Comments on: Leaving The Church Part 3 http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/ Raising a Healthy Family Without Religion. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:55:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Sarah http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/#comment-4782 Sarah Wed, 11 Oct 2006 19:25:39 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=157#comment-4782 Wow. This "testimony" if you will about leaving the Mormon church has touched me and really made me realize that I am not alone in my thinking. I, like you, have agonized over learning that the church is not true. It has been just about 6 months for me. I too tried to go back to church, but after learning the truth, you can't just go back and sit there and go through the motions and pretend. If I had realized the immense comfort and joy that comes when you leave the church and all its mindbending teaching behind, I would have done this years ago. I am just lucky that I married a non-member and could see the world and church through his eyes. It is so simple to the outside world to see the flaws. My mother and father were both 1st generation converts to the church. No one else in my family is a member. I am the 1st to question and ultimately will be the 1st to leave the church. I know believe that I am agnostic. I find great joy in believing in myself and believing that through me all things are possible. Ultimately, I can only rely on myself and my husband. Relying and praying to an unknown now seems ridiculous. The reason for my response is that I wanted to comment on the Steven King issue. My mother (a TBM as I mentioned) told me that Steven King was evil because every book that he has ever written has never been edited. Meaning basically- she says-- that he writes the book- takes it to the editor and it is perfect and needs no correction. Evidently they believe that it is impossible for a person to write a book perfectly the 1st time and in order to do so (and because of the "evil nature" of most of his books) would have to be working with the devil. But---- she loves the Green Mile- go figure. Anyway- thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm sure that there are more like me out there that will find your journey comforting. Wow. This “testimony” if you will about leaving the Mormon church has touched me and really made me realize that I am not alone in my thinking. I, like you, have agonized over learning that the church is not true. It has been just about 6 months for me. I too tried to go back to church, but after learning the truth, you can’t just go back and sit there and go through the motions and pretend. If I had realized the immense comfort and joy that comes when you leave the church and all its mindbending teaching behind, I would have done this years ago. I am just lucky that I married a non-member and could see the world and church through his eyes. It is so simple to the outside world to see the flaws.
My mother and father were both 1st generation converts to the church. No one else in my family is a member. I am the 1st to question and ultimately will be the 1st to leave the church. I know believe that I am agnostic. I find great joy in believing in myself and believing that through me all things are possible. Ultimately, I can only rely on myself and my husband. Relying and praying to an unknown now seems ridiculous.
The reason for my response is that I wanted to comment on the Steven King issue. My mother (a TBM as I mentioned) told me that Steven King was evil because every book that he has ever written has never been edited. Meaning basically- she says– that he writes the book- takes it to the editor and it is perfect and needs no correction. Evidently they believe that it is impossible for a person to write a book perfectly the 1st time and in order to do so (and because of the “evil nature” of most of his books) would have to be working with the devil. But—- she loves the Green Mile- go figure.
Anyway- thanks so much for sharing your story. I’m sure that there are more like me out there that will find your journey comforting.

]]> By: Noell http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/#comment-2303 Noell Mon, 24 Jul 2006 03:55:32 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=157#comment-2303 Stephen Frug--What a funny question, I never even thought about it before. He's the currrent king of horror. I guess most Mormon parents consider him to scary and gory, almost satanic in a way? I guess? And then there is the language factor? It's not to say that no Mormons read him at all. I think there is a general distate for him overall though, as if his books were evil. Stephen Frug–What a funny question, I never even thought about it before. He’s the currrent king of horror. I guess most Mormon parents consider him to scary and gory, almost satanic in a way? I guess? And then there is the language factor?

It’s not to say that no Mormons read him at all. I think there is a general distate for him overall though, as if his books were evil.

]]> By: Stephen Frug http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/#comment-2301 Stephen Frug Mon, 24 Jul 2006 03:39:59 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=157#comment-2301 Why do Mormons have a problem with Steven King? (Great series, btw.) Why do Mormons have a problem with Steven King?

(Great series, btw.)

]]> By: Truth Without Fear http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/#comment-1970 Truth Without Fear Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:57:54 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=157#comment-1970 What a beautifully written exit story. I can't wait to read Part 4. When I figured it all out (the straw that broke the camel's back was a question form a close friend - and a nephew of GBH - "did you know that Joseph Smith was having sex girls as young as 14 as well as other men's wives?") my TBM world started crashing down around me. Almost 30 years of service and what I thought was a series of deep meaningful spritual experiences unraveled in a matter of days. What a beautifully written exit story. I can’t wait to read Part 4.

When I figured it all out (the straw that broke the camel’s back was a question form a close friend - and a nephew of GBH - “did you know that Joseph Smith was having sex girls as young as 14 as well as other men’s wives?”) my TBM world started crashing down around me. Almost 30 years of service and what I thought was a series of deep meaningful spritual experiences unraveled in a matter of days.

]]> By: Happy_Heretic http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/#comment-1531 Happy_Heretic Tue, 20 Jun 2006 10:49:37 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=157#comment-1531 AgnosticMom, As a former "Mo" myself, I have been enthralled with your story. I can't wait for part 4. I, too, spent many an hour on my knees, and with my face buried in the scriptures. My doubts were there from the beginning. I was raised not to question, think, or doubt. For me, it was only after honing the tools of reason that a focused conslusion even became possible. Once abandoning faith, and adopting reason as my guide, my belief in the LDS story came crashing down. Fortunatly, so did my belief in anything mythical/magical. I read stories like yours and mine more and more often on the "net." I am amazed at the resiliancy of the human mind and its ability to over-write the poor programming of indroctination and social coercian that tends to come with and LDS upbrining. I am going to being to focus more time on Darwin Day. My little family and I have few holidays that we "heretics" can call our own. What better way to celebrate than to cherish the greatest naturalist in history. Thanks for the idea. I have gone from believer...to agnostic... to atheist... in just 8 short years. It is the lives of poeple just like you (realists) filled with awe, wonder, and kindness that serve as living proof that one need not live in the fog of empty belief in order to live a peaceful and fullfiling life. Thanks for your blog. HH AgnosticMom,
As a former “Mo” myself, I have been enthralled with your story. I can’t wait for part 4. I, too, spent many an hour on my knees, and with my face buried in the scriptures. My doubts were there from the beginning. I was raised not to question, think, or doubt. For me, it was only after honing the tools of reason that a focused conslusion even became possible. Once abandoning faith, and adopting reason as my guide, my belief in the LDS story came crashing down. Fortunatly, so did my belief in anything mythical/magical.

I read stories like yours and mine more and more often on the “net.” I am amazed at the resiliancy of the human mind and its ability to over-write the poor programming of indroctination and social coercian that tends to come with and LDS upbrining.

I am going to being to focus more time on Darwin Day. My little family and I have few holidays that we “heretics” can call our own. What better way to celebrate than to cherish the greatest naturalist in history. Thanks for the idea.

I have gone from believer…to agnostic… to atheist… in just 8 short years. It is the lives of poeple just like you (realists) filled with awe, wonder, and kindness that serve as living proof that one need not live in the fog of empty belief in order to live a peaceful and fullfiling life.

Thanks for your blog.

HH

]]> By: vern http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/#comment-1529 vern Tue, 20 Jun 2006 07:15:41 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=157#comment-1529 I applaud your strength, and your conviction to do something about your crisis of faith, to actually seek answers. From my perspective, too many people who have ever questioned their faith and/or their religion never push it very far, and ultimately consider themselves less worthy for ever having a question. But what do I know? I'm not what you'd call a church regular, nor do I know much of the bible. I applaud your strength, and your conviction to do something about your crisis of faith, to actually seek answers.
From my perspective, too many people who have ever questioned their faith and/or their religion never push it very far, and ultimately consider themselves less worthy for ever having a question.

But what do I know? I’m not what you’d call a church regular, nor do I know much of the bible.

]]> By: Equality http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/#comment-1527 Equality Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:45:13 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=157#comment-1527 AgnisticMom, I eagerly await the next installment. I relate to your story so much--the struggle to get an answer from God is discomfiting, to say the least. As a Mormon, one can pick up the Ensign, New Era, or Friend (church magazines) and read every month about God answering the most mundane prayers about the most inconsequential matters (God answers a prayer for lost keys; God answers a boy's prayer to find his lost arrow so he can get that rabbit he was hunting; God stops a snowstorm so a teenager can get to a stake fireside). But when it comes to answering the big questions, silence reigns. Elaine, I am not sure what you mean by a "structured" way to leave the church but I am intrigued. Can you explain what you mean. There is no question that leaving Mormonism is a vastly different experience from leaving the Lutheran church (I know--I have been both Lutheran and Mormon) (although people belonging to some strands of Lutheranism--Missouri Synod, for example--may have experiences more like a Mormon's). AgnisticMom,

I eagerly await the next installment. I relate to your story so much–the struggle to get an answer from God is discomfiting, to say the least. As a Mormon, one can pick up the Ensign, New Era, or Friend (church magazines) and read every month about God answering the most mundane prayers about the most inconsequential matters (God answers a prayer for lost keys; God answers a boy’s prayer to find his lost arrow so he can get that rabbit he was hunting; God stops a snowstorm so a teenager can get to a stake fireside). But when it comes to answering the big questions, silence reigns.

Elaine, I am not sure what you mean by a “structured” way to leave the church but I am intrigued. Can you explain what you mean. There is no question that leaving Mormonism is a vastly different experience from leaving the Lutheran church (I know–I have been both Lutheran and Mormon) (although people belonging to some strands of Lutheranism–Missouri Synod, for example–may have experiences more like a Mormon’s).

]]> By: Elaine http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/06/19/leaving-the-church-part-3/#comment-1524 Elaine Mon, 19 Jun 2006 14:35:14 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=157#comment-1524 I have been fascinated by reading this series, since my own background, lapsed not-ever-very-devout Lutheran is so different. I find it very interesting that the Mormon church, at least, has a structured way of leaving the church, or so it seems. I have been fascinated by reading this series, since my own background, lapsed not-ever-very-devout Lutheran is so different. I find it very interesting that the Mormon church, at least, has a structured way of leaving the church, or so it seems.

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