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Reasons you left the LDS church.

I knew this thread was going to be awesome the second I saw it and so far we're 9 pages in and it's lived up to the hype. I eagerly await the next 9.....
 
I see. So anyone here that has called me a name thinks they are better than me. Got it, Chief. Oops, I called you "Chief". Oh no I'm so much better than you.

You nancies need to grow a pair and quit whining like women anytime someone doesn't handle you with kid gloves.

I'd LOVE to see you go through child birth, mister tough guy. Whining like women, hah! Listen to yourself sometime.
 
also, I'd like to chime in and say something somewhat on topic...

I think part of the reason people join any church is for a sense of belonging. I know many people who choose a church less on it's actual specific religious dogma but more on the general "personality" of the congregation or the minister. (I guess I'm referring more to some of the "mainstream" Protestant churches, not those that are strongly dogmatic about specific beliefs)
 
Well, I was born into the LDS church but have never really been part of it. I remember a few sessions of Sunday school but not much. When I was around 5 my parents left the church. My father had been raised LDS in small-town southern Utah (Kanab) and met my mother in the army during the Vietnam War. She was from Arkansas/Missouri. She converted to LDS while dating my father and before getting married.

I rememebr my sister (she's a little more than a year older than me) and I being very skeptical when the concept of God was being explained to us. Maybe we suffered from our parents already forming misgivings about the church, but I was five so all I know is that I never really bought it.

My mother finally left the church after she was planning some kids mock Olympic event at the church with some of the other women. It was quickly decided that a boy would carry the torch. She wondered why a boy had to carry it and I guess it turned into an argument. Anyway, that's the story my mom always told.

I'm happy because I can't imagine my father being religious or pushing religion. Being an Atheist seemed like a completely natuaral fit for him. My mother said that earlier in their relationship my father struggled a lot because as much as he tried to have faith and be a good member of the church he was always left with the feelign that he wasn't trying hard enough and didn't have enough faith, even though according to her he really pushed himself.

His parents had cursed him with quite the name, which might have played a part in it because possibly people looked to him to be something he was not. His name was Brigham Young.
 
For me, it had a lot to do with getting an international perspective. I was born into the church, but by about the time I was 10, we weren't going very often. When I was 16 and got my first job, I always worked on Sundays (and loved it, because when I family DID go to church, I didn't have to go).

When I was 18 I went around Asia for the first time and it absolutely blew my mind. My whole world up to that point had been the midwest USA (Reno, Denver, and Salt Lake City).

From there, I spent more and more time studying and trying to gain more knowledge of the entire world. I lived in Japan for a year during college (and I'm back here now), and that has also given me a lot of perspective.

Anyway, I don't have some "because of ____, I stopped believing", but I guess all I can really say is that once I realized how big the world is and saw the VAST variety of people, religions, cultures, etcetera with my own eyes, it just made me realize even more how little any single religion (in the classic sense) makes sense as the be-all end-all for the entire world.
 
Great discussion so far...I'd love to share some thoughts on the matter, but finals has kinda taken over my life right now. I'll give my two cents in a few weeks. But here's a preview of my experience with the LDS Church: I grew up with an atheist dad, and a Mormon mother....was interesting ;)
 
For me, it had a lot to do with getting an international perspective. I was born into the church, but by about the time I was 10, we weren't going very often. When I was 16 and got my first job, I always worked on Sundays (and loved it, because when I family DID go to church, I didn't have to go).

When I was 18 I went around Asia for the first time and it absolutely blew my mind. My whole world up to that point had been the midwest USA (Reno, Denver, and Salt Lake City).

From there, I spent more and more time studying and trying to gain more knowledge of the entire world. I lived in Japan for a year during college (and I'm back here now), and that has also given me a lot of perspective.

Anyway, I don't have some "because of ____, I stopped believing", but I guess all I can really say is that once I realized how big the world is and saw the VAST variety of people, religions, cultures, etcetera with my own eyes, it just made me realize even more how little any single religion (in the classic sense) makes sense as the be-all end-all for the entire world.

I've pretty much shared my bit on the subject in the Jabari Parker thread. The last three paragraphs of this post is pretty much my experience verbatim, just substitute "Japan" with "South Korea". I was born into an extremely active family (in fact, I have a direct genealogical line to Joseph Smith (not that he doesn't have plenty of those ^_~!)). My mother came out as a lesbian when I was eleven. I went on a mission and came back and I still go to church from time to time with my family in tow as my wife values the teachings and social aspects of church. If I was alone I'm sure I wouldn't be going as I don't feel it is "true" or is helping me out in anyway other than to take my free time up. Instead, when I do go to church, I make a large effort to befriend newcomers, help the missionaries out, and participate in any and all service opportunities as this is where I'm able to derive the most satisfaction.
 
I've never understood the do your own thing mentality when it comes to religion if you are religious. That's an atheist view.

That depends on the atheist. Many have philosophical systems with strict codes of behavior.
 
That depends on the atheist. Many have philosophical systems with strict codes of behavior.

Everyone has a philosophical belief system. For some it is experience and/or evidence based.
 
I wanted to live an authentic life. Being a Mormon was not my choice and I was being dishonest with myself pretending to believe something I didn't believe in. After many years, I decided to leave because I wanted to be true to my own beliefs and not be part of an organization that had entirely different beliefs that I did. I graduated from BYU and for the most part enjoyed my time there. I still cheer for BYU football and still have many friends and family members who are active church members.
 
His parents had cursed him with quite the name, which might have played a part in it because possibly people looked to him to be something he was not. His name was Brigham Young.

icon_eek.gif
 
That depends on the atheist. Many have philosophical systems with strict codes of behavior.
Not what I meant. Plenty of non-Mormons out there better than me. I mean doing your own thing with regards to believing what you want.
 
Why I left the church for two reasons:

1. Alcohol
2. Ancient Aliens

Ancient aliens came down and gave you a Jose Cuervo *****?

*EDIT* Seriously? The proper word for shooting a liquid up your butt is censored??
 
Ancient aliens came down and gave you a Jose Cuervo *****?

*EDIT* Seriously? The proper word for shooting a liquid up your butt is censored??

Yes. They must protect your innocent eyes from valid medical terms, while you can say "shoot liquids up your ***" all you want. It's just how Jazz Fanz rolls.



Unless of course they determine that saying "shooting liquids up your ***" is a way to bypass the filter to stop anyone from thinking about the proper medical term for shooting liquids up your ***. But if you mention it in terms of it being a hobby or something, as I am using it here, then it is just fine and dandy!
 
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