Posted by:
behindcurtain
(
)
Date: March 25, 2024 04:38AM
At some point, college students have to leave their dormitories, student housing, etc., and look for other places to live. As a young man I chose a place to live. I chose it because I knew a guy who lived there. He was an Exmormon, and I thought it would be nice to live with somebody who shared my views.
However, instead of bonding with me and supporting me, he criticized me because of my beliefs. We would sit around and talk, and he would constantly criticize me. It was not just about religion, either. I had a hobby that I liked, and he criticized that, too.
Two other Exmormons lived there, and they would join in our discussions. They had also left the Church and had joined this guy's brand of "Christianity". They were not as mean as the other guy, but I really didn't bond with them much. There was another guy who was a Nevermo. He belonged to the same brand of "Christianity" that the others belonged to. He also joined in our discussions. He happened to be the manager of the building. He was also very mean. He constantly criticized me, not just about religion but also about my hobby. He was a very judgmental person.
One day somebody left their clothes in the washer, and I got upset because of it. Because of this, the mean Nevermo guy kicked me out! Just like that! He showed no mercy, just like he showed no consideration for anything I talked about before.
I learned some things about this experience. First, just because somebody else doesn't believe in Mormonism does not necessarily mean that they will be nice to live with. That was a very emotionally painful experience, especially since I had lived in Provo a long time with roommates who I could not really talk with about my beliefs.
Second, when you are looking for roommates, unbelief in Mormonism is not the most important criteria. I later lived with a person who was a believing Mormon. He owned the house, and I was more or less satisfied living there. He was not the "ideal Mormon". He was not married, and he did not keep the "law of chastity". Somehow he remained an active Mormon despite his sexual habits.
If they had been nicer, maybe I would have gone to church services with them. Maybe I would have adopted a whole new way of life.
They may not have had much influence on my beliefs, but they may have had a great deal of influence on my social life.
Some religious groups are very tolerant of different viewpoints, and they allow people to speak their minds. My roommates, at least the two super mean ones, were definitely not tolerant people.
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2024 04:48AM by behindcurtain.