlife.

Grant Palmer is a very poor historian.

who, in your view, is a good LDS historian?

[_antishock8]

For me when I read an insiders view of Mormonism by Grant Palmer - it seems the truth was fading in and out of my mind. I think when you review the basic issues there it becomes clearer. You should also sign up and watch what happens at the MAD board. You can also compare books at signature books with the faith promoting materials and you see what is going on. When I started seeing this the only thing that became clear is that I have a limited time on this earth with no surety of an afterlife.

Grant Palmer is a very poor historian.

who, in your view, is a good LDS historian?

I know what name he will never think to list...