Do exmos feel guilty about their apostasy?

[cacheman]

In countless discussions I've had, there seems to be an assumption (sometimes spoken, others not) that deep down, we who have left the church know that we're wrong and thus we either are vicious in our denunciation of the church or look for excuses to rationalize our lack of belief.

I was thinking about this because I am supposed to participate in a family ordinance in a few months. I'm already being given a lot of guilt trips because I am not going to do it. But I don't feel guilty at all about not participating in the ordinance. If I believed there were some truth behind Mormonism, I would. But I don't, so I don't.

Has anyone else been told that you really do know you're wrong?

[_gramps]

My dad, every week, for the last 20+ years. Isn't life marvelous?

[_Dr. Shades]

Has anyone else been told that you really do know you're wrong?

Yes. I was told that by a guy who, in between sentences, was sipping a mug full of coffee.

[_The Dude]

In countless discussions I've had, there seems to be an assumption (sometimes spoken, others not) that deep down, we who have left the church know that we're wrong and thus we either are vicious in our denunciation of the church or look for excuses to rationalize our lack of belief.

I was thinking about this because I am supposed to participate in a family ordinance in a few months. I'm already being given a lot of guilt trips because I am not going to do it. But I don't feel guilty at all about not participating in the ordinance. If I believed there were some truth behind Mormonism, I would. But I don't, so I don't.

Yeah, you shouldn't feel guilty. Do people know you don't believe and they still give you guilt trips? That makes no sense. They must be having a hard time accepting your non-belief.

[_Runtu]

In countless discussions I've had, there seems to be an assumption (sometimes spoken, others not) that deep down, we who have left the church know that we're wrong and thus we either are vicious in our denunciation of the church or look for excuses to rationalize our lack of belief.

I was thinking about this because I am supposed to participate in a family ordinance in a few months. I'm already being given a lot of guilt trips because I am not going to do it. But I don't feel guilty at all about not participating in the ordinance. If I believed there were some truth behind Mormonism, I would. But I don't, so I don't.

Yeah, you shouldn't feel guilty. Do people know you don't believe and they still give you guilt trips? That makes no sense. They must be having a hard time accepting your non-belief.

Yes, they do know. I don't understand it myself.

[_truth dancer]

Hi Runtu..

Yes, I heard this idea periodically on FAIR! It makes no sense to me. If someone knew the church was true why would they pretend to not believe? Or why would they even want to not participate? I don't get this line of reasoning at all.

I also do not understand the idea that one should feel guilty for disbelief.

Should one feel guilty if they leave Scientology? Or the Ralians? Or the JWs?

Ya know?

It makes no sense! :-)

~dancer~

[_Runtu]

Hi Runtu..

Yes, I heard this idea periodically on FAIR! It makes no sense to me. If someone knew the church was true why would they pretend to not believe? Or why would they even want to not participate? I don't get this line of reasoning at all.

I also do not understand the idea that one should feel guilty for disbelief.

Should one feel guilty if they leave Scientology? Or the Ralians? Or the JWs?

Ya know?

It makes no sense! :-)

~dancer~

I think it probably stems from the inability of a lot of Mormons to even consider that the church might not be true. Of course it is, so something else must be going on in the lives of these exmos.

[_MormonMendacity]

I get the deep-down-insided-you-still-know-it's-true by family members and longtime LDS friends or you-never-really-were-a-Scotsman by new acquaintances who find out my history.

[_Southern Redneck]

I don't feel guilt over my knowing the truth.. I do feel guilty that it has caused some pain for my wife.

[_Gazelam]

"I had only traveled a short time to testify to the people," said Brigham Young, "before I learned this one fact, that you might prove doctrine from the Bible till doomsday, and it would merely convince a people but would not convert them. You might read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and prove every iota that you advance, and that alone would have no converting influence upon the people. Nothing short of a testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost would bring light and knowledge to them - bring them in their hearts to repentence. Nothing short of that would ever do."

I think this is something that is difficult for some that have been raised in the church as opposed to converted. When you are brought up around the Holy Ghost, it can be harder to recognize him. I went through this with my brother, i had to teach him to recognize the spirit, when i did he said "Oh, that's what that was"

Then a member insulted him, and he hasnt been back since. Was that Murphys Law guy a Mormon?

Gaz