Posted by:
BYU Boner
(
)
Date: December 28, 2017 01:21PM
Quite a few of my friends have posted on this, I thought I’d chime in. I was a convert to Mormonism. (My Dad told me I should never say convert, because I didn’t convert from any church, I was a nothing). I live in one of the most heavily concentrated areas of Latter-day Saints in Utah. In my LDS ward, there are only about 3 or 4 non-LDS families. When a neighbor leaves the church, divorce generally results.
However, My workplace is very different than my neighborhood. I know dozens (you read correctly) of EXMOs. Most were burned out of Mormonism and figured all religion is bullshit.
After many years of agnosticism, I decided that I did believe in a higher power. I also recognized that because of my family traditions, Christianity was the system of belief I was most comfortable in. And, if I were born in Saudi Arabia, my faith understanding and culture would be Islam.
After many years, I decided to give mainstream Christianity a try. I also decided to read the Bible in a modern translation. Growing up in a non-religious family, I didn’t rejoin or return to a previous faith, I discovered that mainline Protestant Christianity is very different in doctrine and application than Mormonism. And, the teachings of Jesus (many here will say he didn’t exist) contradicted much of which I had been taught was important in Mormonism. For example, Jesus’s greatest condemnations were reserved for religious leaders who were hypocrites.
As I mentioned, at work most EXMOs are either agnostic or atheist, but church is a different story. Both Utah Catholic and Protestant communities benefit from LDS conversions. This was a real shocker. Go into most Catholic or Protestant Churches in Utah and ask, do any of you have an LDS background? You’ll be surprised at how many do.
So, in direct reply to the OP, many RfM posters are atheist. Some of us are members of other faith communities. But, this is a healing and recovery site where many people have been hurt, brutalized, or shamed by a religion. RfM helps me, as a Christian, to come to grips with years of deception and hurt by a religious cult. It also helps me vent because my wife and children are all TBMs. And, I really like my friends here. In Mormonism, Utah Mormons in particular, friendship is based on religion. To be frank, that’s pretty fucked up. I like people. I like atheist people, I even like some LDS people. What I don’t like is dishonesty.
I hope you’ll keep posting. Hugs, The Boner
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2017 01:25PM by BYU Boner.