I am hereby issuing a sort of "Call for Papers." On my blog, I have initiated a list devoted to documenting all the individuals whose exit from the LDS Church was in any way, shape, or form affected by Mopologetics. Whether it was stumbling across an embarrassing piece of history on the FAIR/MADboard, or having an unpleasant interactive with DCP or juliann, I would like to hear about it and document it.
So: Did Mopologetics in any way (however minor) influence your exit from the Church? Or do you know anybody for whom such was the case?
The Lost Souls List
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_Bond...James Bond
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_Mister Scratch
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_Runtu
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It did for me in two ways:
1. I realized when I was about 35 that the answers the apologists were giving were really weak or misleading or both. I reacted by taking a less-literal approach to LDS scripture and belief.
2. About 5 years later, it finally occurred to me that I was defending some pretty awful stuff, and I went back to the apologetics website to see if there were any good ways to defend. Nope.
So, it was the combination of a lack of answers and bad answers that helped me understand what the church really is.
1. I realized when I was about 35 that the answers the apologists were giving were really weak or misleading or both. I reacted by taking a less-literal approach to LDS scripture and belief.
2. About 5 years later, it finally occurred to me that I was defending some pretty awful stuff, and I went back to the apologetics website to see if there were any good ways to defend. Nope.
So, it was the combination of a lack of answers and bad answers that helped me understand what the church really is.
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_Sethbag
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I've posted my bit before about this. It's very similar to Runtu's story, and actually I was probably 36 when it really came to a head with me. We must be twins separated at birth or something.
It was Book of Abraham apologetics that most clearly demonstrated to me that the church really was defending the indefensible, combined with excuses for Joseph Smith's polyandry and the spiritual manipulation and coercion he used to get young women to "marry" him and sleep with him.
It was Book of Abraham apologetics that most clearly demonstrated to me that the church really was defending the indefensible, combined with excuses for Joseph Smith's polyandry and the spiritual manipulation and coercion he used to get young women to "marry" him and sleep with him.
Mormonism ceased being a compelling topic for me when I finally came to terms with its transformation from a personality cult into a combination of a real estate company, a SuperPac, and Westboro Baptist Church. - Kishkumen
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_ajax18
- _Emeritus
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2. About 5 years later, it finally occurred to me that I was defending some pretty awful stuff, and I went back to the apologetics website to see if there were any good ways to defend. Nope.
Do you think the present day Church is pretty awful?
And when the confederates saw Jackson standing fearless as a stone wall the army of Northern Virginia took courage and drove the federal army off their land.
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_Seven
- _Emeritus
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FAIR validated that the disturbing history was true
Had I not gone to FAIR, I would have assumed that the unsanitized history I was learning was "anti Mormon lies." FAIR was able to verify that not only was it true, but then defended it as moral and Godly. Had I not been referred to FAIR, the Chapel Mormons could have convinced me that I had read false history written by "angry sinning apostates who wanted to leave the church." I had bought that lie many times before in my life if I heard something troubling in Mormon history.
Also,the TBMs on the MAD discussion board left me feeling completely alienated from the people I thought believed in the same principles/morals I did. Some are down right cold hearted there. In defending the church they resort to dishonesty when they say "how could you not know this-I always knew..." "You must be lazy, sinning, not committed to God etc., if you have trouble with church history" "What's the big deal with polygamy?"
If they really believe the bigoted comments they make on a daily basis to struggling members or former ones, they will never be a force for good in defending the church. in my opinion, the apologists exist to not help anybody but themselves. If they really cared about the struggling members/lost sheep, you would see compassion and caring along with their view of history. The minute someone comes there with concerns or troubling issues, it's ATTACK time for them.
Only the TBM members that can admit that the history is troubling and be honest about the church's role in white washing it will ever gain credibility with the truth seeker/"newbie" who has just had his world come crashing down. Attacking the characters of people that are faithful LDS only drives them into places like RFM, where others will understand what they are going through.
Anti Mormons out there would never want to see the end of FAIR/FARMS/MAD. They are a great tool in stopping the ignorance among Chapel Mormons.
Also,the TBMs on the MAD discussion board left me feeling completely alienated from the people I thought believed in the same principles/morals I did. Some are down right cold hearted there. In defending the church they resort to dishonesty when they say "how could you not know this-I always knew..." "You must be lazy, sinning, not committed to God etc., if you have trouble with church history" "What's the big deal with polygamy?"
If they really believe the bigoted comments they make on a daily basis to struggling members or former ones, they will never be a force for good in defending the church. in my opinion, the apologists exist to not help anybody but themselves. If they really cared about the struggling members/lost sheep, you would see compassion and caring along with their view of history. The minute someone comes there with concerns or troubling issues, it's ATTACK time for them.
Only the TBM members that can admit that the history is troubling and be honest about the church's role in white washing it will ever gain credibility with the truth seeker/"newbie" who has just had his world come crashing down. Attacking the characters of people that are faithful LDS only drives them into places like RFM, where others will understand what they are going through.
Anti Mormons out there would never want to see the end of FAIR/FARMS/MAD. They are a great tool in stopping the ignorance among Chapel Mormons.
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_ajax18
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Blixa wrote:Yes.
What exactly upsets you about the modern church? It's so watered down there seems to me nothing to it, good or bad. To me it was just boring and not worth the sacrifice if it wasn't what it claimed to be. I wouldn't call it awful though.
And when the confederates saw Jackson standing fearless as a stone wall the army of Northern Virginia took courage and drove the federal army off their land.
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_Mister Scratch
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