There are some people who always seem angry
and continuously look for conflict.
Walk away; the battle they are fighting
isn't with you, it is with
themselves. ~unknown
Showing posts with label conflict. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conflict. Show all posts
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Monday, June 11, 2012
Morality
What is the definition of morality?
morality
- definition
2. a system of principles concerning right and wrong behaviour that isaccepted by a particular group of people
3. the degree to which something is considered to be right or wrong http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/morality
How does one go about making moral decisions? Is everything so black and white? Is it always wrong to steal? Is it always wrong to lie? When is it okay to have sex and when is not okay to have sex? Is it always wrong to kill a person?
I was taught that these moral rules are black and white; after all, the 10 commandments teach us they are, right? I was raised in a church and a family where we weren't taught there was possibly a middle ground, or moral ambiguity. Then the same people who taught me these absolutes are the very same people who taught me it is acceptable to believe in the death penalty. Then I read the Bible--talk about a moral land mine! God killed or commanded people to kill entire groups of people including children and their animals.(If it is wrong to kill people, then why is it okay to kill even in this situation?) In the book of mormon, god tells a man to kill a man, wars are waged in gods name.
It was also very confusing to be taught my entire life that sex was bad and evil, then it was okay to have sex the day I was married; very confusing. (Is it bad, or good, or evil or good?) God also allows a man to rape a woman as long as he marries her after. There are concubines, polygamy and rape in the bible. How confusing is that?!
God says to not lie, but in the Bible he tells Abraham to lie about the relationship he has with his wife. The Bible has many other examples of moral ambiguity sanctioned by god.
In the mormon church, as I have read the history, I have also learned it has a great deal of moral ambiguity. The founder, Joseph Smith, openly taught monogamy, yet secretly practiced polygamy and polyandry. http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/
The church today, covers up this history from its members, actively seeking to deceive its members by not teaching this history. In 2008, in relieve society and priesthood meetings, they have studied the life of Joseph Smith and not one single lesson talks about polygamy or polyandry. http://ldsmediatalk.com/2008/01/09/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-smith/
The mormon church also teaches that it is sexually pure, by forbidding masturbation, sex before marriage, requiring their garments to be put back on immediately after sex, covering a woman's shoulders. Yet, is has a sexually ambiguous background where men were sent on missions and their wives were then told to marry Joseph Smith or Brigham Young (polyandry) polygamy was practiced against the law, printing presses were destroyed to keep these practices secret.
I was in a state of cognitive dissonance from the time I could read.
Who can read this history and not be in a state of moral confusion?
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Irony
From the time I was a teenager, I have been curious about learning all things mormon. There were two things that troubled me. I didn't understand the mysteries contained in the Bible; and the temple. I became obsessed with understanding. I felt that my eternal salvation depended on understanding the symbolism in the temple and the Bible, especially the book of Revelation.
As a teen, I even read parts of a book called Mormonism and Masonry. I didn't really understand it, however, since I hadn't been through the temple and I didn't understand what Masonry was, at the time.
I obsessed about going through the temple, wanting all things that god had to offer. After going through, I wanted nothing more to do with it, thinking it bizarre and cult like. I didn't understand it. I was told that I wasn't *worthy* enough to understand all of its symbolism. I was told that, 'all would be revealed upon my righteousness.' I then tried to live in a way to make me worthy.
I studied the scriptures voraciously. I read the bible, the BofM, the PofGP, multiple times. I read commentaries on all of them. I found stuff on the internet. I found stuff written by other religions. I attended other religions, hoping that all knowledge would open my eyes. I spent hundreds of dollars on books to help my understanding.
I tried to live the most righteous life I possibly could. I accepted each calling, even when these callings didn't fall in line with what my patriarchal blessing said these callings should be (my blessing said I would be a leader of other women, that I would rise to great heights of leadership; few of the callings I received, however fit into this category). I questioned everything. I researched, I studied, I prayed, I did all these things in an effort to understand the mystery of the temple and the Book of Revelation.
I believed the mormon scriptures that said that all knowledge is of god, that if we seek after good things, it was a good thing. The more I searched, the more confused I was. I found out that the way the Bible was put together was not how I was taught in church. It was very fascinating, but not necessarily inspired by god. I found out that the Greek and Roman and previous gods that were worshiped by other nations had a great influence on the Jews and eventually the religion that became the Christians. I discovered that there were many, many books that could have been included in the Bible. I found out the books in the NT were not written by the men that carry their names. The most recent research on the Book of Revelation is the most fascinating. Its author concludes that it wasn't meant to be an end-of-days book about our time, but a political commentary about the Roman government and about the time period it was written in. Of course, this only makes sense, once a person is able to step back and be objective. http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2012/03/05/120305crbo_books_gopnik?currentPage=all Elaine Pagel, The Book of Revelation
I found out that Joseph Smith and nearly all of the early leaders in the mormon church were Masons. I found out that all the symbols on the Nauvoo and Salt Lake Temple are not religious symbols, but Masonic symbols. I didn't need to look at anti- sources for this, but to mormon sources:
I learned that the Kirkland temple was vastly different in design, worship and openness than the Nauvoo temple. Why? This is a question that will never be answered by mormon leadership. Why? Because it means opening up dirty little secrets like polygamy: http://www.i4m.com/think/temples/temple_legacy.htm
http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/masonicsymbolsandtheldstemple.htm
I learned that I was lied to. God doesn't have secret handshakes to get us into heaven. God doesn't require women to cover their faces to pray. God doesn't require men to take women's hands to get women into heaven. God doesn't require polygamy to get into heaven. God doesn't require women to submit to men. God doesn't have an end-of-day plan written in secret-hard-to-interpret writings.
The irony: My quest to seek further knowledge, wisdom, truth and spirituality lead me out of the mormon church. Only by leaving, did I find the truth.
As a teen, I even read parts of a book called Mormonism and Masonry. I didn't really understand it, however, since I hadn't been through the temple and I didn't understand what Masonry was, at the time.
I obsessed about going through the temple, wanting all things that god had to offer. After going through, I wanted nothing more to do with it, thinking it bizarre and cult like. I didn't understand it. I was told that I wasn't *worthy* enough to understand all of its symbolism. I was told that, 'all would be revealed upon my righteousness.' I then tried to live in a way to make me worthy.
I studied the scriptures voraciously. I read the bible, the BofM, the PofGP, multiple times. I read commentaries on all of them. I found stuff on the internet. I found stuff written by other religions. I attended other religions, hoping that all knowledge would open my eyes. I spent hundreds of dollars on books to help my understanding.
I tried to live the most righteous life I possibly could. I accepted each calling, even when these callings didn't fall in line with what my patriarchal blessing said these callings should be (my blessing said I would be a leader of other women, that I would rise to great heights of leadership; few of the callings I received, however fit into this category). I questioned everything. I researched, I studied, I prayed, I did all these things in an effort to understand the mystery of the temple and the Book of Revelation.
I believed the mormon scriptures that said that all knowledge is of god, that if we seek after good things, it was a good thing. The more I searched, the more confused I was. I found out that the way the Bible was put together was not how I was taught in church. It was very fascinating, but not necessarily inspired by god. I found out that the Greek and Roman and previous gods that were worshiped by other nations had a great influence on the Jews and eventually the religion that became the Christians. I discovered that there were many, many books that could have been included in the Bible. I found out the books in the NT were not written by the men that carry their names. The most recent research on the Book of Revelation is the most fascinating. Its author concludes that it wasn't meant to be an end-of-days book about our time, but a political commentary about the Roman government and about the time period it was written in. Of course, this only makes sense, once a person is able to step back and be objective. http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2012/03/05/120305crbo_books_gopnik?currentPage=all Elaine Pagel, The Book of Revelation
I found out that Joseph Smith and nearly all of the early leaders in the mormon church were Masons. I found out that all the symbols on the Nauvoo and Salt Lake Temple are not religious symbols, but Masonic symbols. I didn't need to look at anti- sources for this, but to mormon sources:
The History of the Church records Smith's entrance into the Masonic lodge in 1842:
"Tuesday, 15.—I officiated as grand chaplain at the installation of the Nauvoo Lodge of Free Masons, at the Grove near the Temple. Grand Master Jonas, of Columbus, being present, a large number of people assembled on the occasion. The day was exceedingly fine; all things were done in order, and universal satisfaction was manifested. In the evening I received the first degree in Free Masonry in the Nauvoo Lodge, assembled in my general business office." (History of the Church, by Joseph Smith, Deseret Book, 1978, Vol.4, Ch.32, p.550-1)
The next day Smith recorded:
"Wednesday, March 16.—I was with the Masonic Lodge and rose to the sublime degree." (History of the Church, Vol.4, Ch.32, p.552)
The Mormon involvement in Freemasonry reached its heights during the early 1840's in Nauvoo. In the Encyclopedia of Mormonism we read:
"The introduction of Freemasonry in NAUVOO had both political and religious implications....Eventually nearly 1,500 LDS men became associated with Illinois Freemasonry, including many members of the Church's governing priesthood bodies—this at a time when the total number of non-LDS Masons in Illinois lodges barely reached 150." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol.2, p.527)
I learned that the Kirkland temple was vastly different in design, worship and openness than the Nauvoo temple. Why? This is a question that will never be answered by mormon leadership. Why? Because it means opening up dirty little secrets like polygamy: http://www.i4m.com/think/temples/temple_legacy.htm
http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/masonicsymbolsandtheldstemple.htm
I learned that I was lied to. God doesn't have secret handshakes to get us into heaven. God doesn't require women to cover their faces to pray. God doesn't require men to take women's hands to get women into heaven. God doesn't require polygamy to get into heaven. God doesn't require women to submit to men. God doesn't have an end-of-day plan written in secret-hard-to-interpret writings.
The irony: My quest to seek further knowledge, wisdom, truth and spirituality lead me out of the mormon church. Only by leaving, did I find the truth.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Communication Styles
How to communicate; lesson I
When they ask a question, give an answer or ask a question if unsure of what is asked.
lesson II
When they make a statement, listen.
lesson III
When they give an opinion, respect it.
lesson IV
When they cry, act upset, nervous, ask questions to discover why.
lesson V
When a problem arises, look for solutions.
How to create barriers, lesson I
When they ask a question, demand what they are asking or tell them they are wrong for asking a stupid question or call them names.
lesson II
When they make a statement, tell them they are wrong for making such a stupid or erroneous statement, roll your eyes.
lesson III
When they give an opinion, show contempt for their opinion and demean it, walk away, show disgust.
lesson IV
When they cry, act upset, nervous; fold your arms, turn your head away, cross your legs, walk out on them.
lesson V
When a problem arises, show anger for your partner and let them know that the problem is theirs alone to solve or blame them.
If you want to assure a divorce, the best way is negative communication styles: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-hughes/why-do-happy-newlyweds-ev_b_1269205.html?ref=divorce
Here is the best quote from the article: "Although there were no differences in the degree of positive communication, there were notable differences in negative communication patterns. Couples who eventually divorced displayed more anger and contempt for their partners. When solving problems, they were more likely to disagree, and blame and invalidate the feelings of each other."
This was the single most defining moments in what led to my divorce. I was tired of being marginalized, walked out on, being told that every problem was mine alone to be solved, and that my emotions didn't count.
When they ask a question, give an answer or ask a question if unsure of what is asked.
lesson II
When they make a statement, listen.
lesson III
When they give an opinion, respect it.
lesson IV
When they cry, act upset, nervous, ask questions to discover why.
lesson V
When a problem arises, look for solutions.
How to create barriers, lesson I
When they ask a question, demand what they are asking or tell them they are wrong for asking a stupid question or call them names.
lesson II
When they make a statement, tell them they are wrong for making such a stupid or erroneous statement, roll your eyes.
lesson III
When they give an opinion, show contempt for their opinion and demean it, walk away, show disgust.
lesson IV
When they cry, act upset, nervous; fold your arms, turn your head away, cross your legs, walk out on them.
lesson V
When a problem arises, show anger for your partner and let them know that the problem is theirs alone to solve or blame them.
If you want to assure a divorce, the best way is negative communication styles: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-hughes/why-do-happy-newlyweds-ev_b_1269205.html?ref=divorce
Here is the best quote from the article: "Although there were no differences in the degree of positive communication, there were notable differences in negative communication patterns. Couples who eventually divorced displayed more anger and contempt for their partners. When solving problems, they were more likely to disagree, and blame and invalidate the feelings of each other."
This was the single most defining moments in what led to my divorce. I was tired of being marginalized, walked out on, being told that every problem was mine alone to be solved, and that my emotions didn't count.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Not Good for Women VII
Progressive, forward thinking, working women, artists. The mormon ads portray the women in the mormon church as all of these things. Yet, is this really the belief of the leaders and doctrine in the church?
Try on this latest quote:
Try on this latest quote:
"The most important thing for a woman in this life is to be the wife of a worthy
priesthood holder and the mother of his children."
"We know that every father can, or should be, an officer in the priesthood,
meaning that he holds the priesthood and presides over his family in
righteousness."
Boyd K. Packer
Saturday, February 11, 2012http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/02/priesthood-power-in-the-home?lang=eng
Note the date.
The man presides OVER his family. Wow. Not the words that translate into equality.
Not the attitude of a progressive church that treats women as equals.
priesthood holder and the mother of his children."
"We know that every father can, or should be, an officer in the priesthood,
meaning that he holds the priesthood and presides over his family in
righteousness."
Boyd K. Packer
Saturday, February 11, 2012http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/02/priesthood-power-in-the-home?lang=eng
Note the date.
The man presides OVER his family. Wow. Not the words that translate into equality.
Not the attitude of a progressive church that treats women as equals.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Why They Leave?
'You are so angry'
'You are so hateful'
'You will only be happy again when you come back to church'
'You are unhappy because you are sinning'
'You will only be at peace when you leave your sinful life behind and begin attending church again'
'Tithing has natural consequences if you don't pay to the church'
These are all things I have been told when I stopped attending the mormon church. I fundamentally reject all of them. I have never been happier or more at peace since leaving. I have told many people,
'Good things happen to good people; bad things happen to bad people.
Bad things happen to bad people; bad things happen to good people.
This isn't religion, this is life.'
When I stopped paying tithing, I was so afraid that god was going to reach out and punish me. That didn't happen. I went from working a minimum waged job-part-time job, to a full time job, to a full time job with benefits. I have been able to support my children. Why? Because I worked damn hard and took extra classes to supplement my education. That is life. God had nothing to do with it. Neither did paying or not paying tithing.
It is easy for people who live their lives by certain values to then judge everyone by those same values. People who pay tithing have been told all their lives that if they pay, they will be blessed. Yet, statistics show that those same people are no more financially well off than those who don't pay tithing. Also, there are more filings for bankruptcies in the state of Utah than any other state. http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon356.htm
I was told my entire life as a mormon that those who leave, do so for only a few reasons: 'You want to sin'; 'You have been offended'; 'You are too lazy to walk the straight and narrow path'.
There is a new survey that shows these assumptions to be false:
http://whymormonsleave.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhyTheyLeave_30Jan2012v4.pdf
Here is an excerpt:
Reasons why People Lose Faith
If you no longer believe that the LDS church is the true church (and once
did), which of the following were factors in your loss of belief:
Moderate to Strong Factor Primary Factor
I lost faith in Joseph Smith 81% 39%
I studied church history and lost my belief 84% 39%
I ceased to believe in the church's doctrine/theology 87% 38%
I lost faith in the Book of Mormon 79% 35%
I re-evaluted what it means to believe/know, and realized
that I never really believed. 52% 18%
I lost confidence in the general authorities 71% 18%
Church's stance on homosexuals / Prop 8 68% 15%
I did not feel spiritually edified at church 67% 15%
Church's stance on women 70% 14%
I became bothered by church culture
(e.g. conservative politics, etc.) 57% 11%
I lost my faith in God 39% 11%
Church's stance on science-related matters 64% 9%
I lost my faith in Jesus 39% 8%
I lost confidence in my local church leadership 41% 8%
Church's stance on race issues (blacks, native
Americans, etc.) 72% 7%
I did not receive the promised spiritual witness 37% 6%
I received a spiritual witness to leave the church and go
elsewhere 18% 5%
I or someone I loved was abused by someone in the church.12% 3%
I wanted to engage in behaviors viewed as sinful by the
church (e.g. alcohol, extra-marital sex)
8% 1%
I was offended by someone in the church. 8% 1%
Lack of meaningful friendships within the church 13% 1%
'You are so hateful'
'You will only be happy again when you come back to church'
'You are unhappy because you are sinning'
'You will only be at peace when you leave your sinful life behind and begin attending church again'
'Tithing has natural consequences if you don't pay to the church'
These are all things I have been told when I stopped attending the mormon church. I fundamentally reject all of them. I have never been happier or more at peace since leaving. I have told many people,
'Good things happen to good people; bad things happen to bad people.
Bad things happen to bad people; bad things happen to good people.
This isn't religion, this is life.'
When I stopped paying tithing, I was so afraid that god was going to reach out and punish me. That didn't happen. I went from working a minimum waged job-part-time job, to a full time job, to a full time job with benefits. I have been able to support my children. Why? Because I worked damn hard and took extra classes to supplement my education. That is life. God had nothing to do with it. Neither did paying or not paying tithing.
It is easy for people who live their lives by certain values to then judge everyone by those same values. People who pay tithing have been told all their lives that if they pay, they will be blessed. Yet, statistics show that those same people are no more financially well off than those who don't pay tithing. Also, there are more filings for bankruptcies in the state of Utah than any other state. http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon356.htm
I was told my entire life as a mormon that those who leave, do so for only a few reasons: 'You want to sin'; 'You have been offended'; 'You are too lazy to walk the straight and narrow path'.
There is a new survey that shows these assumptions to be false:
http://whymormonsleave.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhyTheyLeave_30Jan2012v4.pdf
Here is an excerpt:
Reasons why People Lose Faith
If you no longer believe that the LDS church is the true church (and once
did), which of the following were factors in your loss of belief:
Moderate to Strong Factor Primary Factor
I lost faith in Joseph Smith 81% 39%
I studied church history and lost my belief 84% 39%
I ceased to believe in the church's doctrine/theology 87% 38%
I lost faith in the Book of Mormon 79% 35%
I re-evaluted what it means to believe/know, and realized
that I never really believed. 52% 18%
I lost confidence in the general authorities 71% 18%
Church's stance on homosexuals / Prop 8 68% 15%
I did not feel spiritually edified at church 67% 15%
Church's stance on women 70% 14%
I became bothered by church culture
(e.g. conservative politics, etc.) 57% 11%
I lost my faith in God 39% 11%
Church's stance on science-related matters 64% 9%
I lost my faith in Jesus 39% 8%
I lost confidence in my local church leadership 41% 8%
Church's stance on race issues (blacks, native
Americans, etc.) 72% 7%
I did not receive the promised spiritual witness 37% 6%
I received a spiritual witness to leave the church and go
elsewhere 18% 5%
I or someone I loved was abused by someone in the church.12% 3%
I wanted to engage in behaviors viewed as sinful by the
church (e.g. alcohol, extra-marital sex)
8% 1%
I was offended by someone in the church. 8% 1%
Lack of meaningful friendships within the church 13% 1%
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Struggle
STRUGGLE... that is what my marriage was; a daily struggle.
I wanted to be alive; to live each day with joy, meaning and activity. He wanted to stay in a dream world, a world that was not real, a subconscious state, not reality. The world I wanted consisted of adventure and fun and living each day to its fullest. His day consisted of creating computers and sitting and dreaming.
He even said to me when we were at the end. He said, 'My perception is my reality'. No, your perception is where you choose to stay and delude yourself, but it doesn't change reality. I choose to live in reality and love life.
We struggled against each other each day for 20 years; me, to live a full, rich life; him, to live in a dream state.
I wanted to be alive; to live each day with joy, meaning and activity. He wanted to stay in a dream world, a world that was not real, a subconscious state, not reality. The world I wanted consisted of adventure and fun and living each day to its fullest. His day consisted of creating computers and sitting and dreaming.
He even said to me when we were at the end. He said, 'My perception is my reality'. No, your perception is where you choose to stay and delude yourself, but it doesn't change reality. I choose to live in reality and love life.
We struggled against each other each day for 20 years; me, to live a full, rich life; him, to live in a dream state.
Friday, September 9, 2011
What is the fact?
The entire time I was a mormon, the leaders would warn us to not listen to opponents of the church. They warned us that they were evil, they were sinners, they were tools of the devil.
We were warned that although people who opposed the church would say things such as, 'there are significant changes to the BoM' the leaders in the church would tell us that only minor spelling errors had been made.
You have to see this, then decide for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1foCKuxjTA&feature=share
How can you still believe in your leaders, who are not honest with you?
We were warned that although people who opposed the church would say things such as, 'there are significant changes to the BoM' the leaders in the church would tell us that only minor spelling errors had been made.
You have to see this, then decide for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1foCKuxjTA&feature=share
How can you still believe in your leaders, who are not honest with you?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Not Good for Females
I have repeatedly said that one of the main reasons I left the morg is because it is not a good place for women.
I have given my personal story of how I have been harmed by misogynistic leadership. I have heard so many women who have shared similar storied to mine. The pat answer I get back is that *the church is perfect, the leadership is not*. This is so completely lame, it doesn't deem a response. However, since I hear it so often, I will respond.
If the church were indeed receiving guidance from god, then it would not be making poor choices, repeatedly, that harm a large group of people over a long period of time.
If the church were indeed receiving guidance from god, then its leadership would be making choices that were god-like, not human-like.
If the church were indeed receiving guidance from god, then its choices would reflect equality, love and acceptance, not judgement, condemnation and subjugation.
People would not be leaving in droves due to pain and disillusion.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52448399-78/moon-church-abuse-report.html.csp
I have given my personal story of how I have been harmed by misogynistic leadership. I have heard so many women who have shared similar storied to mine. The pat answer I get back is that *the church is perfect, the leadership is not*. This is so completely lame, it doesn't deem a response. However, since I hear it so often, I will respond.
If the church were indeed receiving guidance from god, then it would not be making poor choices, repeatedly, that harm a large group of people over a long period of time.
If the church were indeed receiving guidance from god, then its leadership would be making choices that were god-like, not human-like.
If the church were indeed receiving guidance from god, then its choices would reflect equality, love and acceptance, not judgement, condemnation and subjugation.
People would not be leaving in droves due to pain and disillusion.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52448399-78/moon-church-abuse-report.html.csp
Saturday, August 20, 2011
The trouble with Polygamy
As Warren Jeffs is in the news of late, I can't help but wonder the uncomfortable feelings that are being felt by so many of my former friends who are mormon. I remember so many discussions we had, that often got heated and ended in arguments and hurt feelings as polygamy is still a difficult topic for most mormon people, especially the women.
As it ought to be. Although the church has banned the practice, it is still written as doctrine in their approved scripture in
D&C 321: 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many awivesand bconcubines—3 Therefore, aprepare thy heart to receive and bobey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same. 4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlastingacovenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye bdamned; for no one can creject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.
As it ought to be. Although the church has banned the practice, it is still written as doctrine in their approved scripture in
D&C 321: 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many awivesand bconcubines—3 Therefore, aprepare thy heart to receive and bobey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same. 4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlastingacovenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye bdamned; for no one can creject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.
Even though the church claims to believe in marriage only between one man and one woman, it is written into their doctrine that no one can enter their version of the highest heaven, the celestial kingdom, unless they practice plural marriage.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52371806-78/smith-says-women-wives.html.csp?page=1
This article in the Salt Lake Tribune does an excellent job comparing Joseph Smith to Warren Jeffs. I hope my mormon family and friends will have an open mind enough to read it.
As I have left the church, I am of course, no longer conflicted about polygamy, since I do not believe I will be forced to practice it. We were always told we would accept it. But how could we, when our kind, loving hearts rejected the thoughts of our husbands having sex with multiple women now? Leaving us and being emotionally tied to many other women? Physically and emotionally abandoning us to be with others? If we can't accept it here and now, it isn't going to be possible to accept it in another realm. This is reality, cognitive dissonance.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52412444-78/polygamy-mormon-hudson-lds.html.csp?page=1
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52412444-78/polygamy-mormon-hudson-lds.html.csp?page=1
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
If I Were God
If I were God
If I were God would I...
Make one man suffer for all the wrongs and sins of others?
Create humans in my image then call them unnatural and an enemy to myself?
Create humans in a fallen state when I call them the pinnacle of my creations?
Give them emotions and then say half those emotions are evil?
Give them reason and logic and then tell them to blindly obey?
Kill my creations through floods, earthquakes and tsunami's?
Create disease, birth defects and life long pain and suffering?
Give commandments to only a portion of my people that
are a requirement to return to my presence
thus damming the rest of my creations
to hell for simply being born to the
wrong parents and wrong
country and wrong
century?
If I were God would I...
Make one man suffer for all the wrongs and sins of others?
Create humans in my image then call them unnatural and an enemy to myself?
Create humans in a fallen state when I call them the pinnacle of my creations?
Give them emotions and then say half those emotions are evil?
Give them reason and logic and then tell them to blindly obey?
Kill my creations through floods, earthquakes and tsunami's?
Create disease, birth defects and life long pain and suffering?
Give commandments to only a portion of my people that
are a requirement to return to my presence
thus damming the rest of my creations
to hell for simply being born to the
wrong parents and wrong
country and wrong
century?
Friday, October 1, 2010
Fallacy: Separate but Equal
I have many regrets. One of the biggest is that I bought into the Morg's idea of separate but equal. I am an advocate for women, yet when that church taught that women should be treated differently than men it didn't mean they were not equal to men, but separate. They separate women from men in the temple, in church.
In the temple they make the women bow their heads and promise to obey their husbands. In the temple they make the women pull a veil over their faces to cover their faces before they can say a prayer to god. They teach that women should be separated out in the home by doing women's work of raising the children, cleaning the home and not working with men in the world. http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,FF.html . They begin this separation at the age of 12.They have the teen boys going out on hiking trips, water skiing, camping, basketball, taking trips out of state. They have cooking classes for the girls, they teach them how to be a good babysitter, they have service projects where they clean the nursery toys. I have even heard of one where they took the 16 and 14 year old girls to a bridal shop and had them try on wedding dresses! They teach that only women can fulfill the role of nurturer and they are not suited to working in the world. It goes even further since men are given the priesthood where they are allowed authority over other men and all women. Even a 12 year old boy has more authority in the mormon church than any woman has.
Women in the mormon church are not even allowed to hold their babies when they are blessed. These blessings are not even a saving ordinance. Women are not allowed to hold positions of authority over men, to rise to a position of bishop, etc.
This idea of separate but equal was tried with race. This country had separate places on buses, separate drinking fountains, separate cafes for blacks. This idea was ruled unconstitutional. The Morg fought against the women's rights movement in the 70's. The Morg poured lots of money into this idea in California in Proposition 8 in fighting gay marriage. That idea will also lose. You cannot treat a select class of people as separate and then claim they are equal.
Equal means they have the same access to opportunities, money, authority and rights. If these are being withheld in any form, then this set of people are being discriminated against. This is the definition of discrimination. It is a fallacy that any group of people can be treated as separate yet be equal. The Morg treats women and many other groups as less than equal to white men.
Please consider signing the following:http://whatwomenknow.org/
In the temple they make the women bow their heads and promise to obey their husbands. In the temple they make the women pull a veil over their faces to cover their faces before they can say a prayer to god. They teach that women should be separated out in the home by doing women's work of raising the children, cleaning the home and not working with men in the world. http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,FF.html . They begin this separation at the age of 12.They have the teen boys going out on hiking trips, water skiing, camping, basketball, taking trips out of state. They have cooking classes for the girls, they teach them how to be a good babysitter, they have service projects where they clean the nursery toys. I have even heard of one where they took the 16 and 14 year old girls to a bridal shop and had them try on wedding dresses! They teach that only women can fulfill the role of nurturer and they are not suited to working in the world. It goes even further since men are given the priesthood where they are allowed authority over other men and all women. Even a 12 year old boy has more authority in the mormon church than any woman has.
Women in the mormon church are not even allowed to hold their babies when they are blessed. These blessings are not even a saving ordinance. Women are not allowed to hold positions of authority over men, to rise to a position of bishop, etc.
This idea of separate but equal was tried with race. This country had separate places on buses, separate drinking fountains, separate cafes for blacks. This idea was ruled unconstitutional. The Morg fought against the women's rights movement in the 70's. The Morg poured lots of money into this idea in California in Proposition 8 in fighting gay marriage. That idea will also lose. You cannot treat a select class of people as separate and then claim they are equal.
Equal means they have the same access to opportunities, money, authority and rights. If these are being withheld in any form, then this set of people are being discriminated against. This is the definition of discrimination. It is a fallacy that any group of people can be treated as separate yet be equal. The Morg treats women and many other groups as less than equal to white men.
Please consider signing the following:http://whatwomenknow.org/
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