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I can't decide if this is a positive step, but I find myself not taking Mormonism seriously at all anymore. I don't mean I'm poking fun at it (I did that when I was angry), but that it just seems so trivial and funny in many ways. I hope no one takes that as insulting; I don't mean that people's faith is humorous, but rather I find humor in things I once took deadly seriously. For example, I find some apologetics hysterically funny. The one that comes to mind (well, besides "Uranus testifies of Christ") is an apologist's explanation that Lamoni's making ready the horses and chariots means that small ceremonial animals were placed on wheel-less platforms. Or the idea that drinking Pepsi is somehow threatening to your salvation (much less the demon brew, coffee). The other day I was listening to Henry Eyring talk of how some islanders somewhere had attended their usual church meetings; during the meeting, there was some sort of tsunami, but because they were in the chapel on higher ground, they were saved. I thought that was a novel idea: go to church if you don't want to die in a natural disaster. It struck me as funny, more than anything.

Am I becoming too flippant, or is this a good sign?

I think humor is always a good thing. I don't take anything too seriously anymore. My discovery that life is a huge joke being played on me was a big one. Then I realized if I laugh along it's actually a great ride.

The exception is when the humor is a mask for anger or hatred, then it's a defense mechanism. Only you can tell the difference. I think the difference is the split between absurdity and demeaning.

Runtu wrote: Am I becoming too flippant, or is this a good sign?

It's a GREAT sign! It means you're becoming detached. The fact is, Mormonism (and religion in general) is all a huge joke that's just crying out to be made fun of.

Religion is like farting - it's funny by nature. And if you were the type of person who took it seriously, you'd be setting yourself up for major mockery... just like farting.

Some Schmo wrote:Religion is like farting - it's funny by nature.

This might end up as my new quote line. LOL!

The Nehor wrote:I think humor is always a good thing. I don't take anything too seriously anymore. My discovery that life is a huge joke being played on me was a big one. Then I realized if I laugh along it's actually a great ride.

The exception is when the humor is a mask for anger or hatred, then it's a defense mechanism. Only you can tell the difference. I think the difference is the split between absurdity and demeaning.

Well, that's what I was getting at. A while back I was doing a lot of sometimes mean-spirited parodies on RfM, and I think you're right that it was a mask for anger and hurt (I would never say hatred, though). But lately I just find the church kind of humorous and less serious.

Ha..runtu and I are moving in opposite directions! I used to not take Mormonism seriously at all, and now I am! (of course this means something different than he meant).

Blixa wrote:Ha..runtu and I are moving in opposite directions! I used to not take Mormonism seriously at all, and now I am! (of course this means something different than he meant).

I think I know what you mean. As an area of study, Mormonism demands to be taken seriously. It has a rich history and a radical and complex theology, both of which are worth studying. But as far as taking it seriously as part of my everyday life, it's becoming less important.

Runtu wrote:I find some apologetics hysterically funny. The one that comes to mind (well, besides "Uranus testifies of Christ")

Thanks a lot for bringing that up. I'm going to be giggling uncontrollably for three days straight again. Of all the possible planets that could testify of Christ...

Runtu wrote:I can't decide if this is a positive step, but I find myself not taking Mormonism seriously at all anymore. I don't mean I'm poking fun at it (I did that when I was angry), but that it just seems so trivial and funny in many ways. I hope no one takes that as insulting; I don't mean that people's faith is humorous, but rather I find humor in things I once took deadly seriously. For example, I find some apologetics hysterically funny. The one that comes to mind (well, besides "Uranus testifies of Christ") is an apologist's explanation that Lamoni's making ready the horses and chariots means that small ceremonial animals were placed on wheel-less platforms. Or the idea that drinking Pepsi is somehow threatening to your salvation (much less the demon brew, coffee). The other day I was listening to Henry Eyring talk of how some islanders somewhere had attended their usual church meetings; during the meeting, there was some sort of tsunami, but because they were in the chapel on higher ground, they were saved. I thought that was a novel idea: go to church if you don't want to die in a natural disaster. It struck me as funny, more than anything.

Am I becoming too flippant, or is this a good sign?

Very true Runtu, I think all exmo's go through a simular process. But when you live and play with TBM's and when you explane what you find to be humorous and they give you this big "I don't believe you said that stare" then it gets tough. It's tough when the people that are dear to you don't have any clue why you don't/won't believe the way they beleive. You just have to learn to be 'you' and the hell with what others think. When I get frustrated, I just visualize my TBM friends and family in their bakers caps, veils and aprons doing the pay la ale calisthenics. That always brings a smile to my face. Sometimes they will ask what I am grinning about and I will usually just answer, private joke....