Shopping other religions?

[Anonymous]

For many of us, shopping other religions is an important part of the process of deciding to Stay LDS. My hope is that in this thread we might talk about our different reactions as we shopped other religions, and the thoughts that led us to Stay LDS.

As I shopped other religions, I found out a lot about myself. The internet Belief-O-Matic tells me over and over again that I am a Hindu or Jainist. But because of my Christian background, I shopped most closely at other Christian churches. I believe in non-resistance, so I loved the Quakers and the Mennonites and the Community of Christ for their Peace Testimonies. I visited the Church of Jesus Christ (a Joseph Smith church) because it is convenient to my house. I was intrigued with the Unitarian Universalists because my view of salvation is nearly universalist. I ended up visiting only the Church of Jesus Christ, Mennonites, and Quakers. I also talked a lot with some Jews.

From it all I learned that I would never understand and speak the language of any other religion as well as I breathe and speak LDS Mormonism. I may admire the Quakers all my life for their consensus building, their unprogrammed worship, and their wonderful Testimonies (Peace, Simplicity, etc.). But among them I would miss the LDS singing. I may admire the prayers of the Mennonites, but I would always miss the Word of Wisdom.

So though I am orthoprax (right-practicing) like a Jew, not orthodox (right-believing) like a Mormon, a conscientious objector like a Jehovah’s witness, not patriotic like a Mormon, ungrasping like a Quaker, not wealth building like a Mormon, and global-focused like a Unitarian Universalist, not temple-focused like a Mormon, I will remain a Mormon, and to assume the mantra of this forum, “I am LDS, I am here, and I am me. Nothing you say or do is going to make me leave, so love me or leave me. Your choice.”

[Anonymous]

I took that belief-o-matic quiz and it told me I should be an orthodox jew. I think that was the closest match if I remember right. It was funny because I would never have said that myself.

I like the show they put on in Catholic Mass. I don’t mean that in a negative way. The ceremony and ritual touches me sometimes. They do the “awe factor” and the expression of the mystery of God really good. I think our plain protestant-like environment is lacking sometimes.

I am registered as a minister in the Universal Life Church. Yeah, I know some people make fun because it is an internet ordination. I actually take it kind of seriously. I performed the marriage for a couple, the groom is a long-time friend of mine. They are not church-go’ers at all, but they really wanted to have a religious wedding — my friend said I was the ONLY person he knew that he was comfortable with (regarding religion). His parents are devout Catholic, her family is Taoist (they live in China), and the groom is a muscian. So we made a combination Christian/Taoist/Led Zeppelin wedding ceremony. I know that sounds impossible to pull off seriously. It turned out really nice, and it was very special to be a part of it. I couldn’t have done this for my friends with permission as an Elder in the LDS Church.

There are only 2 items in the creed of the Universal Life Church:

1. Promote religious freedom.

2. Do that which is right.

I believe in those. Anything else is left up to the minister.

[Anonymous]

I have only attended the Unitarian Universalist church as a search for a place for me to be free to seek my own path. I loved it there and I liked the songs and the members and the service. I may continue to visit there when my ward meets at a different time starting in January.

I am not really looking for religion. I am looking for a place to love and be loved exactly as they are and exactly as I am with no shoulds or oughtas.

The belief-o-matic test had me 100% Unitarian Universalist. I was only 17% LDS. This was rather shocking actually. I did not realize how different my personal beliefs are from what I have surrounded myself with for over 32 years. I a happy with the people in my ward. I am happy with who my children are as a result of being brought up Mormon. I am sad that I did not find the UU church sooner. I really would have liked to raise my family in it AND I did not, so. I think I would have been happier during the first 17 years of my marraige. AND perhaps not. I was not who I am now back then so it might have never been a good match until now. I cannot and wil not attempt to uproot my kids from the LDS church so that they can “search” for their own path. That is the main benefit to the Unitarians is that they promote all continuing to progress in their own spiritual path all the while being doers and be-ers of the word not only hearers.

I will not be searching for any other religion. I will stay LDS and I will participate as much as possible with the UU. I live rather far from the UU also. Not very convenient.

Since I have home educated and home birthed and participated in Conservative politics over time I have trained my children more like Christian Fundamentalists than LDS. In fact when I took the Belief o matic test as if I were what I thought a TBM I showed up 99% Christian Fundamentalist and only 95% LDS. Pretty enlightening. Quaker was my second highest when sharing my current views. Interesting altogether.

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