consiglieri wrote:I think children should respect their parents' religious beliefs.
I have this feeling, however, that within the LDS context, kids who are raised Mormon by their TBM parents may feel religiously challenged should their parents become disaffected.
What could challenge a TBM's religious beliefs more than the parents who inclucated Mormonism into their noggin going inactive?
Is it possible the perceived need to defend religious beliefs against the greatest challenge imaginable results in this type of unseemly overreaction?
All the Best!
--Consiglieri
I hadn't thought of the fact that my sister feels threatened by our parents having each gone inactive, and I would say my mother has gone apostate (doesn't want a Mormon funeral, she thinks cremation will avoid the issue for my sister insisting that burial be in the temple get-up).
Taking that a step further, my sister's anger and mistreatment towards my mother may be a manifestation of my sister's own nagging doubts about Mormonism's truth claims.
I remember seeing a year ago the widow of my bishop when I was 16-21 (including processing me to go on a mission). She knows full well I'm apostate, and work towards enlightening people about the early historical facts and problems. I have beer with one of her sons on occasion--he's more irreverent than I am towards Mormonism, if that is possible. After we caught up on what was happening with each other's family, she made an obvious look at my grocery bag with a 6'er of Guinness Extra Stout, and then she said referring to herself, "I hope this good living has all been worth it; I guess I'll know soon enough." Each time my sister calls my mother, it might dredge to the surface the nagging doubts even though my mother would never say anything about the Church to my sister, except 'that's good you and your kids are involved'.