Apostates

[_Willy Law]

Just finished up a book called Faith No More- Why People Reject Religion by Phil Zuckerman. Zuckerman did a study interviewing apostates from different religions. Really like his summation of who apostates are.

Apostates are courageous. “There is a bravery,” writes John Allen Paulos, “associated with disbelief and honest doubt.” For many individuals, their loss of faith was frightening, emotionally and psychologically, and yet they had to admit and accept their loss of faith, despite the consequences. It takes a fair amount of nerve and guts to openly reject something that is extremely important to one’s parents or grandparents or friends, to choose not to participate in something that much of one’s community or society deems as noble, to assert one’s lack of faith in a world populated by people of faith. And sometimes the stakes of apostasy can be quite high, particularly within fundamentalist circles or strongly religious societies. Apostates are also bright. Inquisitiveness, intellectualism, academic engagement, and/or a love of reading were common traits among most of the men and women in this study. Apostates are also keenly moral; those who have rejected religion actively desire a world of fairness, kindness, goodness, and justice. Apostates are also relatively individualistic and self-reliant. Although they perhaps miss the comfort of community that came with their earlier religious involvement, they don’t feel the need any longer to belong to a community of believers given their own lack of belief; they aren’t quite comfortable in religious or social organizations that make them feel as though they are part of a conforming herd. Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

[_RayAgostini]

I recommend you also read: Leaving the Fold: Candid Conversations with Inactive Mormons.

You can read it at the: Signature Books Library.

[_Drifting]

I recommend you also read: Leaving the Fold: Candid Conversations with Inactive Mormons.

You can read it at the: Signature Books Library.

Thank you for this Ray.
I have only skimmed a couple of the interviews but it looks like an interesting read.
I have bookmarked and will read it fully over the coming weeks.

[_bcspace]

Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

As a TBM, I'm not limited in any way. Certainly not in these areas.

[_Drifting]

Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

As a TBM, I'm not limited in any way. Certainly not in these areas.

True, you aren't limited by doctrine, fact, logic, reasoning, evidence, substance, science, words of Prophets, scriptures...etc....etc...

[_Hades]

Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

As a TBM, I'm not limited in any way. Certainly not in these areas.

Just keep telling yourself that. That's good. Pray, pay, and obey, all is well.

[_Franktalk]

Yes, those brave souls who deny a once held belief. Just where do they run to? Do they run to evidence as described by other nonbelievers? Have they left one group just to join another? For all of their acting like they had a great personal struggle I see it another way. Many people cast stones of the world at believers. Those people of the world are ready to embrace the fallen. To welcome the new member into the fold. But the church of the denier is not built with stone and cement. The meetings are not held on Sunday. They gather in the church of cyberspace and worship at the alter of science. They make a new belief, one to replace the old belief. They say things like this.

"I have faith in science.

I demonstrate this faith every time I follow a medical practitioners advice.
My faith is reinforced by the rewards I receive as a result of my obedience to the advice.

In fact faith in science produces a demonstrably higher success rate of reward than faith in religion. One can see, for the most part, scientific theories becoming more and more accurate and more consistent with other evidences over time. On the other hand - one can see, for the most part, religious theories becoming less and less accurate and less consistent with other evidences over time.

When it comes down to a choice science wins everytime."

But what moral structure do they now have? Why their own. And what charities do they form with their new friends? Why none of course. But then again maybe I am just not aware of the international charity of deniers. Someone help me out here.

[_Buffalo]

Well that's a nice ego boost, for sure. :)

[_DarkHelmet]

Apostates are also free—or, rather, “freethinkers.” Having discarded religious faith, they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor. Finally, apostates are life-lovers—or at least strong life-appreciators. They either don’t believe in an afterlife, or they don’t worry too much about it. Instead, they focus on the here and now, deriving joy, emotional sustenance, and individual purpose by engaging in this world and appreciating the time they have on earth.

As a TBM, I'm not limited in any way. Certainly not in these areas.

Really?

they feel free to read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, think about whatever they want, discuss whatever they want, and let their minds wander or ponder as they will, without fear of eternally damaging their souls, angering their God, or disappointing their parents or pastor.

You think TBMs can do all of this without angering their God or disappointing their parents or bishop/SP/GA? Are you sure you are on the right board? This board is about Mormonism.

[_Hades]

But what moral structure do they now have? Why their own. And what charities do they form with their new friends? Why none of course. But then again maybe I am just not aware of the international charity of deniers. Someone help me out here.

I have started a charity of deniers. I'm collecting money so that I can build a mega-mall. Hopefully there will be enough money for a high-rise hotel in Hawaii. Why should Jesus be the only one getting cool stuff?