Shut Your Mouth and Fake It

[_Morley]

It would have never occurred to me to fake it. By nature, I'm too transparent about my thoughts and feelings to have been able to pull it off, even if the idea had occurred to me (I can't even keep Christmas presents secret). The path away from the Church, however, was not always smooth: it may have contributed to the dissolution of my marriage and worse. I have no regrets about leaving, though. My life is better at this point than it ever was.

[_consiglieri]

The problem for me is not the mask I have to wear. The problem for me is, I love what this church could BE, and I have real problems with what it currently IS. I've shared some of my problems with the church with my family and my local leadership, but I don't think they understand the depth of my pain.

I can relate to this, harmony.

I have found that as I speak out a bit here and there, it seems to embolden others who have been faking it to come out of the woodwork and gratefully approach me for fellowship.

It almost makes up for the virtual shunning from the other members . . .

There are more Mormons in the pews faking it than I had suspected.

And sometimes, it seems like they are just waiting for somebody to speak out.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[_Runtu]

I can relate to this, harmony.

I have found that as I speak out a bit here and there, it seems to embolden others who have been faking it to come out of the woodwork and gratefully approach me for fellowship.

It almost makes up for the virtual shunning from the other members . . .

There are more Mormons in the pews faking it than I had suspected.

And sometimes, it seems like they are just waiting for somebody to speak out.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

That is definitely true. I've been shocked at how many people have approached me when they have discovered that I am not a believer. Somehow they feel comfortable taking off the mask around me, and I don't judge them. They do what they have to in order to survive.

[_Morley]

.... They do what they have to in order to survive.

And should never be condemned for it.

[_Runtu]

.... They do what they have to in order to survive.

And should never be condemned for it.

If there's one thing I've learned in the last six years, it's that everyone must find their own path in life, one that works for them, that they believe is right. I'm certainly not the poster child for doing things the right way, so I wouldn't dare judge those who have made different choices than I have.

[Guest]

"Shaken Faith Syndrome", "Lost Faith", and "Falling Away" are Mormon-speak terms. Casting off "Mormon speak" is an important step in casting off the fog of religion and exchanging it for the clarity of reason, logic and critical thinking.

Leaving the LDS Church should be seen for what it is; an act of courage and self-determination.

Those of us who have found the courage to leave, and to explain to others why we have left, should never talk about "losing the faith". We should talk instead about the reality of our situation, which is "finding the truth".

I am not referring to some subjective "feel good" truth, but to truth as determined by objective, verifiable, reproducible, physical evidence.

[_Runtu]

"Shaken Faith Syndrome", "Lost Faith", and "Falling Away" are Mormon-speak terms. Casting off "Mormon speak" is an important step in casting off the fog of religion and exchanging it for the clarity of reason, logic and critical thinking.

Leaving the LDS Church should be seen for what it is; an act of courage and self-determination.

Those of us who have found the courage to leave and explain to others why we have left, should never talk about "losing the faith". We should talk instead about the reality of the situation, which is "finding the truth".

In my case, I'd say it was "acknowledging the truth." But you're right: leaving the LDS church takes tremendous humility, courage, and resolve. Contrary to what some people think, it's not "the easy way."

[_Simon Belmont]

We should talk instead about the reality of our situation, which is "finding the truth".

You believe you have the truth, and so do the faithful.

Neither of you can prove it.

So what makes you believe you have it, while others don't?

[_Morley]

.... But you're right: leaving the LDS church takes tremendous humility, courage, and resolve. Contrary to what some people think, it's not "the easy way."

Truth.

[_Runtu]

You believe you have the truth, and so do the faithful.

Neither of you can prove it.

So what makes you believe you have it, while others don't?

Some of us aren't interested in proving it. For me, what tells me that I have the truth is this:

1. No more excuses. I don't have to make excuses for things that aren't right or don't make sense. I don't have to excuse polyandry, mistranslations of papyri, anachronistic scriptures, etc. When I stopped making excuses, I realized that everything made sense.

2. Because of that, my conscience is clear.

I don't expect to convince you or anyone else of anything, Simon. But I know what's right in my life.