Inside the mind of a TBM: Mormonism gives greater purpose

[Guest]

Over the past year, many TBMs (close to me) have been sending me (or lobbing over the wall at me) emails with quotes and books and deep thoughts related to their belief. I'm starting to see what TBMs close to me are thinking. This might be one of the most important revelations to me since leaving because it gives me clues about them. Sure, I was once one of them but that is not enough to put myself in their shoes to see what I have become, to them.

I will demonstrate what I have learned by sharing with you the name of a book that was recently offered to me. It is called, "The Evolution of Thomas Hall". It is about a young, agnostic painter who is prodded by a pretty woman (of course she is pretty and looks good in a bikini) to paint a mural of Jesus for a hospital. I will avoid a spoiler and just say that after he begins the project, the reader hopes he turns to a belief in Jesus and hooks up with the babe.

There is a small detail of the story I want to highlight. The hot, Christian babe asks the painter this question: "Have you considered the possibility you might be passing up the one project that will define who you are? Who you are destined to be?"

I saw that quote and realized what people are thinking about me. They believe they have deeper purpose and understanding of their life than I do. They believe their faith gives them the motivation to be great in life and to accomplish much. They think I have little hope for the future and little to no regard for my destiny.

This realization helps me understand them.

[_bcspace]

It's true that you're not on the path to Eternal life (life with God as Gods) anymore. In order to obtain Eternal life, one must want and hope for Eternal life for everyone else. Now you might understand TBM's a little better.

[_Aristotle Smith]

zee,

For what it's worth, my experience as an official apostate has been the exact opposite. After the initial shock wore off, everyone went right back to how things were before. It has been a little disappointing to me that almost no one tried to win me back. Perhaps I'm too intimidating or abrasive to try, who knows?

One guy did try, but after talking with him for an hour or so I basically told him not to bother anymore. Not because he was winning me back over for the cause or because I found him annoying, since neither were the case. I felt bad because like most Mormons he really didn't have clue about the skeletons in the closet. Hence. there was no way for him to resolve issues since I was telling him about the issues. Anyway, he gets a lot of meaning from the LDS church and since he wasn't helping out, I ended the conversations politely so he wouldn't have to go down that particular road if he didn't want to.

[_zeezrom]

zee,

For what it's worth, my experience as an official apostate has been the exact opposite. After the initial shock wore off, everyone went right back to how things were before. It has been a little disappointing to me that almost no one tried to win me back. Perhaps I'm too intimidating or abrasive to try, who knows?

It is because you found another religion and that scares Mormons a lot more than the godless apostate. The problem is, I have a God but I'm too afraid to tell people about her for fear of being laughed at. Actually, I'm more afraid of them not taking me seriously. Hey, I felt what I felt and cannot deny it.

[_zeezrom]

It's true that you're not on the path to Eternal life (life with God as Gods) anymore. In order to obtain Eternal life, one must want and hope for Eternal life for everyone else. Now you might understand TBM's a little better.

Actually BC, I am on the path. I asked with a sincere heart and the answer was that I am on the right path. Are you going to try and prove me wrong?

[_Buffalo]

It's true that you're not on the path to Eternal life (life with God as Gods) anymore. In order to obtain Eternal life, one must want and hope for Eternal life for everyone else. Now you might understand TBM's a little better.

And it can all be yours for 12 easy payments a year of 10% of your income!