Envy of Non-Members

[_just me]

It doesn't seem to bother you. But some day every knee will bow including yours.

Ah, yes, another doctrinal hole the size of the space between your ears, Robert. You do realize for every knee to bow and every tongue to confess, either *nobody* will reject the gospel (and thus, no need for the lower kingdoms) or some will be forced by compulsory means, which sounds a lot like the removal of agency.

H.

Thank you for pointing that out, bb. This topic would make an interesting thread. IMHO

[_Jason Bourne]

For the record, I don't think that you, Jason, or anyone who is sincerely caught between the LDS world and any other world, is a hypocritical coward. One's relationship with the church can be extremely complex and I'd wager that those who are more thoughtful and reflective tend to have the hardest time making a transition away from their past life. Anonymity is a valid and reasonable way to bridge this gap.

H.

Yea I am just humoring Bot. I see I drew him out.

[_Jason Bourne]

You bet at times. I think I feel it more today though, interestingly enough. And I feel it both currently and for my past lost life. Ok so I could change it for the future I guess. But I will probably stay the anonymous hypocritical coward.

It doesn't seem to bother you. But some day every knee will bow including yours.

Ah come on Bot. Aren't you always saying people here don't have a sense of humor. I was trying to see if I could get a rise out of you and guess what? It worked.

But see here, on a more serious note. It really does bother me at times. A lot. But as I have told you many times I share where I am at with those who matter. They know me, know who I am and know where I stand. You and (some) others here don't matter all that much in this regards.

And I understand every knee will bow before Jesus Christ. However, ever knee will not bow before the Mormon Church-The Mormon Church does not have exclusive claim on Jesus Christ- or any other Church for that matter. I know where I stand before Christ and I am quite fine.

Your hubris at times is really astounding.

[_Tchild]

I recently posted this on another thread, and thought it would make an interesting stand-alone topic:

Understand that I grew up a faithful Latter-Day Saint. I specifically remember envying non-members. It honestly seemed to me like they had the "best of both worlds". Since they did not have the "blessing"/burden of the gospel, they were ignorant of many of their sins. They would be taught the gospel in the Millenium, when Christ was reining personally upon the earth! How easy would it be to accept the gospel then? Their sins would automatically be forgiven, washed away with baptism, and then they would be eligible for the Celestial Kingdom because they would then be perfect! I, on the other hand, having been "blessed" with the gospel in this life, could die in my sins if I'm not perfect, and be separated forever from my family.

For those of you who are members...did anyone else feel this way? Buffalo mentioned that he felt this way as well.

If you did, how did you come to reconcile these feelings?

I did think along those lines, and the sentiment and obvious contradiction of this situation did arise in my mind many times. It was one of may unsettling contradictions that just made the Gospel seem to be so flawed if it were really instigated by an eternal and perfect being as taught.

Worse, I used to feel sorry for non-members and believed their lives were so shallow and without purpose. Now, as a non-believer, I am shocked at how rich and diverse life is without the mental constraints and blinders that religion imposed...and what a real tool I was.

I finally reconciled this sentiment that you have expressed, and many others by finally realizing that Mormonism just couldn't be true and that it really didn't answer life's questions nor provide truth as I understood it.

[_thews]

It doesn't seem to bother you. But some day every knee will bow including yours.

There will be no knees bowing to the false doctrine of Joe Smith and his magic occult rocks. How you maintain this belief that Mormonism is actually true (by ignoring all the data that proves it's false) and you'll have a place on 1313 Mockingbird Lane on Kolob is absurd. Got yer Masonic jammies on Yahoo? Take a look in the mirror...


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TcMbyBt978c/T ... dumber.gif

[_Darth J]

You bet at times. I think I feel it more today though, interestingly enough. And I feel it both currently and for my past lost life. Ok so I could change it for the future I guess. But I will probably stay the anonymous hypocritical coward.

It doesn't seem to bother you. But some day every knee will bow including yours.

The volcano god is angry! He demands sacrifice!

[_Jason Bourne]

The volcano god is angry! He demands sacrifice!

Bwaaa hahahahaa!

I love you man! You make me laugh more than most do here.

[_Hoops]

On this view, it would seem abortion is a mercy.

Perhaps I missed something... but, my God man... really? That's life you're so casually dismissing. The greatest expression of the divine.

[_honorentheos]

For those of you who are members...did anyone else feel this way? Buffalo mentioned that he felt this way as well.

If you did, how did you come to reconcile these feelings?

Liz,

In answer to the second half of your question, I'd point out this thread I started in the celestial forum a while ago. The Mystery of Godliness

At some point while serving a mission, I came to see the purpose of life not as a test to be "passed", but more as a process intended to provide experience that would allow us to develop godly thoughts, feelings, and actions with the purpose of overcoming "the natural man" as the Book of Mormon says.

I certainly felt similar to you as a teenager, and for the same reasons as most people have already mentioned. I envied the guys who partied, had sex, and otherwise seemed to be having a lot more fun.

There is a Mormon couple I know currently and occasionally associate with through work. I am not particularly close to them so I have never brought up my personal feelings about the church or current standing. They know I served a mission and moved from Utah so they tend to just slip into "Mormon speak" when we end up at lunch together. If I have any reason to break my personal rule about not damaging other's feelings about religion it would be to slam the door shut on their gossiping about the evils and sins of the world that surround us. When they get going, I often wonder how much of the "world-bashing" is fueled by their inner wish they could participate?

[_Chap]

On this view, it would seem abortion is a mercy.

Perhaps I missed something... but, my God man... really? That's life you're so casually dismissing. The greatest expression of the divine.

Yes. You missed the sentence you omitted before the one you quoted:

One could ask a similar question about the provisions many religions make for the salvation of infants.

CK is clearly referring to the fact that some religions allow humans who do not reach adulthood a free pass into the divine presence, eternal bliss, etc, but put those who do reach adulthood into a situation where they run a major risk of eternal torment if they don't shape up.

And you didn't get that? Pull the other one, it's got bells on it. You're playing games here.