If you ever think leaving Mormonism is hard

[Anonymous]

Read this about ultra-orthodox jews https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/magazine/the-high-price-of-leaving-ultra-orthodox-life.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/magazine/the-high-price-of-leaving-ultra-orthodox-life.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

Or go look at people that leave Scientology or even FLDS. Even Jehovah Witnesses are required to shun apostates and have no contact. In the LDS world there is a very minor risk of being totally shunned.

Really makes me feel for these folks.

[Anonymous]

LookingHard wrote:

Read this about ultra-orthodox jews https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/magazine/the-high-price-of-leaving-ultra-orthodox-life.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/magazine/the-high-price-of-leaving-ultra-orthodox-life.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

Or go look at people that leave Scientology or even FLDS. Even Jehovah Witnesses are required to shun apostates and have no contact. In the LDS world there is a very minor risk of being totally shunned.

Really makes me feel for these folks.

Also, I watched a few videos on health, happiness and well being recently. Being part of a community is mentioned in all of them — it is good for well being, good for happiness, good for health. So, in punishing people by ostracizing them, communities do a lot of damage to others. I can see circumstances where it’s necessary (such as when a person has committed a crime and is a danger to others) but for differences of opinion regarding religiosity etcetera, I feel it’s wrong given the damage it does to people, their lifespan, and what they get out of their time on this earth.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing LH. Very interesting article.

I recently came across this interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdo69Nhv_WA” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdo69Nhv_WA (Ferguson and I were undergrads together in the same major, incidentally). I think the research he is doing is fascinating – looking at fMRI while people are feeling the spirit. But some of the implications of religious experiences – especially regarding how having spiritual experiences typically results in increased charity and generosity are beautiful concepts to me about the good religion (any religion) can do in the world. And if the LDS constructs are what work to give me those experiences (I’m not TOTALLY sure they do, but I’m sticking with it for now because that’s where my family ties are), then I can try to look for those experiences and see the natural fruits and good that may come out of them, even if I don’t believe everything literally. Anyway, I’m interested to hear what others think.

[Anonymous]

It is one of the ongoing discussions that happens in our house. My husband can’t figure out why I stay, knowing what I know, struggling with my frustrations (I don’t struggle with doubts). One of my reasons is community. I live two or three days away from my close family. And even days further from extended. Church becomes my family. All the good and the bad. One way I am luckier than most on this board, is that I can take off time from LDSing to support my husband, and then roll back in when I am more able to. I also try to give to the community. To be a positive contributor and to not be a shunner.

Over my life I have witnessed many older people returning to church, especially when their companion or family are gone, that tells me something about this need for connection.

LH – I love that you pointed out Judaism is hard to leave, because John Dehlin and others keep using Judaism as a model for how they want Mormonism. And yes there are sects of Judaism that are more modern, especially here in America, but Hasidic Judaism still remains a very closed group.

[Author]

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