Reasons you left the LDS church.

[colton]

I personally NEVER did that. I feel that telling someone they are absolutely wrong is very counter-productive.

You're wrong.

 

[reignman40]

Do you believe that one can live as deep and fulfilling a life as you believe you have, without God in his or her life?

Yes. Be he is talking about the church in his life, no necessarily god. I agree with everything beantown said. Even if you believe 100% or not having it in your kids life can be a good thing for them growing up. I was less active from about 16-21 and the last 3 years I haven't been at all. If I go back to the church or not I would like my kids to go. (If I have kids one day) Being in scouts and doing church things growing up made me alot better person even though I was never 100% into the religion.

I still play churchball every year.

 

[CONAN]

I don't think a majority of the non-lds or former lds people here are "anti-lds". They just might be anti people like you with a self rightous superiority complex. That's just a guess, but I have no problem with the lds church, but can't stand the vocal minority of lds people that act like that.

Apparently pointing out facts = self righteous superiority complex. Take a breath there big fella.

 

[CONAN]

Just because you bark at ghosts and are delusional doesn't mean I hate BYU.

So you love BYU? Interesting way of showing it in posts I've seen from you but okey dokey.

 

[CONAN]

And just to be clear, I am a card-carrying Mormon but I am very far from perfect. I know the path but I struggle to walk it. I've said this several times before but the haters get defensive so just making sure it's out there.

Also, no question the LDS faith is wack. A lot of crazy stuff you have to accept and a lot more you have to take on faith. That's why personal revelation is so critical and why people fade from the religion if they don't have it.

 

[LogGrad98]

You're wrong.

 

[LogGrad98]

LDS people are the greatest at justifying. Religion in general, but Mormons above the rest have this as their greatest attribute.

Human beings are great at justifying. It is a survival mechanism. No one is purely objective about EVERYTHING.

 

[colton]

I don't believe there is a "true church" and that because I have joined this club instead of that club that I will gain access to better seats in The Luxury Box. To each their own, but I can't buy it.

I agree.

I'm also very much an active, believing member of the LDS church.

I just realized that this post was a bit ambiguous. It was the second part of YB's statement that I was agreeing with. That is, my belief in the LDS church as the "true church" doesn't make me believe that "because I have joined this club instead of that club that I will gain access to better seats in The Luxury Box". I think there are a LOT of people in other churches that have an equal or better shot than myself at those priceless Luxury Box seats.

 

[billyshelby]

I've often wondered how many believers would be believers if their parents belonged to a different religion. This goes with any religion. If Joseph Smith/Muhammed/Whoever started their religion today instead of when they did, would you buy in or would you view them as a charlatan or as delusional?

Scientology is going strong. Since it started in the 50's, you'd have to think most of their flock are not the sons and daughters of believers herded into a faith. But with Tom Cruise as their anointed Christ figure (this is real, by the way), the religion is obviously legit so we're all on the slow road to Scientology as I see it.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

Thanks to those of you that shared why you left the LDS church.
It is interesting to hear people's stories, and why they choose what they choose.
Maybe it just helps me understand the people around me better, what makes someone tick.

 

[Siro]

I earned a degree from BYU some time back. I knew many LDS people who did not truly believe in the tenants of their religion, but they were as unquestionably LDS as those with strong conviction. People simply believe what their parents believe. In political science, it is a widely known fact that ideological socialization(IS) is acquired overwhelmingly through the immediate family. The percentage is high enough to spawn entire sub-fields trying to find out how else is ideology acquired(as obviously many people break away from their parents beliefs). Being part of a community affects almost all aspects of one's life. Like someone mentioned above, he sticks with the system simply because he believes it strengthens his family and imparts good morals on his children. In reality, of course, he's judging those virtues through his own IS. I for an example, do not think that Christian moral ideals are as desirable as secular ones. Thus, I would not value the part religion would play on their imparting.

Breaking away not only forces a whole new paradigm on a member of a species that values stasis over flux, but also requires giving up many important things. Most communities, even tolerant ones, have prejudices against dissenters, and changing views is in practice ostracism from one's niche.

What I'm trying to say is that specifics on why someone leaves are, in a way, irrelevant. Every person has doubts on the truthfulness of one's own ideology. Rejection of an ideology happens when whatever brain mechanism is responsible for evaluating information decides the downsides of leaving a religion are preferable to sticking with it. The actual intellectual justification for leaving typically evolve significantly, after the departure.

 

[DutchJazzer]

exactly this!! Except, i believe in aliens. Not sci-fi aliens, but definitely some type of life somewhere.

aliens pwn