Sunday in Outer Blogness: Scenes from Church and Life Edition!

This past fortnight Outer Blogness has been chock-full of personal narratives, especially about how each person’s relationship with the church has evolved! (OK, there were also some posts about the environmental catastrophe that is still ongoing — but for today, let’s stick with more cheerful topics.)

Naturally, people who stopped believing can’t help but contemplate why — especially since the faithful often invent their own explanations to project onto you. That’s what happened in Sean’s case. Reina found that she and her sister had very different reasons for leaving (see also her interesting insight about “perfection” and other Mormon ideals). Agnostic Mormon just came out as non-believer, and had great response to friends who assumed she left because of being “offended”:

“If it was because of the people, we would’ve left years ago,” I said, adding that some of the amazing people I met negated the idiots. She laughed.

(Of course if you need a line to explain your decision, this one is quite funny as well.)

Simplysarah has to deal with loved ones who are surprised that, yes, she’s still not Mormon a year later, and Eliza scoffs at those who claim to be “over it” after a mere few months. And Natalie has to explain to a loved one her particular dislike of Gordon B. Hinkley.

Molly muses about how much of leaving is about prizing your individualism. And an entry from Eliza R. Snitch’s journal leads her to the same question. BiV analyzes her journals to understand a parallel situation — fiercely independent (but also a passionately faithful and active Mormon), she’s concerned that her writings don’t accurately reflect her spiritual side.

Maybe it’s just all that restrictive clothing. Some would rather be biking naked. So it’s no wonder some Relief Society sisters break down and go on a nude car-stealing spree…