Posted by:
SusieQ#1
(
)
Date: September 19, 2014 05:09PM
As a convert, involved in other religious views, my experience as a 50 year marriage to an RM with several children two RM's and married in the temple (now almost all outside the religion for years), Mormonism has resulted in an analysis that includes it's teachings, and how it functions.
It is my perspective, experience, and analysis that Mormonism functions best as a patriarchate, generational, cultural, religious tribe. I tend toward using anthropology in my analysis.
I go into more detail here.
Why I prefer the word tribe regarding Mormonism (updated) Long
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1375098,1375098#msg-137509There are three reasons why leaving Mormonism was very likely easier for me than many others:
1. My background before I converted
2. My analysis as how it functioned as a tribe.
3. Strong self confidence, self respect, self esteem and belief I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time.
These two elements helped me understand that I was not stupid. I did what the majority of humanity has done through out history. Generally, they naturally are emotionally attached to the cultural religious(spiritual) views of their environment, depending on the area they are born. It is well documented that societies of humans developed their own unique religious views (strong emphasis on mythology), great acceptance of visions, the metaphysical, the supernatural as core elements of the world views.
I also had a strong sense of self confidence, self respect and self esteem. None of that was destroyed in any part of my life.
I have lived a long life. One of the most important things I have learned is that I have found I can avoid a lot of suffering by recognizing that regrets, calling myself negative names, etc. are self-sabotage and not necessary. Then I focus on an attitude of gratitude and understand that all of my life has contributed to who I am today. All of it! The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.
I am convinced also that all deities/saviors/ exist where they have always existed as the result of the creative imagination of humans trying to figure out how what life is all about.
I also know there are different types of truth: objective truth, scientific truth (the result of confirmation of a theory), subjective truth, personal truth, spiritual truth,
etc., etc.
I am not stupid, not an idiot, not some kind of victim of nefarious teachings that harmed me in some kind of purposeful religious diabolical, evil plot. I believed in the world view as presented by religions. That is what most of humanity has done for eons. I have no shame or guilt about any of it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2014 05:13PM by SusieQ#1.