Comments on: Leaving The Church, Part 4 http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/ Raising a Healthy Family Without Religion. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:26:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Elder Gone http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-211416 Elder Gone Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:00:04 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-211416 Thank you for your example, I was a good member of the church since birth. I am 44 yrs young. Last summer I saw a UFO. I am not saying it was anything other then that a UFO with the "U" being the main idea. My bishop and friends just said it all fit. I started studing things on the internet and down the rabbit hole I went. It took many months of searching to find any truth here in the whole arena of UFO, God, Man, and the universe. Slowly I realized that there is truth here and much of it can be proved. However, the Mormon church isn't one of them. It has many good teachings, and somany good people, and I own a lot of who I am to the teachings. I could not get the last part of the 13th artical of faith out of my mind where it states a line of good things, then states as a way of life for Mormons is to seek all good things and truth. How disappointed I was to realize that the church leaders go against Joseph Smiths own words, and ex-comunicate anyone that finds truth that doesen't fit into the dogma of the church. God is love, God is light, God is knowelge. I am more spiritual then before. I taught for 30 years in the mormon church, they teach that in the Millenium there will be no need for religion because the knowelge of heaven will be open for all to see. The truth is there should be no religion now. Jesus taught us all we needed to know: love your nieghbor: love your fellow man: forgive all: and do good works...etc. Mormons teach that all will be saved but the reward you earn is based on your good works, but they never get it that we must each find our own good works and stop doing the churches good works. I will get off my soap box now and just say thank you. Mormons aren't going to hell, but were ever they are going I will be somewhere else, the snacks are better. Thank you for your example, I was a good member of the church since birth. I am 44 yrs young. Last summer I saw a UFO. I am not saying it was anything other then that a UFO with the “U” being the main idea. My bishop and friends just said it all fit. I started studing things on the internet and down the rabbit hole I went. It took many months of searching to find any truth here in the whole arena of UFO, God, Man, and the universe. Slowly I realized that there is truth here and much of it can be proved. However, the Mormon church isn’t one of them. It has many good teachings, and somany good people, and I own a lot of who I am to the teachings. I could not get the last part of the 13th artical of faith out of my mind where it states a line of good things, then states as a way of life for Mormons is to seek all good things and truth. How disappointed I was to realize that the church leaders go against Joseph Smiths own words, and ex-comunicate anyone that finds truth that doesen’t fit into the dogma of the church. God is love, God is light, God is knowelge.

I am more spiritual then before. I taught for 30 years in the mormon church, they teach that in the Millenium there will be no need for religion because the knowelge of heaven will be open for all to see. The truth is there should be no religion now. Jesus taught us all we needed to know: love your nieghbor: love your fellow man: forgive all: and do good works…etc. Mormons teach that all will be saved but the reward you earn is based on your good works, but they never get it that we must each find our own good works and stop doing the churches good works. I will get off my soap box now and just say thank you.

Mormons aren’t going to hell, but were ever they are going I will be somewhere else, the snacks are better.

]]> By: Alexandria http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-121283 Alexandria Sun, 30 Dec 2007 23:23:59 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-121283 Great read!!! I am so happy for you. I wasn't a Mormon, but I was studying from the Hebrew Scriptures OT and was appalled by the way God was depicted. Like some vindictive, tempermental, evil tyrant. There are some parts of the OT that I find totally disgusting and I knew in my heart that that couldn't possibly be the "real" and "true" Creator of all. Suffice to say, I no longer believe in the Bible nor any man made religion. I will pray for you and your family and may blessings abound to you and yours for waking up to Truth. Great read!!! I am so happy for you. I wasn’t a Mormon, but I was studying from the Hebrew Scriptures OT and was appalled by the way God was depicted. Like some vindictive, tempermental, evil tyrant. There are some parts of the OT that I find totally disgusting and I knew in my heart that that couldn’t possibly be the “real” and “true” Creator of all. Suffice to say, I no longer believe in the Bible nor any man made religion. I will pray for you and your family and may blessings abound to you and yours for waking up to Truth.

]]> By: kate http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2476 kate Wed, 02 Aug 2006 03:16:52 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2476 Noell, I have been fascinated by your story. Thank you so much for sharing! The one thing I don't get a clear sense of is your search *after* you figured out that Mormonism is a hoax. What made you so sure that the idea of a Source of Divine Energy in the universe is just another illusion? Is that in other posts in the "religion" thread? Or do the other posts in that thread mainly pick up much later when you've already defined yourself as a humanist? What's coming across to me, just from the 4 parts about leaving the church, is that even though you "see through" Mormonism (that's clear), and through Christianity (less clear), you still weigh everything by these standards. Like the only way to get away from the grip of these illusions, is not to go anywhere near anything at all "spiritual". Am trying to put this vague sense into words, but I'm getting the feeling that you are healed enough to move on with your life and be happy, but not healed to the extent that you could accept a spiritual event or intuition without immediately thinking about it in the old Christian/Mormon way, with a consequent need to reject it. You've taken off the hat (mostly), but maybe not the glasses--at least not all the way. That's how it seems to me. So I'd like to hear more about that side, if possible. (I know a lot of folks at this point join some exotic cult--just to fill the void. I'm not asking about why you didn't do that.) Someone else asked about how your development affected your family relationships. I guess that's really a touchy one. But I can share their curiosity . . . Noell, I have been fascinated by your story. Thank you so much for sharing!

The one thing I don’t get a clear sense of is your search *after* you figured out that Mormonism is a hoax. What made you so sure that the idea of a Source of Divine Energy in the universe is just another illusion? Is that in other posts in the “religion” thread? Or do the other posts in that thread mainly pick up much later when you’ve already defined yourself as a humanist?

What’s coming across to me, just from the 4 parts about leaving the church, is that even though you “see through” Mormonism (that’s clear), and through Christianity (less clear), you still weigh everything by these standards. Like the only way to get away from the grip of these illusions, is not to go anywhere near anything at all “spiritual”.

Am trying to put this vague sense into words, but I’m getting the feeling that you are healed enough to move on with your life and be happy, but not healed to the extent that you could accept a spiritual event or intuition without immediately thinking about it in the old Christian/Mormon way, with a consequent need to reject it. You’ve taken off the hat (mostly), but maybe not the glasses–at least not all the way. That’s how it seems to me. So I’d like to hear more about that side, if possible. (I know a lot of folks at this point join some exotic cult–just to fill the void. I’m not asking about why you didn’t do that.)

Someone else asked about how your development affected your family relationships. I guess that’s really a touchy one. But I can share their curiosity . . .

]]> By: mel's bells http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2423 mel's bells Sat, 29 Jul 2006 21:21:25 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2423 Noell I always think of you when I walk across the ASU campus and past the place where they are building a newer, bigger Mormon church. The church land used to be at the very edge of campus, but as the ASU campus has expanded, and the LDS held onto the land, it is now a small pocket within the larger campus. They tore down the old church at the beginning of summer, and a new, very large building is going in its place. A sign out front capitalizes on the location, a thinly-disguised attempt to associate the legitimacy of the university with that of the church, the sign says: LDS Institute of Religion at ASU. Noell I always think of you when I walk across the ASU campus and past the place where they are building a newer, bigger Mormon church. The church land used to be at the very edge of campus, but as the ASU campus has expanded, and the LDS held onto the land, it is now a small pocket within the larger campus. They tore down the old church at the beginning of summer, and a new, very large building is going in its place. A sign out front capitalizes on the location, a thinly-disguised attempt to associate the legitimacy of the university with that of the church, the sign says: LDS Institute of Religion at ASU.

]]> By: Olga http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2330 Olga Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:33:32 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2330 Noell, What a great story! And so well written. Can you please, please, post it (all four parts) on my church's website: www.apatheticagnostic.com? I don't want your story to get lost (I am already having difficulties finding Part I on your blog). That website has been around for 10 years now, and now has a decent search function. There's a special section called "Agnostic Testimony" where your story will fit perfectly. I am only suggesting it because I want to preserve your story. Thank you for sharing it with all of us! Noell,

What a great story! And so well written. Can you please, please, post it (all four parts) on my church’s website: http://www.apatheticagnostic.com? I don’t want your story to get lost (I am already having difficulties finding Part I on your blog). That website has been around for 10 years now, and now has a decent search function. There’s a special section called “Agnostic Testimony” where your story will fit perfectly. I am only suggesting it because I want to preserve your story. Thank you for sharing it with all of us!

]]> By: Eliza http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2287 Eliza Sun, 23 Jul 2006 03:21:24 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2287 Thank you for sharing your journey. It also resonated deeply with me and mirrored my own journey in many ways. I also felt a real sense of empowerment and freedom when I stopped trying to deny what my heart and mind kept telling me. Like you I am also a naturally upbeat person who weathers life's ups and downs relatively smoothly. I also at points in my life credited faith/God with this personal attribute and yet even then I would feel guilty. I think on a subconcious level I knew this was not true or fair to the faithful who prayed and believed and yet still suffered. When I realized I no longer needed to follow a religion it was like a weight had been lifted from me and if anything I have been an even happier person since. I have spent the last three years studying religion and the different Christian denominations. As an agnostic I still keep an open mind and seek spirtual truths that feel authentic to me. Thus far though I feel that the problem is Christianity is based on a collection of writings by ancient men, the Bible. I think part of the Bible are beautiful and inspired and worthy lessons for living an ethical life. After reading it cover to cover and reading Biblical criticism however, I have to say there is a lot of chaff in with the wheat and much vagueness that is left very open to frail human interpretation. If the writers were divinely inspired by God it seems to me there were undoubtably times they had a bad connection. Thus, I have drifted from Christianity in general. I do tend to feel that there is a divine spirit that we can be in tune with on a personal level without needing organized religion. Thank you again for sharing. The only difficulty in leaving my Church is that most of the people I know are still religious which does make one feel a bit of an outsider at times. Its nice to know other people have similar thoughts and experiences. Peace. =) Thank you for sharing your journey. It also resonated deeply with me and mirrored my own journey in many ways. I also felt a real sense of empowerment and freedom when I stopped trying to deny what my heart and mind kept telling me. Like you I am also a naturally upbeat person who weathers life’s ups and downs relatively smoothly. I also at points in my life credited faith/God with this personal attribute and yet even then I would feel guilty. I think on a subconcious level I knew this was not true or fair to the faithful who prayed and believed and yet still suffered. When I realized I no longer needed to follow a religion it was like a weight had been lifted from me and if anything I have been an even happier person since.

I have spent the last three years studying religion and the different Christian denominations. As an agnostic I still keep an open mind and seek spirtual truths that feel authentic to me. Thus far though I feel that the problem is Christianity is based on a collection of writings by ancient men, the Bible. I think part of the Bible are beautiful and inspired and worthy lessons for living an ethical life. After reading it cover to cover and reading Biblical criticism however, I have to say there is a lot of chaff in with the wheat and much vagueness that is left very open to frail human interpretation. If the writers were divinely inspired by God it seems to me there were undoubtably times they had a bad connection. Thus, I have drifted from Christianity in general. I do tend to feel that there is a divine spirit that we can be in tune with on a personal level without needing organized religion.
Thank you again for sharing. The only difficulty in leaving my Church is that most of the people I know are still religious which does make one feel a bit of an outsider at times. Its nice to know other people have similar thoughts and experiences.
Peace. =)

]]> By: Abner Doon http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2285 Abner Doon Sun, 23 Jul 2006 01:03:12 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2285 Thanks for finishing up your story, Noell. It was fun to anticipate the next part each time. One thing that really interested me is when you said you have now been able to make real friends for the first time since high school. That is a comfort to me, because I've had the hardest time making friends in my very Mormonized area since I lost belief in Mormonism. They're still kind, I'm still friendly, but there's just no real connection there. I'm really looking forward to moving away from here and (hopefully) making some good friends again. Thanks for finishing up your story, Noell. It was fun to anticipate the next part each time. One thing that really interested me is when you said you have now been able to make real friends for the first time since high school. That is a comfort to me, because I’ve had the hardest time making friends in my very Mormonized area since I lost belief in Mormonism. They’re still kind, I’m still friendly, but there’s just no real connection there. I’m really looking forward to moving away from here and (hopefully) making some good friends again.

]]> By: Wes Brown http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2236 Wes Brown Fri, 21 Jul 2006 19:27:35 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2236 I just want to say that that was an amazing story. I am also an agnostic and I love to hear about when people free themselves from the shackles of religion. Congratulations on finding out where your strength really comes from. Inside yourself. I can truly relate to everything you have written here. One of the greatest days of my life was when I realized that I did not need religion to know who I was. I am glad and happy for you. I just want to say that that was an amazing story. I am also an agnostic and I love to hear about when people free themselves from the shackles of religion.

Congratulations on finding out where your strength really comes from. Inside yourself.

I can truly relate to everything you have written here.

One of the greatest days of my life was when I realized that I did not need religion to know who I was.

I am glad and happy for you.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2213 Kevin Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:56:01 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2213 Noell wrote: "So much to learn! So much to explore! New paradigms to view my world through. New questions to ask" This is exactly how I felt when I left Christianity. I can now read and study any subject without feeling some form of guilt (eg, evolution). This is a fantastic post, Noell. I can relate to much of what you have written. All the best Kevin Noell wrote:
“So much to learn! So much to explore! New paradigms to view my world through. New questions to ask”

This is exactly how I felt when I left Christianity. I can now read and study any subject without feeling some form of guilt (eg, evolution).

This is a fantastic post, Noell. I can relate to much of what you have written.

All the best
Kevin

]]> By: vern http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2201 vern Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:15:27 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2201 Thank you Bishop Rick, that's funny. Thank you Bishop Rick, that’s funny.

]]> By: Laura http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2199 Laura Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:17:09 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2199 Thank you for the post. I never tire of reading deconversion stories. I love 'em! Thank you for the post. I never tire of reading deconversion stories. I love ‘em!

]]> By: Karen http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2191 Karen Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:27:21 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2191 I think there are a lot of agnostics who are "one more god" atheists* but aren't flat out convinced that there isn't something. If you like belonging, there's always the Universal Church Triumphant of the Apathetic Agnostic: we don't know if there's a god and we don't care, either. ;-) I go back and forth in what I call myself, but in the end it doesn't matter: I know that no god so far described by any church on earth exists, so I'm an atheist as far as most people (and gods) are concerned. If there's something out there, we'll never be able to know, so why worry? It doesn't worry about us, after all... * You know: I just don't believe in one more god than you don't believe in. Unless you're a polytheist, of course. I think there are a lot of agnostics who are “one more god” atheists* but aren’t flat out convinced that there isn’t something. If you like belonging, there’s always the Universal Church Triumphant of the Apathetic Agnostic: we don’t know if there’s a god and we don’t care, either. ;-)

I go back and forth in what I call myself, but in the end it doesn’t matter: I know that no god so far described by any church on earth exists, so I’m an atheist as far as most people (and gods) are concerned. If there’s something out there, we’ll never be able to know, so why worry? It doesn’t worry about us, after all…

* You know: I just don’t believe in one more god than you don’t believe in. Unless you’re a polytheist, of course.

]]> By: Bishop Rick http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2188 Bishop Rick Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:52:45 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2188 Vern, Morg is a term used for Mormon Organization. There is also an undertonal reference to the Borg of Star Trek. Vern,

Morg is a term used for Mormon Organization. There is also an undertonal reference to the Borg of Star Trek.

]]> By: andy http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2187 andy Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:06:30 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2187 Lily - speaking from experience, I can say it's ok to be an atheist in the Deep South. Well, I suppose that really depends on where you are, eh? I was in Montgomery, Alabama and found enough like-minded people, or open-minded religious people, that my circle of friends was warm and accepting. Naturally, some of them thought I was mistaken and I thought they were insane in one area of their lives, but - hey - such is the nature of friendship. So, Noelle, when do you make the jump from claiming to be agnostic to embracing the atheist title? ;) Just asking... I spent a couple of years in my doubting phase calling myself an agnostic until I realized, no, I really didn't believe in God. At all. I suppose I'm an agnostic atheist... I don't think anything that could reasonably be described as a god is knowable in any meaningful way, so that's agnosticism (the same could be said of any internally inconsistent nonsensical belief). That said, I see absolutely no reason to believe in any gods, hence atheist. Lily - speaking from experience, I can say it’s ok to be an atheist in the Deep South. Well, I suppose that really depends on where you are, eh? I was in Montgomery, Alabama and found enough like-minded people, or open-minded religious people, that my circle of friends was warm and accepting. Naturally, some of them thought I was mistaken and I thought they were insane in one area of their lives, but - hey - such is the nature of friendship.

So, Noelle, when do you make the jump from claiming to be agnostic to embracing the atheist title? ;) Just asking… I spent a couple of years in my doubting phase calling myself an agnostic until I realized, no, I really didn’t believe in God. At all.

I suppose I’m an agnostic atheist… I don’t think anything that could reasonably be described as a god is knowable in any meaningful way, so that’s agnosticism (the same could be said of any internally inconsistent nonsensical belief). That said, I see absolutely no reason to believe in any gods, hence atheist.

]]> By: Butch http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2185 Butch Fri, 21 Jul 2006 01:18:09 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2185 I have been reading your blog foe a while now. I have been enthralled by this story of yours from part I. Your story is so much like my own when I left my fundamentalist Christian upbringing. Thank you so much for sharing. I have been reading your blog foe a while now. I have been enthralled by this story of yours from part I. Your story is so much like my own when I left my fundamentalist Christian upbringing. Thank you so much for sharing.

]]> By: vern http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2184 vern Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:55:37 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2184 Noell, Excellent continuation! Your story has me so intrigued because, while the end result is probably about the same, mine was not an entirely difficult or time-consuming journey from belief to non-believer. But I am curious; what's a Morg? Noell,
Excellent continuation! Your story has me so intrigued because, while the end result is probably about the same, mine was not an entirely difficult or time-consuming journey from belief to non-believer.

But I am curious; what’s a Morg?

]]> By: Karen http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2182 Karen Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:33:52 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2182 This is fascinating. Thanks for sharing ... I never was a Mormon, but there are points of similarity between our stories. This is fascinating. Thanks for sharing … I never was a Mormon, but there are points of similarity between our stories.

]]> By: The Greenbelt http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2181 The Greenbelt Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:32:47 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2181 <strong>Logging...</strong> Agnostic Mom has been posting her deconversion story. It's interesting - very.... Perhaps not surprisingly, the stories Agnostic Mom pointed us at were all Mormon deconversion stories. I'm not, and never was, Mormon, and perhaps that's why I find th... Logging…

Agnostic Mom has been posting her deconversion story. It’s interesting - very…. Perhaps not surprisingly, the stories Agnostic Mom pointed us at were all Mormon deconversion stories. I’m not, and never was, Mormon, and perhaps that’s why I find th…

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2179 Jennifer Thu, 20 Jul 2006 21:37:38 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2179 Thanks for sharing your story. I was raised in the Mormon church and have since left. I've been snooping on your blog for a few days and have been enjoying it. Keep up the good work! Thanks for sharing your story. I was raised in the Mormon church and have since left. I’ve been snooping on your blog for a few days and have been enjoying it. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Ben http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2178 Ben Thu, 20 Jul 2006 20:31:46 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2178 Noell, <blockquote> I wondered which Christian religion was closest to truth. Would I find one I could be comfortable in? </blockquote> I would love to hear more on this, if there's more to hear. Was it a straight shot for you, from Mormon to agnostic? Or were there any other steps between ex-Mormon and ex-religious-believer? Noell,

I wondered which Christian religion was closest to truth. Would I find one I could be comfortable in?

I would love to hear more on this, if there’s more to hear. Was it a straight shot for you, from Mormon to agnostic? Or were there any other steps between ex-Mormon
and ex-religious-believer?

]]> By: Lily http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2174 Lily Thu, 20 Jul 2006 18:06:37 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2174 Noell, Thank you for sharing your story. I have had so many of the same thoughts but I don't have your talent for putting them into words. Like Bishop Rick, I am an agnostic that still attends the Mormon church to keep the peace at home. We live in the bible belt of the deep south so I've found that the only thing worse (in most people's opinion) than being a Mormon is being an agnostic/atheist! I have not shared my feelings with anyone other than my husband and that went over like a ton of bricks. Reading your story has given me hope that if I follow my heart, everything else will fall into place. I really love your blog. I love that you don't concentrate on who you were but who you are now and when your former religion comes up there is very little anger or sarcasm. I'm curious to know how your extended family took the news that you were leaving the church. Did it come as a complete shock to them? How is your relationship with them now? I have so many more hurdles to jump before I get to where I want to be. I know you are busy at home right now so don't worry if you can't reply. I mostly just wanted to thank you for giving my heart a voice. I don't feel so alone in the world. Noell,
Thank you for sharing your story. I have had so many of the same thoughts but I don’t have your talent for putting them into words. Like Bishop Rick, I am an agnostic that still attends the Mormon church to keep the peace at home. We live in the bible belt of the deep south so I’ve found that the only thing worse (in most people’s opinion) than being a Mormon is being an agnostic/atheist! I have not shared my feelings with anyone other than my husband and that went over like a ton of bricks. Reading your story has given me hope that if I follow my heart, everything else will fall into place. I really love your blog. I love that you don’t concentrate on who you were but who you are now and when your former religion comes up there is very little anger or sarcasm. I’m curious to know how your extended family took the news that you were leaving the church. Did it come as a complete shock to them? How is your relationship with them now? I have so many more hurdles to jump before I get to where I want to be. I know you are busy at home right now so don’t worry if you can’t reply. I mostly just wanted to thank you for giving my heart a voice. I don’t feel so alone in the world.

]]> By: C. L. Hanson http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2173 C. L. Hanson Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:10:14 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2173 What a beautiful story!!! I love your description of how empowered you felt when you realized that things you had been giving God credit for were coming from within yourself. One thing I dislike about religion is that you're encouraged to give God credit for everything that is good and yet never blame Him for anything bad... What a beautiful story!!!

I love your description of how empowered you felt when you realized that things you had been giving God credit for were coming from within yourself.

One thing I dislike about religion is that you’re encouraged to give God credit for everything that is good and yet never blame Him for anything bad…

]]> By: Menopausal Agnostic http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2167 Menopausal Agnostic Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:25:45 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2167 Noelle: "I didn’t see this as tragic or lonely. It was empowering! All the strength that I had derived from this imaginary god-partner growing up had really come from within myself!" Many things in your post that I relate to in my own journey in putting 'ex' in front of Christian. Your above quote here is something I could have wrote. Noelle: “I didn’t see this as tragic or lonely. It was empowering! All the strength that I had derived from this imaginary god-partner growing up had really come from within myself!”

Many things in your post that I relate to in my own journey in putting ‘ex’ in front of Christian. Your above quote here is something I could have wrote.

]]> By: Bishop Rick http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2160 Bishop Rick Thu, 20 Jul 2006 07:47:05 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2160 Noell, Your story connects with many people on many levels. My story mirrors yours in many ways, tho I haven't put the ex before mormon yet, I have come to the same conclusions as you. For me, I have always had small doubts nagging at me that I suppressed due to my programming. It wasn't until I got a satelite dish 2 years ago (I know I'm cheap) and started watching the History Channel, Discover, National Geographic, and the Science Channel, that things really started turning for me. Watching meso-american archeology shows that didn't support BofM stories at all, to National Geographic's migratory studies, based on DNA, disproving the mideast migration doctrine of american inhabitants, was the clincher. Of course, each time I watched one of these shows I spent countless hours doing my own research only reinforcing what was taught in these shows. I hope that some day I will be able to completely walk away from the Morg and fully appreciate life without those Mormon-colored glasses. Noell,
Your story connects with many people on many levels. My story mirrors yours in many ways, tho I haven’t put the ex before mormon yet, I have come to the same conclusions as you. For me, I have always had small doubts nagging at me that I suppressed due to my programming. It wasn’t until I got a satelite dish 2 years ago (I know I’m cheap) and started watching the History Channel, Discover, National Geographic, and the Science Channel, that things really started turning for me. Watching meso-american archeology shows that didn’t support BofM stories at all, to National Geographic’s migratory studies, based on DNA, disproving the mideast migration doctrine of american inhabitants, was the clincher. Of course, each time I watched one of these shows I spent countless hours doing my own research only reinforcing what was taught in these shows. I hope that some day I will be able to completely walk away from the Morg and fully appreciate life without those Mormon-colored glasses.

]]> By: Cori http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/07/19/leaving-the-church-part-4/#comment-2158 Cori Thu, 20 Jul 2006 06:13:14 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=172#comment-2158 I appreciated reading your journey out of Mormonism so much. M. Scott Peck in 'The Road Less Travelled' suggests that some of us need to be healed <i>from</i> religion and some of us healed <i>to</i> religion and that both of those might be true for us at different time of our lives. If believing comes with guilt, not feeling good enough, having to leave ones brains at the door etc then it seems to me only a good thing to get out! I've heard the stories from a number of Christians who felt betrayed by some of the - let's be honest here - <i>absurd</i> things they were being taught and that they felt they had been 'duped' into believing. The best thing for each of them was to break away from the church and the system altogether. Some have returned, perhaps to a different group of believers who view the Bible and the faith a little more liberally or alternatively, others have continued on a journey away from the church. Either way, I cannot imagine - if there is a divine being who is love :-) - that he would want us to remain in a system that would counter us being able to grow to our full potential. For me the warning signs go up the moment it seems to me someones self development is being stunted - either because they have to fit into some tight moral mold, or because they aren't allowed to ask the questions that our brains naturally ask out of curiousity, or because they have to suppress enormous parts of themselves in order to fit in. I had the sense, for example, that <a href="http://mexc.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Kevin</a> would not have been able to continue his growth/development/whatever you call it inside of the church. That's not to say that at another point in his life (or anyone's life) they may be able to reconnect with the Christian faith in a meaningful way again... I appreciated reading your journey out of Mormonism so much. M. Scott Peck in ‘The Road Less Travelled’ suggests that some of us need to be healed from religion and some of us healed to religion and that both of those might be true for us at different time of our lives. If believing comes with guilt, not feeling good enough, having to leave ones brains at the door etc then it seems to me only a good thing to get out!

I’ve heard the stories from a number of Christians who felt betrayed by some of the - let’s be honest here - absurd things they were being taught and that they felt they had been ‘duped’ into believing. The best thing for each of them was to break away from the church and the system altogether. Some have returned, perhaps to a different group of believers who view the Bible and the faith a little more liberally or alternatively, others have continued on a journey away from the church.

Either way, I cannot imagine - if there is a divine being who is love :-) - that he would want us to remain in a system that would counter us being able to grow to our full potential. For me the warning signs go up the moment it seems to me someones self development is being stunted - either because they have to fit into some tight moral mold, or because they aren’t allowed to ask the questions that our brains naturally ask out of curiousity, or because they have to suppress enormous parts of themselves in order to fit in. I had the sense, for example, that Kevin would not have been able to continue his growth/development/whatever you call it inside of the church. That’s not to say that at another point in his life (or anyone’s life) they may be able to reconnect with the Christian faith in a meaningful way again…

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