- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
I’ve been contemplating the term “faith crisis” and how it’s often used in our society generally and here at StayLDS in particular. I suppose the word “crisis” is appropriate where one feels anger, mistrust or confusion after feeling that one has been lied to, manipulated or misled. I think those feelings are natural and rational. For me, however, that has not been my experience with my “faith crisis;” rather, it’s been a major epiphany. My seeking, pondering, studying, etc. has simply led me to the conclusion that the LDS Church does not have a corner on the market. My experiences, heart and mind all combine to persuade me that the LDS Church has a hell of a lot to offer, and I’m very grateful for my membership, but that God spreads his wisdom and spirit upon all people who seek him. I had a rather profound experience over the Christmas break – my family and I went on holiday to Japan, and while there we spent a day in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan during the early feudal period. While there we visited Todaiji Temple, which houses the Nara Daibutsu – an enormous bronze-cast statue of a seated Buddha. Mixing with tourists and worshippers, I felt a serene, calm peace in the temple that was unmistakably the same spirit I’ve felt in the celestial room of the Nauvoo temple. Later that day we went to a prayer service for a Shinto sect called Tenrikyo, which is the faith my DW was raised in. Again, I felt a calm serentiy and was impressed by the daily devotion of the Tenrikyo adherents. These experiences simply re-confirmed for me what I have felt to be true for several years now: God grants his spirit to any of his children who seek him, whether Mormon, Buddhist, Tenrikyo or other.
Rather than feel angry or upset at those who taught me earlier in life that the LDS Church is “the only true and living Church” and all others are second rate, I feel like I’ve been liberated. Like I said, I love the Church and I’m grateful for my membership. I reckon I’ll stay LDS my whole life. However, the impression my epiphany has left me with is that I’m not beholden to any particular leader, sect or creed to feel God’s inspiration, nor for the moral compass by which I should live my life.
I realize that others have had different experiences in their “faith crises,” and that the outcomes haven’t always been positive – this is simply my experience. So to get back to the subject line, I don’t think I experienced a faith crisis. I think I had an epiphany.
Thanks for sharing. I’m also moving towards a different understanding of the phrase “only true and living church” on the face of the earth. There are plenty of scriptural examples of ‘whole earth’ that I already take figuratively.
There are a couple of examples of “whole earth” that I find interesting in the scriptures. Babel and the Flood talk about the “whole earth” which a lot of people take as “the entire planet.”
But 3 Nephi also uses the phrase:
Quote:Quote
3 Nep 8:6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
12 But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the
exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth; (Also Matthew 27:51)
I think in Nephi they’re not saying “whole of planet earth” shook (and I don’t know that anyone believes or teaches that the whole planet had an earthquake?). In effect, Nephi gives the account that the whole of the earth/land that they were aware of shook. Everything relative to them shook.
I currently take a similar approach to the church. I consider to be the only true and living approach for me, in my environment, in my frame of reference, in my “whole earth.”
But I don’t presume to apply that to the whole of planet earth.
There is no apparent consistent attempt by God to share Christianity with the billions of Hindus, Buddhists and Confucianists of Asia. He seems very happy to give them those organisations as ideal structures and concepts for helping them get the best they can from their turn on earth. That doesn’t take away from the fact that Mormonism is the true and living approach for me.
I am comfortable with all religions presenting themselves as the ‘best option.’ As a marketing man, I would always recommend my clients do the same. It’s pointless to suggest that they run an ad saying “we’re the second best toilet cleaner… so use us in the knowledge there’s a better solution available.”
Kumahito wrote:I’ve been contemplating the term “faith crisis” and how it’s often used in our society generally and here at StayLDS in particular. I suppose the word “crisis” is appropriate where one feels anger, mistrust or confusion after feeling that one has been lied to, manipulated or misled. I think those feelings are natural and rational. For me, however, that has not been my experience with my “faith crisis;” rather, it’s been a major epiphany.
Hey Kumahito,
I think that the term faith crisis comes from the perspective of TBM. If staying in lock-step with the general body of membership plays an essential part in my salvation then a “faith crisis” would be a true crisis in every sense of the word. I remember having a talk with my HT and EQP (same person) in the initial stages of my “crisis” and he insisted on framing my position as “struggling with my testimony” even after I told him that I don’t see it that way.
Perhaps stages of faith might have be a less loaded description, but when we are talking to TBM’s it is sometimes helpful to use the words that they know to communicate our ideas more fully. They probably know what a “faith crisis” is, do not know what “stages of faith” refers to, and might be offended at the use of “faith epiphany.”
Having said that…
A story was shared in priesthood meeting with the moral that when righteous people are given challenges it is for the purpose of growing them into a more developed and eventually exalted state. This is a common but not especially ubiquitous Mormon understanding of adversity – that individual trials are hand tailored for an individual’s salvation (the most well known presentation of this concept was the parable of the current bush).
It made me think. Had I not ran head first into my personal tradgedy – I would probably have remained much more TBM. If that was important for my salvation and God knowing how this would all turn out but still giving me the tragedy anyways – then it could be said that He tried me more than I personally could handle.
On the other hand, if being TBM is less critical – Then perhaps God is using my experiences to grow me into my own best self – one that defies labels such as TBM or heretic, but that fulfills in a unique way the measure of my creation… a faith epiphany.
I like to think of my “crisis” as a transition which is also a common term. But yes, for me it was a crisis at first and unfortunately I reacted as such and still deal with the fallout for sharing said crisis with my DW. Now, after a year an a half I do view it more as an epiphany. I truly believe that the “middle way” is a “higher way.” By saying such I know it sounds prideful, arrogant and maybe even condescending of TBMs but I don’t know another way to phrase it. I feel as though my eyes have been opened. Whereas before I was content and happy, maybe even a bit complacent, now I see myself and my journey in a more objective, removed way. I no longer feel all is well because I do what church leaders/GAs teach (trust in the arms of flesh much?) but rather search for truth wherever I can. I feel as though I have grown up spiritually and am finally learning to stand on my own 2 feet. I feel more spiritual and closer to God even though I’m more unsure about most things. Whereas before I would avoid searching for truth because I had all the revealed truth necessary in the Church, my epiphany had allowed me to see truth in other places, sometime even at conflict with what the Church teaches. Thus when my TBM wife sees me reading this forum or some blog she worries for me. She believes it will lead me further from the Church. In one way she is right. As my search for truth exposes me to new ideas I spiritually grow further away from the typical TBM thought and faith. However, I don’t believe our goal should be to remain typical TBM or somehow more closely align our beliefs with such. Milk before meat. The Church serves up milk so that even those early on in their journey can find enlightenment. The Gospel presents meat when we’re ready. But it means leaving the confines of the Church and joining the church of Christ. Not necessarily physically leaving, but spiritually. I believe and feel that I am moving closer to God and have hope in a brighter future. A “crisis” is often the gateway to growth and adaptation — enlightenment. The “crisis” of birth brings a new soul into the world. The “crisis” of a faith transition is also the pains of a new birth of faith and wisdom. We don’t like to change. It’s uncomfortable. It’s painful. But even within the traditional teachings of the LDS Church, we have the story of our God that challenges us, tests us, and pushes us to change and grow. He placed us into this world where we would fail and suffer our own consequences. And He provided a Savior to raise us from the “grave.” You can work that story in many many different ways. We rise out of many kinds of graves during our journey. We often find ourselves buried in a tomb, in the darkness, only to later find the stone rolled away and we are freed. eman wrote:Whereas before I was content and happy, maybe even a bit complacent, now I see myself and my journey in a more objective, removed way. I no longer feel all is well because I do what church leaders/GAs teach (trust in the arms of flesh much?) but rather search for truth wherever I can. I feel as though I have grown up spiritually and am finally learning to stand on my own 2 feet. I feel more spiritual and closer to God even though I’m more unsure about most things. Whereas before I would avoid searching for truth because I had all the revealed truth necessary in the Church, my epiphany had allowed me to see truth in other places, sometime even at conflict with what the Church teaches.
+1 on this, eman. I think that my position now makes me much more accountable than I was in my TBM stage. I now know that it takes much more than just paying tithing, church attendance and avoiding beer to become Christ-like, i.e. to be the kind of person God wants me to be and become.
And Brian … welcome back!
Brian, that is a beautiful thought. I have missed your insight the last few months. I hope things have been well for you. I also feel like my “faith crisis” has transformed in many ways. Like so many things in life that first like the end of the world when they first happened, after time and deep personal reflection, we can see the growth that come and even be grateful for the crisis. I have found some amazing new friends here and “I can see that that these things must be so.” At lease for me. Getting kicked out of the garden of Eden was never really a bad thing.
No time, so I just want to express my envy at your trip to Japan. I would LOVE to go back some day. 🙂 Crisis is the right word for my experience. I can still remember the day in the 90’s that I cashed in my faith chips, realized that I had no belief to call upon to help me, and no way of knowing where it would take me. I think epiphany is a fine word too… it’s an epiphany that leads to a crisis that leads to a transition. It sounds like you say ‘crisis’ with a frown on your face and ‘epiphany’ with a smile. But they are neutral words.
‘Epiphany’ is just a realization of something, regardless of what it is. It could be something bad… like every time you go to your girlfriend’s house, your best friend just happens to be leaving, and you go on believing that it’s just a coincidence, until one day you are thinking about it and you have an epiphany that… well… you figure it out.
‘Crisis’ is just being unexpectedly thrown into an impending big change in your life, and not knowing what to do about it or how it will affect you. A crisis could be brought on by winning the lottery and not knowing whether to keep your job.
Quote:I truly believe that the “middle way” is a “higher way.”
Just a thought… I think it’s a good idea not to position our own beliefs as better, higher, more intellectually honest, more evolved, closer to God, or morally superior to anyone else’s beliefs. I think we are better off when we accept the faith of others as belonging to them, not as comparative to our own.I know a guy that is an LDS stake president. I don’t know of any other person that is his equal in terms of trying to do the right thing, personal sacrifice for a greater good (both communal and heavenly), deep reverence for the things of God, complete happiness and tranquility with his own faith and church. Good for him. I would love to have what he has spiritually. He is comfortable with his way, I am comfortable with mine. One way is better for him, the other better for me. Neither is the higher way.
When we talk facts, there can be things that are more factual than others. When we talk about faith, that is such a personal thing, that there is no good that can come from thinking that one person’s faith is superior to another person’s faith.
On Own Now wrote:I think it’s a good idea not to position our own beliefs as better, higher, more intellectually honest, more evolved, closer to God, or morally superior to anyone else’s beliefs. I think we are better off when we accept the faith of others as belonging to them, not as comparative to our own.
I agree that it is a good idea to notpositionour beliefs this way. For this reason I said it sounded arrogant. I myself would have read it as you did. However, consider the following. The lesser law is a temporary measure, a minimum standard, to help prepare us to live willingly the fulness of the law of Christ. All who would be exalted must, through repentance and obedience, become the kind of people who desire and obey “the law of a celestial kingdom.”
Often times when we think of the OT law, we often consider it a lesser law. Moses brought down the “higher law” which was replaced with a “lesser law” when he found the people worshiping idols. It is performance based and lays out all that must be done to abide by it. The letter of the law was important.When we think of the NT and the Gospel as taught by Christ we often consider it the higher law. The “less is more” principle comes to life as He teaches the importance of the spirit of the law. No longer are the acts alone important but also the the intent and reasons behind our actions. In a way He simplified the law down to loving God and our neighbor.
As such when I talk of the middle way being a higher way I do so in the context of my personal faith journey alone. My faith before could be very well likened unto the letter of the law. Was I doing what was required to have a TR? check. Thus all was well in Zion. As long as I did the outward things and did my best to be good I
wasgood, things were certain, and all was well. Now I feel as though I must live the spirit of the law. My knowledge has been reduced to only a few things. The rest is uncertain. Before I knew. Now I must have faith. When you know, you don’t need faith, as Alma teaches. More over if you know, what choice do you have? You must do something if you want to be good. Now I constantly have to make choices about what to believe and how to act. No one is responsible for my choices but me. Not the prophet, not the bishop and not my parents. Anyways I don’t consider myself elegant enough a writer to express my thoughts clearly. The gist is that I judge the middle way to have the capacity to produce more real faith than does the standard TBM way. Without sorrow there can be no joy. Without doubt there can be no faith. The greater the sorrow one has experience the greater the joy they can feel. The stronger the doubts, perhaps the stronger the faith that can ensue. This in NO way means that someone in the middle way is better than someone not. Nor does it demean the faithful TBM such as your stake president. I believe in the end we will be judged against our own light and knowledge, our degree of understanding.
So while I think it might be dangerous to consider one way better or higher than another and especially to position it this way to others (as it may produce pride or arrogance or offense towards others), sometimes there are better and worse ways to approach something. Also I think it could depend on our spot in our journey. Introduce the middle way to someone before they are ready and perhaps it would be harmful. Of course all of this is also dependent upon what we understand the middle way to mean. It’s a very ambiguous term which probably means something different to each of us. Just some food for thought.
eman wrote:As such when I talk of the middle way being a higher way I do so in the context of my personal faith journey alone.
Thanks eman,
I think you did a fine job of explaining your thoughts. I know that my current state is dependent upon what came before. So there is definately a sense of “line upon line, precept on precept” in my personal journey. Even when comparisons to others and their journeys tend to fall apart.
Kumahito wrote:… However, the impression my epiphany has left me with is that I’m not beholden to any particular leader, sect or creed to feel God’s inspiration, nor for the moral compass by which I should live my life.
I like how you put that, Kumahito.:thumbup: For me, sometimes it’s felt like a crisis, & other times like a wonderful epiphany… light bulb moment.
And I love that the spirit can be felt everwhere… in all kinds of situations, groups, religions… wherever the heart & soul is in it in an inspiring way!
“The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.”-Niels Bohr “I define Faith as the power of continuing to believe what we once honestly thought to be true until cogent reasons for honestly changing our minds are brought before us.”-C. S. Lewis
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.