Greg Prince is doing a study on why people leave the Church

[Guest]

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[_Bazooka]

With Bazooka's joking aside ... I find if you put the positive energies out into the universe (by helping someone usually) It causes a flow of them to come back to you , much like completing an electrical circuit. I have noticed this on many many occasions , even after I stopped living according to Mormon doctrine.

The latest for me was I loaned my truck to my girlfriends son , because he has been having some hard times , and needed it to start a new job in the remodeling business.

I didn't have much work at the time (I do remodeling) Then right after I loaned it , I got a big job for some pretty decent money , and even though it would have been more convenient for me to use my truck , it was still possible to do it without. Maybe it was just coincidence , but I seem to have them all the time.

I was joking?

Yours is coincidence, subgenius's is the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.
They both seem to amount to the same thing and occur with equal frequency and randomness.
Very hard to tell the two apart.

[Guest]

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[_subgenius]

With Bazooka's joking aside ... I find if you put the positive energies out into the universe (by helping someone usually) It causes a flow of them to come back to you , much like completing an electrical circuit. I have noticed this on many many occasions , even after I stopped living according to Mormon doctrine.

this is a common phenomenon usually related to self amplifying feed back loops....optimism is a great example of this.....psychological you are normal....be relieved.
Fortunately you had Mormon doctrine as a foundation, though you have abandoned meeting you are still bound to its teachings since we know (via science) that your brain physically changed due to that experience....alas, you are forever Mormon - this is exemplified by your anecdote above...while it is true it is entirely dependent on a belief in agency.

The latest for me was I loaned my truck to my girlfriends son , because he has been having some hard times , and needed it to start a new job in the remodeling business.

I didn't have much work at the time (I do remodeling) Then right after I loaned it , I got a big job for some pretty decent money , and even though it would have been more convenient for me to use my truck , it was still possible to do it without. Maybe it was just coincidence , but I seem to have them all the time.

things with the same vibration naturally resonate and reinforce one another -- just as two violin strings at the same pitch resonate with one another....now extrapolate that to your life...think of the phrase "on the same wavelength"......Jung's collective unconsciousness....this means "no coincidence", but rather synchronicity...this is the beauty of agency...this is the point that you must recognize....the source of the agency is the theological debate...but its divinity is the simplest, most reasonable, and most accurate explanation.
Anyway, consider the simple synchronicity example of Coffea Cruda as homeopathic cure....not a coincidence at all.

I would highly recommend that you both study and seriously contemplate, extensively, John 9:25
particularly the phrase "..though I was blind, now I see"
http://biblehub.com/john/9-25.htm

[_subgenius]

I was joking?

Yours is coincidence, subgenius's is the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.
They both seem to amount to the same thing and occur with equal frequency and randomness.
Very hard to tell the two apart.

it seems that you do not understand what a coincidence is? a coincidence is not a thing at all...it is merely that which seems....it is merely a bookmark on a blank page....a mind without an answer.

To claim "random" is altogether different than claiming "coincidence"...and neither can be justified nor proven by you...so be careful when and where you claim them. They impede awe, understanding, and progress. Do not rely on those crutches my friend...walk on your own.

[_son of Ishmael]

Kinda like the Dehlin study without the crappy methods.

I don't see why there needs to be a study, everybody knows there are only three reasons why people leave the church:

1. Sin (either because they have or they want to)

2. Some one has offended them (which they use as a reason to justify wanting to do number 1)

3. They are lazy and can't live the church standards (mainly because they want to do number 1)


There. The study is complete. I ask that Mr. Prince kindly send me any of the money he was going to use on his study since now he doesn’t need it

[_subgenius]

will Greg Prince's study recognize that after 3rd hour more people leave the church than do at any other time and for any other reason?

Bump, because thread is dead

[_nc47]

Kinda like the Dehlin study without the crappy methods.

I don't see why there needs to be a study, everybody knows there are only three reasons why people leave the church:

1. Sin (either because they have or they want to)

2. Some one has offended them (which they use as a reason to justify wanting to do number 1)

3. They are lazy and can't live the church standards (mainly because they want to do number 1)


There. The study is complete. I ask that Mr. Prince kindly send me any of the money he was going to use on his study since now he doesn’t need it

Are you having a bad day? Do you want a cookie? I'll sing you a song to cheer you up.

[_son of Ishmael]

Are you having a bad day? Do you want a cookie? I'll sing you a song to cheer you up.

I am not sure what you are trying to imply though a cookie would be nice...

[_Bazooka]

John Dehlin did a study...

Greg Prince is doing a study...

Why, in heavens name, isn't the Church itself officially studying why members leave/stop attending?

Some tithing salaried employee in PR central could send out a questionnaire to a given percentile of registered members.
Or, better still, Bishops could be sent a template to send out to all non regularly attending people on their ward list.

1. Do you consider yourself a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? Yes/No
*If no, please return this form to Greg Dodge <insert membership records address> and we will remove you from our members records.
*If yes, proceed to question 2
2. Why do you no longer attend/attend regularly?
*Please use extra sheets if necessary

Note: Each respondent could be given the option of filling it in online to save on cost etc.

There, a simple process for cleaning up the ward lists and getting feedback direct from the wandering sheep.

Can anyone think of a specific reason why the Church wouldn't want to do this?