Serious Question: What other Church compares to Mormonism?

[_Jason Bourne]

After I left Mormonism I made the switch to the United Methodist Church after checking out several other Christian churches (Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, non-denominational EV). Theologically and socially, this is probably the most comfortable to Mormons.

Theologically, Methodism is essentially Book of Mormon Christianity. If you just look strictly at what's in the Book of Mormon, and don't read later Mormon doctrines into it, it is 19th century Methodism. Joseph Smith at one point in his history even says that he was partial to Methodism. I think is probably the reason for the similarities. Methodists are Arminians, while Mormons are hyper-Arminians or probably Pelagians. The take home point is that Methodists tend to be proactive and see salvation as having a human component (as opposed to a staunch Calvinist). What this means is that what is preached feels right to Mormons, but since Christ is ultimately the source of salvation, there is no need to guilt trip and manipulate people.

Because of this theology, Methodists tend to be very community and activity oriented. At a local UMC you are most likely going to find lots of programs for kids and youth. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, summer camps, Sunday School, etc. are all at my local UMC church. There are also lots of programs for adults, Bible study groups, fellowship groups, service groups, mission groups, etc. There's probably more for adults in a Methodist church than in an LDS church. Activities for LDS adults tend to mostly be babysitting youths and kids. It's family focused and my kids tend to prefer the activities at the Methodist church even though they identify as Mormon (because my wife is still TBM).

One caveat is in order. Because it's locally run, you will find a lot of variation between UMC congregations. Your local UMC may be better or worse than mine. Maybe the local big box EV church is going to be a better fit in your community. You may have to do some church shopping.

Based on this I would look at this denomination very seriously were I to make a move. This one and Catholicism.

[_Nightlion]

Kevin,

In my household, the wife ultimatum is the reverse of yours. My wife has repeatedly told me that I am free to believe whatever I may want, but if I join and begin participating in a religion, it's a deal breaker for our marriage. (For me, those are very comfortable conditions.)

Would that include The Church and Zion of Jesus Christ?

[_Tator]

My path out of the Mormon church was first UU and there was a lot of church shopping. I spent considerable time with the UMC. Liked Catholics but eventually began reading everything Martin Luther wrote. I was impressed with Luther. I found a local Lutheran church and began attending. It provided the fellowship and belonging I always wanted. But later I discovered that this church is really an exception to the rule among Lutheran churches. Many churches in a domination can be different one from another.

My 2 cents is go church shopping.

[_angsty]

When my husband and I are both in the same town on a Sunday (we work in different cities) we attend a really terrific UU congregation. I've never felt more at home with a faith community. I know some people take issue with the fact that UU's don't commit to a shared theology, but that could be a good thing if there's a compromise between belief systems being sought. And, I have been really, truly impressed with all the UU kids in our congregation-- I even like being around them (I'm one of those people that would rather be around adults, generally-speaking. I'm great with kids-- the oldest girl in a large family with tons of childcare experience-- I just find them boring.). It's beautiful to see so many good families of so many different stripes working and growing together.

We aren't the least bit superstitious, or religious in straightforward terms. We just wanted to be part of a community of conscientious people so that we could be involved in humanitarian service, and enjoy friendships with people outside of work. My experience has been that I'm getting all the good, without the negative baggage (backward views, patriarchal structure, etc.), and I'm free to engage on my own terms. I didn't think I'd ever get back to a church again, but I attend as often as I can these days.

[_Bond James Bond]

Do whatever your wife wants if you want to keep your marriage together. Hope things work out.

[_moksha]

Veering off the path of personal speculation, I've noticed that on the Belief-O-Matic scale for determining the affinity of religious ideas, that the Jehovah Witnesses have the greatest commonality. Leaving this scale, I would think that Eckankar would have the least similarity, but then again there is that whole whole hieing to Kolob part in the twinkling of an eye to be reckoned with.

[_Cicero]

Kevin: All religions have wacky doctrines and untenable truth claims to some extent. That's why they all ultimately rely on faith. If you are still in Brazil, then I think you should consider Catholicism, mainly because I would consider it vastly superior of a religious experience to the other religions I encountered in Brazil. I certainly wouldn't be able to tolerate the intolerance of popular sects like Assembleia de Deus or other similar Pentecostales.

LDSfaqs: If you are going to call Kevin to repent, then do it in a PM. Putting it out there for everyone to see just says that you are looking to glorify yourself and it will only provoke a negative reaction (and rightly so). You should be ashamed of yourself for implying that difficulties in Kevin's marriage somehow imply that he has "joined the dark side." You were absolutely right to be offended when people on this board brought up your personal history, and given that history I simply cannot believe that you would dare to say something like that. Look to the beam in your own eye before calling out anyone else.

[_Samantabhadra]

Kevin,

My suggestion is that if you are looking for a communal worship that will help ease the transition out of LDS, that you join UU or UMC. But if you are seriously committed to a Christian worldview and practice, you should look into one of the Apostolic churches (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Coptic, etc.). Actually I think you might find that the Coptics and the Oriental/Syriac Orthodox theology is close to Mormonism in any number of ways, without being heretical or inventing fake history and scriptures.

[_Hermes]

You might look at some of the Buddhist opportunities around you. While Buddhism can manifest some of the most troubling aspects of Mormonism (Google Zentatsu Richard Baker), it can also provide a religious environment that is at once Mormon-like (emphasis on community, learning doctrine, practice) and open to reality (including atheism). Try your luck and you might find a place that suits you very nicely.

[_Kevin Graham]

I'd recommend speaking with God and doing what God tells you. If God doesn't indicate a Church, then join none of them.

God doesn't talk to me, otherwise I wouldn't be asking the forum.

What a situation for you Kevin. Does the option have to be another church? Why if that is so? From what I have read and learned about you, another church won't cut it either. You appear to me to be a thinker, and that is something religion does NOT want.

Yes, but Mormonism hates thinkers more than other religions, mainly because it is based on so many ridiculous truth claims. All religions are for the most part, but Mormonism is more than most. Also, I cannot bring myself to tithe or contribute in any significant way to the LDS Church. If another Church were more transparent and showed me that it actually helped people regardless of their religion, then that would be a plus as well.

You see my wife, like most Mormons, isn't a thinker. She is a feeler. Her main problem is that she thinks me leaving Mormonism means I have to be anti-God. At least by joining another Church, I could prove her wrong about that and hopefully her attitute towards me and my "spirituality" would change for the better. And my mother-in law's attitude as well. But more importantly I want to be able to supplant Mormonism with something similar so it won't have too much of a "shock" for my wife and kids, as opposed to going cold turkey with religion all together.

The right UU Church will have tight-knit social bonds because they tend to be loaded with people after religious community, ritual, and symbolism without fidelity to the mythology. But where you live will determine if you can find one of those.

I'm sorry, but what is UU again?

For me, if I were to believe again, it would be Roman Catholicism.
If I was looking for highly organized social group, then United Methodism.

I will look into the Methodists since you're the fifth person who has suggested this. I used to think I'd be Catholic if not Mormon, but then I don't think I could handle all the problems with Catholicism. From the child molesting priests to the supertitious visions of Marry. But I have been somewhat interested in the Greek Orthodox Church. I have nevber attended but they have the same claim to authority as the Catholic Church without a lot of the whacky stuff. And they also believe in theosis which is quite similar to Mormonism's deification doctrine. Except in the GOC, we weren't God's in embryos. We were created beings who could possibly become one with a non anthropomorphic God in some sense.

I believe that where you live, Kevin, Southern Baptist is the predominant faith (I may be wrong).

It is. The larged Baptist Church on the planet is within a few miles of us. It is like a circus. But the problem, aside from it being Baptist, is that they frequently preach a lot of anti-Mormon stuff, which is something my wife would never tolerate.

I am curious though Kev, where are you at with your own personal belief in God as well as the divinity of Jesus Christ, if you don't mind sharing.

I believe in God in the sense that he/she/it exists as the higher intelligence responsible for all that we experience, but do not believe there is enough evidence to support the existence of a personal God. I absolutely love the teachings of Jesus Christ, but I can't bring myself to believe God required the murder of his son in order to forgive us of our sins, etc. There will always be a special place in my heart for Jesus, or at least the concept of Jesus I have always been taught. However how much of that is based on history remains to be seen. I guess, I'd like for a lot of Christianity to be true, its just that I'm not convinced that it is.

Also, is your Dear Wife amenable to participating in another Church?

I think so. I told her the kids will go to a Church with me at least once every two weeks and she can take them to Mormon Church every other week as well. She'll probably tag along with us, though. Since she isn't tied to Mormonism by its doctrines, and only by its social aspects, my hope is that she will be easily converted to a less obtrusive religion by engaging with friendly people who share a similar sense of community and famly values, as do the Mormons.

This is not bad advice though there are days it is tough. My guess Kevin is that it would be really tough for you.

I tried that for a while already. I moved around quite a bit over the past decade, so whenever I would attend a new ward the folks would immediately assume I was a "stud member" because I'd sit in on gospel doctrine classes and always participate. I couldn't just sit back and say nothing. So when they'd see me engaged in the issues, and my ability to quote scripture and share insights they never though of, they assumed I was a spiritual person and were usually anxious to get me a calling. Many times I just didn't have the heart to tell them I didn't believe anymore, and just went through the motions. But I haven't attended a ward long enough to get a calling. Whenever they started to mention that stuff, I'd just stop going.

Anyway, I appreciate all the feedback.