tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23031753.post114321073937805346..comments2007-12-17T14:41:44.084-05:00Comments on HURRICANE: Identity and Religious BeliefChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940646193920094814noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23031753.post-1143273879874231062006-03-25T03:04:00.000-05:002006-03-25T03:04:00.000-05:00My faith is part Mormon, part liberal Protestant, ...<I>My faith is part Mormon, part liberal Protestant, probably even a little Catholic, with a healthy dose of agnosticism tossed into the mix. For now, I'm very happy not to box myself in.</I><BR/><BR/>When I broke away from Catholicism, it opened the door to unrestrained spiritual exploration. It was liberating and intellectually invigorating.David Walterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16961185167489984607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23031753.post-1143264620238907152006-03-25T00:30:00.000-05:002006-03-25T00:30:00.000-05:00Warning: this comment is full of opinion and bias!...Warning: this comment is full of opinion and bias!! No offense intended to anyone who may read...<BR/><BR/>I'm in complete agreement with you both. I was LDS born/raised. God never told me it was "true," but everyone else did. I was so immersed in it all that I was convinced. But all along I had to keep HEAVILY applying cognitive dissonance. So many, many things seemed ludicrous, but I'd excuse them away. As long as someone keeps wanting something to be true, it will be. For the LDS church, it all hinges on the BOM. If charming missionaries, your friends or family "feel" it is true, then by golly you'll want to believe it too. Never mind the facts, they just get in the way.<BR/><BR/>But I must have truly lost the "spirit." I cringe at believing in a money digger hiding his head in a hat to see words on a seer stone. Magically he came up with translations for an unhistoric, unprovable history (ask the LDS scholars, they can't make heads or tails of it. National Geographic and Smithsonian completely dismiss it), written on gold plates that don't exist (hidden away for safekeeping by an "angel?" If they existed someone would have dug them up by now). We don't discuss the money-digging or peep-stone-in-the-hat stuff in church, it's too embarrassing. Magic isn't in vogue like it was in the 19th century.<BR/><BR/>And remembering the bizarre outfit, rituals/threats, chanting and knocking that goes on in the temple (as if THAT'S what God expects us to do to get into heaven???... PLEASE! Sounds more like a hastily-contrived frat initiation prank). While doing baptisms for the dead as a teen, I was incredulous when they kept repeating the pattern of rattling off a name and then dunking me in the baptismal font. I just "knew" this couldn't be anything an intelligent God would condone. <BR/><BR/>But I dismissed all the craziness away, just kept buying it no matter what. Yes, bought... many years of 10% gross! I want my hard-earned money back. And it hurts to see my family all taken in by it. There's no reaching them. Yet they fell sorry for ME and pray for ME to come around?<BR/><BR/>Sorry for the diatribe Hurricane... I'm really glad to see your brain functioning independently from the MORG (rhymes with BORG!). <BR/><BR/>Foxx is right, people do want to follow a plan (no matter how absurd may I add) rather than forge their own way. But it's much more fulfilling to be your own person!!! My post-LDS life is pure heaven on earth. Lifetime depression disappeared. I wish this forum existed when I set out upon my journey. You and your fellow bloggers are a great group.<BR/><BR/>From reading your blog history I see you've been through hell and I respect you immensely. Be strong! You're intelligent and have lots of support.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23031753.post-1143263900380072462006-03-25T00:18:00.000-05:002006-03-25T00:18:00.000-05:00What a beautifully written introspection. I am ve...What a beautifully written introspection. I am very impressed with the manner in which you have examined your life and your feelings. It's something everyone ought to do.<BR/><BR/>Also, thanks for all your comments on my blog. It's so much more fun when people actually respond. ;-)-L-https://www.blogger.com/profile/02854867259876731599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23031753.post-1143224698346395252006-03-24T13:24:00.000-05:002006-03-24T13:24:00.000-05:00foxx:And I think you've pointed out to me one of t...foxx:<BR/><BR/><I>And I think you've pointed out to me one of the reasons why I think religion is really important for some people. It makes the process of identity so cut and dry - it saves you a lot of the work of figuring things out for yourself.</I><BR/><BR/>Absolutely. It is no accident that the LDS Church sends its young men on missions at a time when identity is solidifying. It's brilliant, really. And it's no wonder gay Mormons struggle mightily to let go of their Mormon identity.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05940646193920094814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23031753.post-1143223831181574032006-03-24T13:10:00.000-05:002006-03-24T13:10:00.000-05:00Yes, yes, yes!Taking your own experience for the e...Yes, yes, yes!<BR/><BR/>Taking your own experience for the experience it is gives to me what feels like a more accurate representation of reality than trying to squeeze it into a cognitive twist. You know, so it won't conflict with whatever pre-conceived notions you have.<BR/><BR/>And I think you've pointed out to me one of the reasons why I think religion is really important for some people. It makes the process of identity so cut and dry - it saves you a lot of the work of figuring things out for yourself. It allows you to ignore conflicting data, so you can live with the peace that everything is just as you believe it to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com