Former Mormons find support on Web site

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 06/07/07 | The Associated Press

[colorcountry]

Posting this with no commentary whatsoever.

[newgeezer]

Hmm... I've heard people who come out of cults can often benefit from forming a support group. But, this is people who came out of Mormonism.

Hmm...

[Enosh]

*Rimshot*

[Choose Ye This Day]

We are not anti-Mormon; it is not our intent to belittle others. In fact, we want to keep all the good that came into our lives through Mormonism, but we will be open about its misrepresentations and the way in which its dogmatism and authoritarianism have proven detrimental to many individuals, families and communities. We regret the fact that our openness in this regard hurts some people, but feel that important information has been suppressed for so long within the Mormon community that we should let the chips fall where they may.

Once again demonstrating that so many of those who leave the Church are unable to leave it alone.

[Between the Lines]

Looking around their website I got the feeling that it is just a bunch of gays and libs with an agenda against the Church.

[lady lawyer]

No doubt. It is a demanding religion. Those I know who have left have left because they weren’t willing to live the moral rules, or pay tithing. The justifications based on disagreements with doctrine came later.

[Enosh]

Apostate Muslims tend to be the most knowledgeable and vocal in highlighting the dangers of Islamic theology. Same deal here and that’s a good thing.

[tiki]

I agree to the extent that they knew their religion and are not so angry that they exaggerate or tell untruths. If they left because the theology didn’t suit their lifestyle and wouldn’t change to suit them, often people try to convince others that the religion is something it isn’t and never was.

[lady lawyer]

Malarky. We are not a threat to anyone. People keep trying to compare us to Muslims to scare the ignorant, but one of the tenets of our faith is being subject to governments, secular or not. Another tenet is respecting everyone’s right to worship as they please, including those that don’t agree with us. Muslims believe in supplanting secular governments with Sharia law, and in coercing people to convert. Those are the beliefs that are the direct cause of the violence we are experiencing now.

Ex-Mormons just can’t leave it alone because they have to spend the rest of their life proving to themselves that they were brilliant to leave and that we are stupid to stay.

[JamesP81]

I left Mormonism myself (joined a baptist church afterwards) for the theological reasons. Once I learned about Mormon teachings on Eternal Progression, I had to stop and think about whether or not I really believed that. I discovered I didn’t, so it no longer made sense for me to be a part of a church that I disagreed with on some of their core theology.

[Enosh]

"I left Mormonism myself (joined a baptist church afterwards) for the theological reasons."

Hallelujah! Welcome home, brother.

[colorcountry]

Thanks James!

So it isn’t like suggested here by some, that you left in order to lead a sinful lifestyle?

Do you ever try to lie about what the LDS Church taught you, as has also been alluded to?

Have you ever been told “you can leave the Church, but you can’t leave it alone, like another poster suggested?”

I appears that these could be attempts at villify those who might choose to leave the Church instead of honestly disscussing relevant issues. It seems that this can often the case.

[Enosh]

"villify those who might choose to leave"

Used to be you'd get burned at the stake for apostasy, so that's progress I suppose. ;)

Well, except for those wacky Muslims - they chop your head off...

[Choose Ye This Day]

And it appears, after looking over the post-mormon website, that it is mostly full of attempts to vilify their former religion and beliefs, rather than honestly discussing relevant issues.

And I stand by my earlier statement. Many who leave the Church are incapable of leaving it alone.

That’s not vilification. That’s pointing out an obvious, if curious, behavior.

[Religion Moderator]

That’s pointing out an obvious, if curious, behavior.

Actually it is common - and a problem for moderating a Religion Forum. The ex-Protestants, ex-Mormons, ex-Catholics, ex-Scientologists tend to be more aggressive. Then again, so do ex-drinkers, ex-smokers and so on.

[Choose Ye This Day]

That’s probably true of some.

Some are genuinely turned off by the beliefs and practices.

Fine.

I used to be Catholic, but when I left the Catholic Church I didn’t spend all my time in ex-Catholic websites or support groups, discussing how much I dislike the Catholic Church (which, in all honesty, I don’t dislike).

At some point, one needs to move on. Focus on the future, and quit griping about the past.

[JamesP81]

So it isn’t like suggested here by some, that you left in order to lead a sinful lifestyle?

No. In fact, about the time I started coming to these conclusions about what I believed I got saved.

[Spiff]

Posting this with no commentary whatsoever.

But your purpose is obvious.

[Enosh]

"... tend to be more aggressive."

And Fire Breathing Wacko Fundamentalists. Those guys are a real pain. :^D

[Spiff]

Apostate Muslims tend to be the most knowledgeable and vocal in highlighting the dangers of Islamic theology. Same deal here and that’s a good thing.

Sure...all those hijackings, terrorist incidents, and beheadings by those awful Mormons sure do make them dangerous. What?