Blank Stare
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:56 am
???
Sometimes in speaking with the more zealous LDS that I know, I come across what seems to be a mental "blank stare", a point at which they shut off upstairs for some reason, because the discussion we're having is apparently something way too taboo for them.
Why it is ok to talk openly about your faith (meaning the LDS faith) when people don't understand it (and yet you get to elaborate and expand), and yet when someone else does this, one needs to shut down is beyond me.
I wrote a thread in the off topic forum about the His Dark Materials trilogy. Good reading, Pullman left some plot questions unanswered for me, but I bought the book after some discussion about it came up at a party where I was the only non-LDS. Of course amongst them it was "off limits" because "someone said" it was anti-Christian.
I'm sorry, but this book was a pretty weak-assed version of anti-Christian. I don't see this book breaking the faith of anyone who reads it, I recommend they read it, it's good fantasy. But once again, I think it would take someone with some serious unanswered theological questions to be swayed by the few lines of anti-religion that this book represents.
But back to my friends...
I'm stubborn, I bought the book because "someone" told me not to. My LDS friends asked me about it, and I told them my views, especially why I bought it. I refuse to let another human being sway my thinking without them having good evidence to back their claim that I need to change my thinking.
Blank stare. You see, that's essentially saying I'd not listen to a prophet. Um, no I wouldn't. And even when I was LDS, I had a problem with letting a man born of a woman rule me spiritually. You only get to be my mentor if I give you that privilege. You don't get to take the office for yourself.
Well, just got off the phone with a friend, and she asked if I had finished the book yet. I told her yes, told her my opinion, and told her that I thought the anti-religion emphasis to be weak, and not only that, that I felt it would not convince any child not to believe in God. I also said that if my future children were anything like me, they'd come asking questions. I'm sure most children would.
I continued by saying that I believed pretty much that it was up to the individual to decide what they believe, that I've never seen any lasting conversional success in the realm of arguing over religion. I say do what you do.
Blank stare.
Um, WTF? Why it is that it's ok to go on and on about one's testimony, but you turn off and tune out when someone ultimately tells you that so long as you're happy and if you are religious, spiritually enlightened, that they don't care what you do.
Is there no way to get through to these people? I often come close to calling them out and saying that I believe they only keep me around because they think I'll reconvert someday. Luckily I can have an intelligent conversation with MOST of my LDS friends...
Sometimes in speaking with the more zealous LDS that I know, I come across what seems to be a mental "blank stare", a point at which they shut off upstairs for some reason, because the discussion we're having is apparently something way too taboo for them.
Why it is ok to talk openly about your faith (meaning the LDS faith) when people don't understand it (and yet you get to elaborate and expand), and yet when someone else does this, one needs to shut down is beyond me.
I wrote a thread in the off topic forum about the His Dark Materials trilogy. Good reading, Pullman left some plot questions unanswered for me, but I bought the book after some discussion about it came up at a party where I was the only non-LDS. Of course amongst them it was "off limits" because "someone said" it was anti-Christian.
I'm sorry, but this book was a pretty weak-assed version of anti-Christian. I don't see this book breaking the faith of anyone who reads it, I recommend they read it, it's good fantasy. But once again, I think it would take someone with some serious unanswered theological questions to be swayed by the few lines of anti-religion that this book represents.
But back to my friends...
I'm stubborn, I bought the book because "someone" told me not to. My LDS friends asked me about it, and I told them my views, especially why I bought it. I refuse to let another human being sway my thinking without them having good evidence to back their claim that I need to change my thinking.
Blank stare. You see, that's essentially saying I'd not listen to a prophet. Um, no I wouldn't. And even when I was LDS, I had a problem with letting a man born of a woman rule me spiritually. You only get to be my mentor if I give you that privilege. You don't get to take the office for yourself.
Well, just got off the phone with a friend, and she asked if I had finished the book yet. I told her yes, told her my opinion, and told her that I thought the anti-religion emphasis to be weak, and not only that, that I felt it would not convince any child not to believe in God. I also said that if my future children were anything like me, they'd come asking questions. I'm sure most children would.
I continued by saying that I believed pretty much that it was up to the individual to decide what they believe, that I've never seen any lasting conversional success in the realm of arguing over religion. I say do what you do.
Blank stare.
Um, WTF? Why it is that it's ok to go on and on about one's testimony, but you turn off and tune out when someone ultimately tells you that so long as you're happy and if you are religious, spiritually enlightened, that they don't care what you do.
Is there no way to get through to these people? I often come close to calling them out and saying that I believe they only keep me around because they think I'll reconvert someday. Luckily I can have an intelligent conversation with MOST of my LDS friends...