Drifting wrote:I'm not asking about your belief. I'm asking what positive difference that your turning to faith has made to the people around you, if any?
Let me instead point out things I would not say to people. Things in which others on this board think is perfectly acceptable. Things which in my eyes would cause a problem with anyone who seeks truth.
"Especially as the commandment of polygamy was specifically given to facilitate the knocking up of the wives to 'spread seed'. I guess it's yet another commandment Joseph broke..."No matter what one feels about the truth of any religion there should be some level of respect for those who are considered Holy by others. I can see that this person has no such respect at all.
"Except when God tells you things that aren't consistent with what the Church teaches. Then He's lying."Here we see how easy it is to call God names. I am not so sure that this is helpful to people who seek some kind of spiritual path.
"Your questions are making my head hurt and grey stuff is seeping out of my nose....Oh wait...it's all a myth. Pain gone, carry on."Calling someones faith a myth is the worst kind of judgment. I am sure I don't do this anymore.
"Frank, I've amended the scripture so it now literally says what you want it to say."Changing scripture to make a point is disrespectful to scripture and the person of faith. I try and stick to the issues.
"I wasn't aware that Jesus wrote anything down himself. So as such, the New Testament is just a second hand account based on what people claim Jesus cited."To ignore a core belief of inspired writing is begging for an argument but brings nothing to any discussion.
"In the light of today's society the language of the Book of Mormon etc and the Priesthood Ban and the comments of some senior Church leaders, including Prophets, can be classed as racist - even if society didn't see it that way back then."Even in my worldly days I was not racist. These views again beg for conflict and don't bring anyone to a better understanding.
"I have faith in science.
I demonstrate this faith every time I follow a medical practitioners advice.
My faith is reinforced by the rewards I receive as a result of my obedience to the advice.
In fact faith in science produces a demonstrably higher success rate of reward than faith in religion. One can see, for the most part, scientific theories becoming more and more accurate and more consistent with other evidences over time. On the other hand - one can see, for the most part, religious theories becoming less and less accurate and less consistent with other evidences over time.
When it comes down to a choice science wins everytime."Here we see a statement of faith. I have no problem with anyone making a statement of faith. It allows all who read to see inside of the person to see who they really are.
I think I can safely say that I have not spread around this king of mindless junk even when I walked in the world. I still had respect for people and their ideas. So maybe I have not had that great an effect on people after I started my walk in faith. People tell me that I am a different person. I have assumed that to be a good thing.
