Why I am Not a....

[_truth dancer]

With all the recent threads on why one is or is not a Mormon I thought I would expand the idea:

Why I am not a Scientologist, FLDS, Catholic, Bahai, Sikh, Muslim, EV, Hindu, Jain, Cao Dai, Zoroastrian, Juche, Tenricoist, Rastafarian, Jew, Diasporic, House of Yahweh follower, Mormon, or any other religion or cult member......

The religions don't mesh with my personal worldview or the way I experience existence.

They don't make sense to me.

They don't feel right in my heart.

They don't help me on my personal/spiritual journey.

They confuse more than they clarify.

They don't add peace and holiness to my life but detract from it.

Any (or all) religion or cult may be true, (ultimately I have no idea), and it seems all religions work for some people, but I have yet to find one that makes sense or feels right.

I tire of believers suggesting those who leave Mormonism are sinning, offended, lazy, just rebelling, or following Satan.

Are those who leave Scientology or the FLDS just lazy, sinning, Satan followers? How about those who leave Islam or Jainism, are they leaving because they want to sin or get attention?

Most people embrace the religion/belief system of the parents. Those who leave (and people leave the religion of their birth all over the world), do so for a variety of reasons. I feel certain the very same dynamics that cause a Scientologist or FLDS or Catholic to release belief in their respective religions are those that cause LDS people to move on. While the specific may differ, the underlying issues are the same.


~dancer~

Buddhism and Universalism come close, but they are more philosophies than religions. :-)

[_Ray A]

I tire of believers suggesting those who leave Mormonism are sinning, offended, lazy, just rebelling, or following Satan.

This doesn't offend me (though it once did), because I am sinful, lazy, sometimes rebellious, and I don't believe in Satan, in the sense of the fallen man with pitchfork who has coffee with Cain at the Burnt Steak Restaurant, so it can't offend me. Evil exists, yes. More important to me are ideas covered by the likes of Eric Hoffer - in all fanatical mass movements, ie, what makes people fanatical about anything.

Are those who leave Scientology or the FLDS just lazy, sinning, Satan followers? How about those who leave Islam or Jainism, are they leaving because they want to sin or get attention?

I'm a former Catholic, so I guess I fall under the same stereotype there. Do I care? What's for lunch?

[_Inconceivable]

I have yet to find one that makes sense or feels right.
~dancer~

The most frequently asked question to me from LDS has been, "well then, what church are you going to join?"

I thought that I had to have that ecleciastical structure as some sort of standard of righteousness and to belong. Particularly as I was leaving. I needed a church. What occurred to me is that question is the fruit of years of indoctrination.

I now have no intent to join a church or even start one. Ever.

You're right, TD. None of them fit right because they don't.

I would prefer to simply seek out the goodness and attempt to reflect it. I'd like to think that you've been a good influence in that respect.

From what little I know about you, I think you are doing fine.

[_Yoda]

I don't believe in Satan, in the sense of the fallen man with pitchfork who has coffee with Cain at the Burnt Steak Restaurant.

OMG! This visual is priceless! I LOVE it!

New sig material! :)

[_Jersey Girl]

The only thing that I see wrong with some religions are the churches. The only thing that I see wrong with some churches are the people inside them.

[_Yoda]

The only thing that I see wrong with some religions are the churches. The only thing that I see wrong with some churches are the people inside them.

Wow! Two priceless nuggets in one night! LOL

[_Jersey Girl]

The only thing that I see wrong with some religions are the churches. The only thing that I see wrong with some churches are the people inside them.

Wow! Two priceless nuggets in one night! LOL

Ah cute. :-)

Well, in my experience if people would leave their huge egos and politics outside the door, maybe God could find his way in.

[_Angus McAwesome]

Well, in my experience if people would leave their huge egos and politics outside the door, maybe God could find his way in.

Well, I think if the people inside would hold to the faith seven days a week instead of mainly just on Sundays and high holy days god might want to hang out with them more...

Just saying.

[_Jersey Girl]

Well, in my experience if people would leave their huge egos and politics outside the door, maybe God could find his way in.

Well, I think if the people inside would hold to the faith seven days a week instead of mainly just on Sundays and high holy days god might want to hang out with them more...

Just saying.

That's likely true, Angus. I tend to think (and this is just a guess on my part) that those who devote themselves to prayer (not the kind of "please make my wish come true" sort of prayer, but the kind where one allows their heart go on it's knees and expresses humility and need) are less likely to "stray" during the week. What I had in mind though, are the less admirable qualities of human nature (and we all have and act on them) wherein one places status and position ahead of fellowship.

Oh, it's just a personal gripe I have. Pay me no mind.

[_truth dancer]

I think the majority of church goers and believers are great people doing their best like everyone else.

In fact I think for many, their religious beliefs, (true or not) do help them along the way.

Regardless, it doesn't mean the dogma, doctrine, teachings, and beliefs are true or right or correct.

I would be all over a church that focuses on becoming your best self, helping others, transforming your life to one of holiness, moving toward enlightenment, (however you want to describe living a good life), etc. etc.

But this doesn't seem to exist (again with the possible exception of Universalism and Buddhism).

I do think some of the more esoteric aspects found in most religions (I do not think they exist in the LDS church however) speak to the human journey but they are difficult to find amongst the dogma, rules, regulations, commandments, ceremony, rituals, and authority.

~dancer~

Oh, and thanks Inc! ;-)