Ex-Mo's: Ever explore different options?

[_ludwigm]

Why an omnipotent being needs to be worshiped by insignificant creatures, have his son tortured to appease some twisted sense of cosmic justice, allowing the vast majority of his creations to be ignorant of him, creating a system where very few of his children are ever allowed to be with him again, stand by while billions of people die horrible deaths, take credit for all that is good but be excused from being responsible for anything bad that happens, set a system in place based on guilt and total depravity, and, the most insidious torture of all, making people sit in hot buildings dressed in confining, uncomfortable clothing for hours on end every Sunday.

Besides that, it is a pretty good system.

I don't agree with the highlighted portion.

Old christian temples are pleasantly cool in summer. As a tourist, I testify this.
Thick stonewalls and stone paving, not openable windows, high ceiling, all the stuff I was taught as an architect.

Mormon building are poorish, built out of papier-mâché and extruded fibreboard - but they have air conditioning devices.


The other diagnoses are correct.

[_ludwigm]

I just don't see how the God of Abraham could possibly be real. If so, then He is the God of helping Suzy pass her math test ...

Math test? I don't think.

"Dinosaurs: Genesis and the Gospel" test? Yes.

[_CaliforniaKid]

But let's also recognize that that atheism offers nothing but despair.

If atheism were one's only belief, then yes, it would be pretty empty. However, most of us atheists have constructed positive, usable ideologies with much more content than just the non-existence of God. In fact, the non-existence of God is a fairly trivial part of our ideologies. If you call me an atheist, that doesn't really tell you anything about me. It tells you what I'm not, but it doesn't tell you what I am. If you want to know why I don't despair, you have to ask me. And the odds are that my answer will be quite different from the answers you'd get from other atheists, because we actually have quite a diverse range of ideologies.

[_Kittens_and_Jesus]

I just don't see how the God of Abraham could possibly be real. If so, then He is the God of helping Suzy pass her math test ...

Math test? I don't think.

"Dinosaurs: Genesis and the Gospel" test? Yes.

I grew up in a conservative LDS household where we were taught this nonsense by my father. The funny thing is that he was a science teacher at a public school and had no problem teaching his students things contrary to what he taught us.

It boggles the mind.

That being said, you know what I meant. We hear all these stories about God solving first world problems like lost car keys and such, while the majority of the planet is crying out for help with serious problems and many die without God's intervention.

[_nc47]

I just don't see how the God of Abraham could possibly be real. If so, then He is the God of helping Suzy pass her math test ...

I grew up in a conservative LDS household where we were taught this nonsense by my father. The funny thing is that he was a science teacher at a public school and had no problem teaching his students things contrary to what he taught us.

It boggles the mind.

That being said, you know what I meant. We hear all these stories about God solving first world problems like lost car keys and such, while the majority of the planet is crying out for help with serious problems and many die without God's intervention.

I was taught by my scoutmaster that evolution happened and not all natives are Lamanites. I still have a testimony...sucka.

[_Bhodi]

I was taught by my scoutmaster that evolution happened and not all natives are Lamanites. I still have a testimony...sucka.

Apparently we had the same scoutmaster.

I also had a Stake President (Chemistry professor) who told me it was OK to drink Green Tea when I told him I thought a cup a day was healthy and that the caffiene levels were relatively low. Drink a cup or two of Stash Chai Green every day, still have a temple recommend.

[_LittleNipper]

There is in fact the CHURCH, and then there are churches. Not all churches are part of the CHURCH. The CHURCH is the body of all righteous believers. Christianity and Mormonism are not the same. Sure, the men might wear suits and ties ---- the women may wear dresses, hats and gloves but this obviously isn't what we are speaking of. So what part of CHRISTIANITY didn't make sense to you?

It's good to know, LittleNipper, that when any of us need an expert opinion of what is or is not Christian, you will be there to tell us.

It must be greatly satisfying for you to have such an understanding of God's deepest thoughts.

I know you are being sarcastic; however, all anyone needs to do is read the Bible and pray for enlightenment. And I do know a former Mormon who is presently very involved in a Evangelical Baptist church. So not all who leave the "Mormonism faith" are destined to be "lost" souls.

[_LittleNipper]

So what part of CHRISTIANITY didn't make sense you you?

Why an omnipotent being needs to be worshiped by insignificant creatures, have his son tortured to appease some twisted sense of cosmic justice, allowing the vast majority of his creations to be ignorant of him, creating a system where very few of his children are ever allowed to be with him again, stand by while billions of people die horrible deaths, take credit for all that is good but be excused from being responsible for anything bad that happens, set a system in place based on guilt and total depravity, and, the most insidious torture of all, making people sit in hot buildings dressed in confining, uncomfortable clothing for hours on end every Sunday.

Besides that, it is a pretty good system.

Could it not be that God simply desires to commune with someone besides Himself? Why does an artist have to paint or a sculptor model a statue, or an actor enjoy being a character. It isn't about what GOD needs to exist. It is about what GOD simply desires. HE is reaching outside HIMSELF through creation. Jesus is God. And God does seem to demonstrate His love towards what He created by buying it back from destructuion. GOD didn't bring evil into this world. Man listened to the lies of satan. For God to then fix everything, HE would to have needed to destroy everything and begin anew. GOD realized that individuals like you and I would someday inhabit this world if God allowed it continue. In fact, the Bible clearly indicates that GOD knows who will and who will not come to Him. And so He allowed the events to continue with a plan of redemption/salvation for you and I. In this way GOD has demonstrated HIS undying L O V E towards us. One day all the horror of this universe will be over and forgotten by those HE came to save.

[_Themis]

I was taught by my scoutmaster that evolution happened and not all natives are Lamanites. I still have a testimony...sucka.

http://mormondiscussions.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29284

[_Kittens_and_Jesus]

I was taught by my scoutmaster that evolution happened and not all natives are Lamanites. I still have a testimony...sucka.

I remember my physics teacher bearing his testimony at an early morning fireside. He explained that his scientific understanding of the universe didn't diminish his belief in the church. He didn't see the young Earth theory as gospel. There are many people in the church like him. This wasn't my point.

I was pointing out that my father taught us one thing at home and taught completely different things in school. He did subscribe to the young Earth theory and taught it to his children, but had no problem teaching geology from a textbook at school. He taught them both with conviction.

You totally missed my point.