That's what I thought, because that's what I'd been told. And it made sense, because we were God's one true church. Leaving was tantamount to turning your back on God Himself and the only explanation for why anyone do that was that they had allowed Satan to deceive them. And then Satan would torment them for the rest of their lives. They would be angry, bitter and hateful and never find true peace. Those stray sheep might experience some momentary pleasures, but they weren't truly happy. Only we were.
So here I am. It's been over four years since I've attended a Mormon church service and a little over a year since I officially resigned my membership. I am more peaceful and content now than I ever was as a faithful Mormon. If rejecting the impossible and following your heart is the influence of Satan, please, sir, I'd like some more!
I once thought that leaving the Church was extremely rare, because supposedly apostates were miserable, and who would choose to be miserable? The truth is, thousands of us have left. If you're having doubts, you are not alone and using your brain is not the influence of Satan.
You can get out. You can have a normal life. Depending on your situation, you may have to deal with pressure and disappointment from family and friends, but nothing spiritually bad is going to happen to you.
Hear, hear! Good things come to those who leave. My life and my mind belong to me now, the way it should be.
ReplyDeleteYa know that was a main message from a "gay mormon." He was saying the most important thing you need to know, "is that there are other options besides the church. It's not the only way." Because ya know it goes back to the safety of our brothers and sisters still stuck in that situation, who contemplate suicide because they think God doesn't love them.
ReplyDeleteSecond thought: I find that the most offensive thing that makes me want to put a bullet through someones head, because they are that stupid, would be them trying to tell me that my happiness is not as valid as theirs. It's only temporary and worldly happiness nothing long lasting. But your only happiness is based off how well you see yourself fitting into the image of this ENTITY!?! Who's the crazy one here? Absolutely atrocious to be measuring someone else's happiness compared to your own!
Happiness is never lasting. Even peaceful or ecstatic spiritual experiences. They're as ephemeral as any other emotion.
ReplyDeleteI'm not out to take anyone away from something that makes them happy, so long as they aren't infringing on anyone else's rights. But there are plenty of religious followers who aren't happy but who are afraid to leave, and they need to know that it's okay.
I think this is a good post, Leah. Despite my polar opposite views on faith, I do think it's important that if people are part of a religion that harms them, scares them, and injects fear into them, they should look elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI would also argue that for some who have lived a life of religion, it would probably be better to explore all the options for a while first, just as you did, because the faith piece is a big part of one's sense of self to just remove.
Whether it's mainstream Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, spiritualism, new age, etc., etc. or atheism - It's important to explore.
I have one minor nit-pick. Atheism is really a bad word for what people believe. Atheism just states what we don't believe. Humanism is more what I actually believe in. As copied from Wikipedia:
ReplyDeleteHumanism is a perspective common to a wide range of ethical stances that attaches importance to human dignity, concerns, and capabilities, particularly rationality.
Ya know that was a main message from a "gay mormon." He was saying the most important thing you need to know, "is that there are other options besides the church. It's not the only way." Because ya know it goes back to the safety of our brothers and sisters still stuck in that situation, who contemplate suicide because they think God doesn't love them.
ReplyDeleteSecond thought: I find that the most offensive thing that makes me want to put a bullet through someones head, because they are that stupid, would be them trying to tell me that my happiness is not as valid as theirs. It's only temporary and worldly happiness nothing long lasting. But your only happiness is based off how well you see yourself fitting into the image of this ENTITY!?! Who's the crazy one here? Absolutely atrocious to be measuring someone else's happiness compared to your own!