I’ve been awestruck by the anger(?) of some. I mean it’s not that I expected them to be overjoyed or anything, but there was little, if any attempt to convince me from a theological point of view that I was making a “mistake” in leaving mormonism.
It’s a large chasm between what they portend through missionary efforts, outreach, etc. and they’re subsequent shunning of those who let go of the iron rod. I don’t know how one truthfully reconciles the contrast in what they’re taught to do, taught to believe and then their actions towards a member who is leaving the fold.
I read a post on MRM’s Facebook page by a descendant of one of the mormon prophets who left the lds church. Quite a story.
I, too, was struck by the anger and shunning. Most of my friends just dropped me like the plague when I left and said the worst things about me. And I left quietly, I was not outspoken like I am now.
And SZ is right, there was no effort to persuade from a theological point, it was just condemnation and accusations about what ‘sin’ I committed, or how I must have decided I wanted to sin, or I never really was faithful.
It hurt, big time and they didn’t seem to care that I had genuine questions.
“I’ve been awestruck by the anger(?) of some. I mean it’s not that I expected them to be overjoyed or anything, but there was little, if any attempt to convince me from a theological point of view that I was making a “mistake” in leaving mormonism.”
SZ, no one ever likes it when you invalidate their experience. Since their experience is the basis for their involvement in mormonism - and you know mormonism isn’t about propositional truth - the more they hate it. To them it isn’t “anti-mormonism” (meaning the teachings). It is “anti-mormon” because it is about them, their experience, their feelings.
“I don’t know how one truthfully reconciles the contrast in what they’re taught to do, taught to believe and then their actions towards a member who is leaving the fold.”
But again, it isn’t about the beliefs (factually speaking). They can overlook all facts: Biblical, geographical, geology, biological, etc. and swallow all of mormonism because they had a feeling or experience.
In the same vein, when you renounce mormonism, you are renouncing THEIR feelings and experiences. That is all that matters.
You done right.
ampu