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Thank you Delphi.

I do appreciate your efforts to make the tone of these interchanges less “personal.”

I understand how difficult it must be when someone attacks a belief you hold dear. I understand tracer’s anger. He seems to not understand the difference between an attack of someone personally, and an attack on someone’s belief system. Every day, each of us are required to re-examine a belief we hold; Abortion, Global Warming, Death Penalty, Capitalism; Right to Life; etc. We should be able to discuss these issues in a rational tone using reason, and logic, and emotion. FreeRepublic forbids the use of personal attacks in making our point. It makes for impassioned yet polite discourse. I thank you Jim and the Moderators here, for giving us a meeting place for these discussions.

I have broad shoulders. I’ve carried the burden of the belife of my community and family that I am involved in gross sin, that I am weak, that I am vile, that I am lost and no good can come from me, simply because I no longer believe in Mormonism and I talk openly about why I’ve come to that conclusion. I am used to it. I am so thankful that Christ has saved me from the endless works, ordinances and covenants that Mormonism requires to earn exaltation for yourself and your dead family members. It was exhausting, demanding and very self-focused. But I didn’t leave because it was hard....I left because it wasn’t truth.

It is actually good that those outside Mormonism are seeing first hand the emotions involved when one chooses to leave Mormonism. We don’t see these types of attacks when someone goes from Presbyterian into Methodism, or even Catholicism into Assembly of God. Christians are Christians...unless of course they are Mormon, then one is not allowed to deviate in any way or they face the risk of ostracism.

This is the second time tracer has threatened the owner of this site with, “if you don’t play my way, I’m taking my ball and going home!”

I wonder what he thinks of that?

We don’t see these types of attacks when someone goes from Presbyterian into Methodism, or even Catholicism into Assembly of God.

Actually, I saw a worse one in Iowa, it was ugly then too. I really don't want to go into details, but when one minister (Who was supposed to be celibate) in a small town has an affair with the wife of another minister of another church, the results are not small nor are they over with quickly.

Christians are Christians...unless of course they are Mormon, then one is not allowed to deviate in any way or they face the risk of ostracism.

I am not aware of any religion that allows someone to "Leave" and start up opposition to them while allowing them full access to the facilities and records of that church. The Catholics for example used excommunication as a ploitical lever for centuries.

That said, I believe (academically for I have never experienced it) that the worst pressure comes from friends and family who thoughtlessly apply pressure to someone, Like CC, to "toe the line". I believe the heart strings that are pulled are the most painful part of leaving any church the rest of the family belongs to and the amount of pain is "controlled" by that family of the person leaving whatever religion. CC, I truly commend you for following your heart on this, and I do know how hard it is for you. However, I wish you could deal with your pain in some way other than posting here to people about what "Bad guys" we are.

God bless you and help you to heal your wounds even as thoughtless people from within and without your family are opening them afresh.

DU