charity wrote:Uh, duh, the link is back to your post. It does not link to the study. I wanted to see the study. You can't provide that?
charity, I am guessing that anti is not quoting an actual study. He starts his post by saying:
"In my experience, people leave the Church for the following reasons (listed by most common to least numerically)..."
He then goes on to list the reasons,
in his experience. That indicates to me that he is not quoting from an actual study.
Besides, the name of the group supposedly doing the study seems a bit unlikely, no?
"This survey was conducted in by the Journel of
American Christians and Kinsmen of
American Secularist Studies."
I think he was joking on that one.
So don't hold your breath for an actual reference.
I could be wrong but I don't think so in this case.
I would say though that the reasons and circumstances for why people choose to leave the Mormon Church are more complex than many LDS people and Mormon apologists will acknowledge from what I have seen written on the Net. I think most people do not make such a decision lightly, not even converts; again, contrary to what many think.
I also don't think it is accurate to say that if you are "faithful" you will remain a Mormon and only the "unfaithful" will leave. I understand how LDS people believe that as it is part of their theology. However, I think it is a narrow view to consider that being Mormon equals being faithful to God and that it is the only way to fully be faithful, or any variation on that theme. While there are many branches of Protestantism, at least the mainstreamers take the view that all believers are part of the "church" (a body of people not a single organization). You can move from one denomination to another and still be considered "faithful". That is a strength, in my opinion, not a weakness. I know it can be difficult to get used to a concept like that when one is in a group that tends to the "one true" view. That partly explains why Protestantism with its diverse denoms can seem "disorganized" or "chaotic" to many of us who have been in tighter groups. However, I finally came to see that it seems more reasonable that God is inclusive rather than exclusionary and that the "worldwide body of believers" concept makes sense.
What also seems chaotic to me, while a member as well as now as an ex-member, is that Mormon teachings and practices (including how local leaders do things) emphasize certain beliefs and practices, with a strong focus on obedience and unquestioning submission, but many members and leaders, including many who write on the Net, say that "free will" is encouraged and that conformity is not expected or enforced. That is not the experience of many members/ex-members.
That is just part of the reason that I found trying to be a faithful member very confusing - so many conflicting ideas and practices. Even if the doctrine is static, the way it is applied is variable from ward to ward and leader to leader. That is one big thing to remember when one says what Mormonism is - whether from the active member side or any outside view. It is more likely than not that everyone has a different experience of being Mormon (especially converts) and so blanket statements are almost bound to be inaccurate. If you're happy in the Mormon Church, that's great. Many are not and they choose to leave. That doesn't automatically guarantee that things get better for them but it may greatly help out, depending on the issues involved. But leaving does not signify all the negative qualities and motives that too many Mormons attribute to ex-members, seemingly as a knee-jerk defensive reflex in some misguided protectionist move.
Far kinder to accept that we are all different, Mormonism is different depending on where and how you experience it and that there are many paths people can take to end up living a decent and productive life. That gets rid of a lot of judgementalism right there.
Someone leaving Mormonism isn't usually meant as an insult to the Mormon Church or its members. People deserve to make their own decisions for their own lives. It's too bad that apparently, Mormon beliefs cause many of the church's members to criticize and judge ex-members harshly. I guess that's what happens when you think you're the only ones who know "the truth". It's too bad as it causes so much negativity. I understand it somewhat, as I started off in very "fundy" type churches with a similar mindset. The thing was, that type of teaching didn't gel with my observations (that non-members were good and decent and moral people and would never convert). The "must be faithful" mantra couldn't overcome my discomfort at the major discrepancy I saw there.
Sorry, I've lost track now of whether I'm on topic for this thread. This is just what the various posts made me think of. Not all my comments are directed to charity - mainly the ones about anti's study (or non-study, whichever the case may be).