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Even if he were to be successful in this and win a law suit, I doubt this would have significant ramifications on the church membership. Most members would likely dig their heels in and claim it was the work of Satan fighting against the truth. I could see it polarizing the existing faith crisis community to the point where some would leave and others would join the ranks who are digging their heels in. But that is only if this suit were successful, which is highly unlikely.
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Bit in the eyes of a 12 year old boy it seems huge. Pressuring or coercing him into it could turn this into a much larger issue in his mind. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
SilentDawning wrote:The lingering effects of testimony bother me. Also, he is without a value system if he does not have the church, and I’m not sure what that value system will be — it’s kind of disturbing.
I wouldn’t worry too much about them getting values outside of the church. Some of the most morally strong people I have known were raised without religion. Parents can, and should, be teaching correct values in the home. I personally think that a value system learned independent of religion can be stronger, since the values are more deliberate and not due to peer pressure. I think there is more opportunity to correct values along the way if something doesn’t seem right (ie racist out homophobic values) when there is this separation.
I have also seen (and experienced personally) the danger of values tied too close to an organization. In my own case extreme pressure to stay in a church I didn’t want to be a part of meant that rebelling against my parents and church also meant turning my back on the associated values.
The nice thing about the thoughtful face and Mormon stories groups on Facebook is that they are closed groups so nobody sees what you have posted unless they’re in that group. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
The “A Thoughtful Faith” Facebook group is one worth checking out. I find it has a good tone, similar to this site. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
It was almost a year ago that I was in a similar position with the deacons. I asked to be released and was summoned the next Sunday. FWIW it was a good experience for me. My bishop listened for a long time, let me share everything and never tried to convince me of anything. He showed love and support. As a result I shared way more than I expected. It’s a roll of the dice, hopefully all is well with you. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
+1 for the Waterman article on tithing. It was an Eye-opener for me. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
My comments regarding holding back were directed a little more in the direction of some of the similar articles they have released. The polygamy one for example has some room for improvement. Overall though, these are good. I would like to see them get some more publicity though. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
Ann wrote:“Why
I’mAbandoning Polygamy” Because it requires me to believe in a God who gives a 19th-century American man, married to the bride of his youthful choosing, a direct, specific order to break apart their marriage and her heart.
I don’t believe it.For me, polygamy in the church isn’t about all the obedient people who practiced it. It isn’t about the self-serving or desperate practitioners of it. It isn’t about the heartbreak and sadness of it, or the peace and contentment of it. Or about the millions of good members (I’m married to one) descended from polygamist ancestors whom they revere. It’s about God. Every time the church insists, No, no, really, God absolutely
didcommand it, step by step laid it all out for Joseph, my spirits sink.
It seems as if God is the scapegoat for bad decisions, here as in other instances. Kind of ironic, but understandable, that a church claiming divine authority uses God as the scapegoat in such a way.Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
I think of these as an inoculation for preventing future cases of faith crisis. Are they perfectly honest? Not yet, but I kind of see it in a similar way as when I catch my kids mischief. The full story doesn’t come out right away, but evolves from denial to the truth. It is good to see the full story being teased out here.
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Thanks that is the type of review I was hoping to balance out his position. I guess it is easier for him to stay if he can paint the founder in the best light possible. If so, it seems like mental gymnastics to me. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
In my recent experiences with the missionaries, I have learned to be nice, be honest and be vague. I have found that if they know I don’t have a testimony it sets some real expectations and boundaries. I am vague when it comes to my actual issues as I know they are programmed to resolve concerns and I just don’t really want to go down that road with them. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
I was attending the hallway class without hassle but eventually got to the point where I realized that the kids were distracting me in SM so I wasn’t getting anything there or in the hallway. At that point I stopped attending. A couple months back I decided to give things another try. Tried attending all my meetings which ended up with me longing for the hallway class… Which means I am comfortable taking a bit more time off.
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I appreciate this thread. I have pretty much given up on the church this past year and haven’t visited this discussion board much since as I didn’t feel like I belonged, even though I previously enjoyed it. I decided to pop back in tonight and this thread was just what I needed.
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