Just sayin' it isn't easy to dance (or march) to the beat of a different drum, particularly if you are not used to doing so. I suppose if everyone in my circle of family/friends happened to be Irish Catholic and I suddenly decided to convert to Mormonism, similar difficulties might arise.
Conformity is a powerful driver.
Last edited by Guest on Wed May 02, 2012 3:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)
Just sayin' it isn't easy to dance (or march) to the beat of a different drum, particularly if you are not used to doing so. I suppose if everyone in my circle of family/friends happened to be Irish Catholic and I suddenly decided to convert to Mormonism, similar difficulties might arise.
I got ya. No big deal on my end.
Love ya tons, Stem
I ain't nuttin'. don't get all worked up on account of me.
Buffalo wrote: Let me clarify, they're comparable because they are all very controlling, authoritative religions who really go all out to demonize people who leave.
Leaving the LDS church is nothing like leaving the Lutherans or Unitarians, and other proper churches.
i forgot how delightful it is to discuss with you. There is nothing to compare between such exits? Alright. I'm sure you're right in all of this. It sounds just so true--my bosom burned just now.
Love ya tons, Stem
I ain't nuttin'. don't get all worked up on account of me.
Buffalo wrote:Let me clarify, they're comparable because they are all very controlling, authoritative religions who really go all out to demonize people who leave.
Leaving the LDS church is nothing like leaving the Lutherans or Unitarians, and other proper churches.
I think this is right. Authoritarian, controlling religions are much harder to leave than more mainstream religions. I read recently about closet unbelievers among Hasidic Jews. Their identity, community, and family are so tied to their religion that expressing unbelief risks losing everything. So, they stay and pretend.
stemelbow wrote:SOme say its much more difficult to stay in the Church and pretending...
That would be me for sure. I tried to do the "fake it 'til you make it routine," but I felt like a liar getting up and giving talks and teaching lessons that I didn't believe. I was a liar.
Family and church pressure probably has a lot to do with it too. No one in my family cares that we don't go anymore, and we haven't been shunned in any respect. No one from the branch has given us a hard time either. I suspect that it is harder to leave the church in Utah than where I am from.
"A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows." - Samuel Clemens
The name of the "king" in Facsimile No. 3 of the Book of Abraham is Isis. Yes...that is her name.
aranyborju wrote:That would be me for sure. I tried to do the "fake it 'til you make it routine," but I felt like a liar getting up and giving talks and teaching lessons that I didn't believe. I was a liar.
I did that for about a year, and it just ate at my conscience. I couldn't keep it going.
Family and church pressure probably has a lot to do with it too. No one in my family cares that we don't go anymore, and we haven't been shunned in any respect. No one from the branch has given us a hard time either. I suspect that it is harder to leave the church in Utah than where I am from.
My parents were upset with me, but two of my three siblings had already left the church. My believing sister has been really good to me, and our relationship is really good. The biggest problem was with my wife, who did not take my unbelief very well. But things are better.
