Here’s a fun little article from a Ghanian convert to Mormonism. Oh the memories. I remember using all of those same Biblical verses to defend Mormonism on my mission in Central America. Does anyone else remember doing this (or are you still doing it)? I have to admit I’m much more content these days as a result of not having to defend something that is so hard to defend.
Related Posts
A Healthy Dose of Skepticism
Recently, I got a chance to experience the missionary/salesperson perspective first hand. I was asking various people to sign a petition. For privacy reasons, I’m not going to say what the petition was for, except that it may or may not be related to my work. You might question how…
the best use of tithing = hunting preserves?
In line with my earlier post about the LDS ranch in Florida, I just caught wind of this: The LDS Church owns two hunting preserves in Utah. Turns out the Deseret News has profiled the preserve and the missionaries who staff it. (Yep, you read that right – missionaries staff…
The true meaning of service: Scott Miller and Mark Hubble’s “The Book of a Mormon”
Like many young Mormon adults, Scott Miller set off on a mission largely because he had always planned to — but wasn’t really prepared for what he was getting himself into. This mission memoir takes place in the late 70’s — earlier than most others I’ve read. Amusing 70’s-specific tidbits…
Yeah. Actually, deciding that I’m not a Christian has generally been a big relief.
Using scriptures as the basis for arguments now seems like fencing with wet noodles. I’ve got more productive things to do, like reading blogs. 😉
Contentment is overrated.
I guess, then, happiness is as well?
Actually, it is.
Ce la vie 🙂
Is bitterness overrated also?
Is contentment being confused with complacency?
I obviously can’t speak to why Kullervo feels relieved, but the relief that I felt when I gave up some beliefs that I didn’t truly hold had everything to do with losing the pain of cognitive dissonance, not with taking the easy road.
For example, it felt very good to finally admit to myself and everyone else that I found Joseph Smith’s claims deeply suspicious. The mental gymnastics that I needed to perform to maintain my belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet took a lot of energy and effort. I didn’t realize how difficult trying to believe in J.S. was until I stopped doing it. For the first time in decades I found the strength to say exactly how I saw things despite peer pressure to believe differently. It came as a great relief to set that burden down and live honestly.
Mocking will not take away from my enjoyment of living authentically.