The Exmo Priority List.

[_Jersey Girl]

This just in from dictionary.com:

maud·lin      /?m?dl?n/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mawd-lin] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective

1.
tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental: a maudlin story of a little orphan and her lost dog.


2.
foolishly or mawkishly sentimental because of drunkenness.



I dunno, not what I wished to convey.

[_why me]

To get back to the Ray's original post, I can understand why he wrote it. First, he wanted to provoke the board. This is okay of course. Nothing wrong with provoking people to think or make comments.

But what he also wanted to demonstrate is the general idea of just where exmormons are coming from. Now of course Ray does not know all exmormons, only the exmormons that he meets on the internet seem to get recognition in his OP. And he does have a point with his generalizations even though there are exceptions to the rule, of course.

And so, what about his OP? Does anyone recognize 'truth' in it? Is his claim basically sound?

Now I will have to say that I was disappointed to see Ray conned when he was on the postmormon board. They sort of turned him around through sweet talk and philosophical understandings of their position. But of course, the postmormon site is a mixed bag of posters. Some respectful of the LDS church but some that are not. I haven't lurked there in a while but I would be surprised to see balanced posts from the middle of the divide, and more leaning toward the negative.

Needless to say, Ray made some interesting comments in his OP for this thread and maybe they need to be addressed.

[_Mary]

1) Never miss a General Conference. (Too much to gossip and complain about.)

Had a hard enough time sitting through a GC when I was active (too long), let alone as an inactive!!! Though if a GA gives a talk on something I find interesting and it is brought up on the board then I'll read the talk.....

2) Monitor MADB. (How else could MDB function? What would there be to talk about that brings such salivating?)

I don't know about monitor it, but quite a few interesting issues come up over there, and there are some very knowledgable people from both sides of the fence that post there...D Waltz, Rhinomelon, CK Salmon etc... (not too sure about Bill Keller whoever he is....seems a bit extreme!!)

3) Joseph Smith was a conman. Repeat 100 times.

Rather than repeat the mantra, I do believe that there is some compelling evidence of Vogel's pious fraud....if that isn't an oxymoron that is...A more unkind view would be that a fraud is a fraud is a fraud...??? (that was 3 times...how'd I do!!)

4) Mormonism is a fraud. Repeat 200 times.

Again, surely it is productive to examine the evidence either way... this site concentrates on the evidence against, Mad on the evidence pro.... Somewhere along the line that has to be good....balance and all that....

5) Mormonism screwed up my life. Repeat 300 times.

Actually, this ignores the probable reality that for some Mormonism really does screw up their lives, at least aspects of it.....etc.....

6) All divorces in the Church are definitely caused by "TBMs". Universal fact. Do not question this! DO NOT BLAME US!

Maybe some, and certainly inequalities in faith and commitment can cause issues in a marriage...I don't see too many people wholly blaming a tbm? Maybe I'm not looking in the same threads?

7) Mormons are dumb. Repeat 400 times.
8) Mormons are blind. Repeat 450 times.

Except for a couple of more extreme posters, I don't really see this on this site?? Again maybe I'm not looking at the same threads..

9) "I am fascinated by Mormonism". Read: The stinking fraud needs to be exposed.

Well...I AM fascinated by Mormonism, particularly since I spent a lot of my life in it, but Ray that doesn't tally with wanting to expose a stinking fraud...
That one did make me chuckle though!!

10) "I don't have a life, but criticising Mormonism is the closest I can find to a life."
11) "I need a purpose in life, and I found it! Talking about and exposing Mormonism!" "Whooooooopeeeee!" "I exist for a reason"
12) "I need someone to hate, venting is good - where is Juliann!!!!"
13) "I live a balanced life. Half is spent criticising Mormonism. The other half is spent looking like I'm objective."
14) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints needs to be eradicated - nicely. Played to the tune of Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly".
15) We do respect the Church's right to exist! We just don't like the people, its doctrines, its history, the leaders, or anything associated with it.
16) Expose the Book of Abraham! That'll teach 'em. Dey is all LIARS and Scoundrels!
17) Whine and B**** about Glen Beck crying. All crocodile tears. Insincere bastards. Incapable of "real" feeling, and - honesty. Who would cry over S*** like Hinckley???? No loss to the frigging world. You can't possibly love and respect a man you never met!
18) Gossip about exmos is WRONG. Gossip about Mormons is RIGHT!
19) "I love this forum! - it makes me feel GOOD! Because I can see even more clearly what A**H**** Mormons are!"
20) "It's all innocent fun - 'entertainment'". Let's get the rise out of Mormons. They hurt us, they deprived us, they broke up our marriages, they made our lives miserable! They caused everything wrong in our lives. "We are innocent, free spirits, independent, and we know the truth - Mormonism is a fraud!"

Ray..!! you funny!!!

Cheers, Exmos. What are we drinking tonight?

How bout my impending trip to Oz!!!
Take care!
Mary

[_bcspace]

The Exmo Priority List:

So what you're saying is that exmos are still essentially going to Church anyway and that they can't leave? I agree....

[_Ray A]

How bout my impending trip to Oz!!!
Take care!
Mary

Give me a call before you get here. You're one of the nicer exmos!

[_beastie]

Hmm, wonder what could be said about an individual who is obsessed with exmormon bad behavior? Maybe it could go like this:


1) Monitor MDB and RFM. (How else could Ray function? What would there be to talk about that brings such salivating?)
3) Exmormons are a**holes. Repeat 100 times.
4) Exmormons who criticize the church are like Nazis. Repeat 200 times.
5) Exmormons who criticize the church are screwed up. Repeat 300 times.
6) Exmormons have no life. Repeat 400 times.
8) Exmormons are going to encourage a real life holocaust against Mormons. Repeat 450 times.
9) "I am fascinated by exMormonism". Read: The rabid a**holes need to be exposed.
10) "I don't have a life, but criticising exMormonism is the closest I can find to a life."
11) "I need a purpose in life, and I found it! Talking about and exposing exMormonism!" "Whooooooopeeeee!" "I exist for a reason"
12) "I need someone to hate, venting is good - where is Runtu!!!!"
13) "I live a balanced life. Half is spent criticising exMormonism. The other half is spent looking like I'm objective."
14) The critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints need to be eradicated - nicely. Played to the tune of Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly".
15) We do respect the exmormon's right to exist! We just don't like the people or what they do, and think they're inspired of Satan and will create a future holocaust.

[_the road to hana]

I can't live in the black-and-white world of people like Ray or Charity where,

*If a former member watches Conference or a GA funeral, that's somehow suspect instead of commendable.

*If a former member attends church with family members in order to show support at a blessing, baptism, confirmation, ordination to the priesthood, or any other family event, that's somehow suspect instead of commendable.

*If a former member attends the wedding of an LDS family member, even if that means sitting outside in the waiting room of the temple, that's somehow suspect instead of commendable.

*If a former member keeps up with what's going on in Mormonism both in Utah and worldwide in order to be conversant with other family members, that's somehow suspect instead of commendable.

*If a former member keeps a marriage together in spite of the fact that their spouse and children are still LDS, that's somehow suspect instead of commendable.

*If a former member reaches out to other former members for support and fellowship, that's somehow suspect instead of commendable.

*If a former member sticks to the courage of their convictions, that's somehow suspect instead of commendable.

*If a former member is cordial to missionaries, in spite of not agreeing with the purpose of their efforts, that's somehow suspect instead of commendable.

*If they advocate for what they believe is right, and oppose what they believe is wrong, that's suspect, not commendable, and they are an anti-Mormon.

Ray is one of those people who think that all exmormons (himself excluded) go around to Marriott hotels just to put disclaimers in nightstand copies of the Book of Mormon, and keep a poster of Boyd K. Packer on the wall just to use as a dartboard.

Charity is one of those people who think that all exmormons are sad, deluded people who cannot be objective and oppose the church at every turn, while they're not surfing porn and smoking cigarettes.

Both are woefully out of touch with the reality that many exmormons are just good, honest people trying to find their way in the world, many of whom still have close, if not immediate, family members who continue to inhabit the world of Mormonism, and while they might not choose to keep that world as part of their own, the fact it as long as they continue to strive to keep any sort of family relationships, the reality of Mormonism being part of their life will never be avoidable.

Now, where did I put that cigarettez? Must be sitting with my stash of porn.

[_beastie]

I think that Roger Loomis' essay is the best explanation I've ever read regarding exmo continuing interest in Mormonism:

http://zarahemlacitylimits.com/essays/RogerLoomis1.html

The church was established by people who left the false churches they found themselves in favor of what they believed to be the truth. Throughout the church's history, the sacrifices that Mormons have made for what they believed to be the truth should be held in reverence by all.

And that is what Mormonism is all about.

The church itself isn't a culture that was passed on to us that we pass on to others. It is an expression of what we believe is the fundamental nature of truth and reality. We value the truth so much that one of the main missions of the church to proclaim the gospel to anybody who will listen. We make huge sacrifices to convince the world that we have a better way.

In a sentence, Mormons believe more than anything else that the truth matters. It matters so much that we have to be willing to leave economic well being, friends, family, and even our religious heritage to embrace it. It matters so much that we must leave the comfort of keeping our beliefs private and proclaim them to those who see things differently.

We see then that people who leave the church but don't leave it alone aren't fighting against the culture and ideals in which they were raised. Rather, they are embracing it--they are honoring the integrity of the true believers of the church throughout its history by actively living and preaching the truth that they see.

[_the road to hana]

I think that Roger Loomis' essay is the best explanation I've ever read regarding exmo continuing interest in Mormonism:

http://zarahemlacitylimits.com/essays/RogerLoomis1.html

We see then that people who leave the church but don't leave it alone aren't fighting against the culture and ideals in which they were raised. Rather, they are embracing it--they are honoring the integrity of the true believers of the church throughout its history by actively living and preaching the truth that they see.

Yes, I've long maintained that you can't breed generations of people who've left other churches and then expect their offspring to do anything else.

[_Pokatator]

The Exmo Priority List:

1) Never miss a General Conference. (Too much to gossip and complain about.)
2) Monitor MADB. (How else could MDB function? What would there be to talk about that brings such salivating?)
3) Joseph Smith was a conman. Repeat 100 times.
4) Mormonism is a fraud. Repeat 200 times.
5) Mormonism screwed up my life. Repeat 300 times.
6) All divorces in the Church are definitely caused by "TBMs". Universal fact. Do not question this! DO NOT BLAME US!
7) Mormons are dumb. Repeat 400 times.
8) Mormons are blind. Repeat 450 times.
9) "I am fascinated by Mormonism". Read: The stinking fraud needs to be exposed.
10) "I don't have a life, but criticising Mormonism is the closest I can find to a life."
11) "I need a purpose in life, and I found it! Talking about and exposing Mormonism!" "Whooooooopeeeee!" "I exist for a reason"
12) "I need someone to hate, venting is good - where is Juliann!!!!"
13) "I live a balanced life. Half is spent criticising Mormonism. The other half is spent looking like I'm objective."
14) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints needs to be eradicated - nicely. Played to the tune of Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly".
15) We do respect the Church's right to exist! We just don't like the people, its doctrines, its history, the leaders, or anything associated with it.
16) Expose the Book of Abraham! That'll teach 'em. Dey is all LIARS and Scoundrels!
17) Whine and B**** about Glen Beck crying. All crocodile tears. Insincere bastards. Incapable of "real" feeling, and - honesty. Who would cry over S*** like Hinckley???? No loss to the frigging world. You can't possibly love and respect a man you never met!
18) Gossip about exmos is WRONG. Gossip about Mormons is RIGHT!
19) "I love this forum! - it makes me feel GOOD! Because I can see even more clearly what A**H**** Mormons are!"
20) "It's all innocent fun - 'entertainment'". Let's get the rise out of Mormons. They hurt us, they deprived us, they broke up our marriages, they made our lives miserable! They caused everything wrong in our lives. "We are innocent, free spirits, independent, and we know the truth - Mormonism is a fraud!"

Cheers, Exmos. What are we drinking tonight?

I think this post is full of gross exaggerations, I don't need to repeat those lines over and over hundreds of times. Once is enough and I get it. ;)