mfbukowski wrote: The difference is in the attitude, not the discipline. One might be just as obsessive about saying one's affirmations, or whatever, as one might be about saying one's prayers- etc.
"Being all you can be" requires discipline and work. You can't blame the values for people obsessing over them. Whatever value system one chooses, obsessive behavior about achieving goals has nothing to do with the values.
I personally believe that LDS values are completely about life affirmation, but I am sure many here would disagree with that, mostly in my opinion, because they obsess about all that and don't forgive themselves for their errors.
The entire functional purpose of believing in the atonement is to provide a relief valve for what we cannot possibly do, but for some reason there is a disconnect there with people who obsess about perfection.
Good to see you back posting mfb, this board hasn't been the same without you.
“We look to not only the spiritual but also the temporal, and we believe that a person who is impoverished temporally cannot blossom spiritually.” Keith McMullin - Counsellor in Presiding Bishopric
"One, two, three...let's go shopping!" Thomas S Monson - Prophet, Seer, Revelator
Darth J, thank you for your valuable posts to my thread. I feel that you really understand what is at issue here.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
Runtu wrote: I certainly don't blame the church for the way I responded to the teachings about perfection and so forth. My perfectionism comes from a combination of a perfectionist upbringing at home reinforced by the kinds of teachings you mention at church. Then my mission, with the constant refrain that we weren't good enough, sort of cemented that attitude. I can't count how many times I was reminded of the statement, "If they do not walk up to every covenant they make ... they will be in my power."
Kudos to those who can filter out that stuff and see things the way mfb does, though I think it may be because he wasn't raised LDS and never served a mission.
Good post.
I was never told by anyone, from church or otherwise, to not take it so serious or to chill a bit. In fact, I was often complimented and told I was being a good example, etc. In other words, the fact that I took the church and its teachings so seriously was rewarded and then became part of my self-esteem.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
Runtu wrote: I certainly don't blame the church for the way I responded to the teachings about perfection and so forth. My perfectionism comes from a combination of a perfectionist upbringing at home reinforced by the kinds of teachings you mention at church. Then my mission, with the constant refrain that we weren't good enough, sort of cemented that attitude. I can't count how many times I was reminded of the statement, "If they do not walk up to every covenant they make ... they will be in my power."
Kudos to those who can filter out that stuff and see things the way mfb does, though I think it may be because he wasn't raised LDS and never served a mission.
Good post.
I was never told by anyone, from church or otherwise, to not take it so serious or to chill a bit. In fact, I was often complimented and told I was being a good example, etc. In other words, the fact that I took the church and its teachings so seriously was rewarded and then became part of my self-esteem.
In the Mormon Stories podcast about scrupulosity, the guest talks about how bishops/mission presidents would actually stoke his disorder by congratulating him on how diligent he was in overturning every tiny little sin in his life. The church itself and his mission exacerbated his condition until he was basically non-functional, and finally his parents stepped in. After leaving the church he got better.
Buff, thank you for the link. I will have to listen to that.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
"Finally, for your rather strange idea that miracles are somehow linked to the amount of gay sexual gratification that is taking place would require that primitive Christianity was launched by gay sex, would it not?"
Anyone could have posted that on madb or whatever you call it now.
Golly gee, maybe you will ban me. That would be great!
I thought that was board policy, so not sneaky. As soon as I saw Shades's comment, I realized what I had done. And I don't think it has anything to do with banning, but Shades's decision as to where such stuff belongs.