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Post by kelbel827 on Jun 6, 2016 13:50:02 GMT
I agree with ilovebuble 100%.
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
Jul 3, 2014 18:13:13 GMT
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Post by mallie on Jun 6, 2016 14:06:48 GMT
If I believe in anything, it's that there is one basic rule of life from which all others flow -- respect.
Respect yourself. Respect others. Act on that respect.
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 6, 2016 19:35:52 GMT
I had an actual awakening moment (the one we former Mormons often refer to their "shelf" breaking) that was more powerful than any spiritual experience I had ever had before in my life. After that I had a complete feeling of peace wash over me, knowing none of it was true, and I didn't have to try and make sense of it anymore. Life isn't perfect, but I too live with a lot less anxiety now as an unbeliever . Mine was the General Conference talk. I don't know why it hit me the way it did because it's always been doctrine. It was the realization that I'd never be good enough that actually made me see the absurdity of what I was doing. I distinctly remembering driving around my small town on a beautiful Sunday morning with the window rolled down. I saw cars in the parking lot of the church and there was no longer that feeling of dread, anxiety, and being unworthy; it was relief. My life is like yours. FAR from perfect, but I'm no longer concerned about eternity. I also know without a doubt, I would have serious mental health issues if I had continued on the same path. Especially after my son was born (profoundly Autistic). Three hours of church every week on top of callings would have put me in a nervous breakdown because there was no help from my husband with church activities. I can now focus on the present and dedicate my time to my kids.
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Post by woodysbetty on Jun 6, 2016 20:01:21 GMT
I don't know...i believe we need to live in this world mindfully, caring for ourselves and others, sharing an open heart and mind, and holding space for what other believe and need. Where all leads , who knows....
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Jun 6, 2016 20:21:58 GMT
I also had so much less anxiety in my life when I realized the religion I was raised in, could not possibly be true. I had an actual awakening moment (the one we former Mormons often refer to their "shelf" breaking) that was more powerful than any spiritual experience I had ever had before in my life. After that I had a complete feeling of peace wash over me, knowing none of it was true, and I didn't have to try and make sense of it anymore. Life isn't perfect, but I too live with a lot less anxiety now as an unbeliever . Is the 'shelf' the same thing as the 'iron rod'? That's the term I knew when I was a participant.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,600
Location: In the leaves and rain.
Jun 25, 2014 19:57:33 GMT
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Post by stittsygirl on Jun 6, 2016 20:41:14 GMT
I had an actual awakening moment (the one we former Mormons often refer to their "shelf" breaking) that was more powerful than any spiritual experience I had ever had before in my life. After that I had a complete feeling of peace wash over me, knowing none of it was true, and I didn't have to try and make sense of it anymore. Life isn't perfect, but I too live with a lot less anxiety now as an unbeliever . Is the 'shelf' the same thing as the 'iron rod'? That's the term I knew when I was a participant. In Mormonism, the Iron Rod represents the doctrine, and your testimony of it, that you need to cling firmly to to gain their version of everlasting life and exaltation. Your "shelf", on the other hand, is that place in your brain where you store all your questions and doubts about Mormonism (or any other religious belief system) and its history, doctrines, and the questionable things the current leadership does. For some, no matter how much stuff is put on their shelf, it never breaks under the strain and their belief in Mormonism stays strong. For others like me, it gets to be too much and the shelf breaks = belief in the church is gone.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 6, 2016 20:49:53 GMT
I believe there is something, just not in the "ultimate being" sense. It is something so intricate that I can't begin to understand it. if I had to articulate it (which I can't, really), I guess I'd say something like this. The universe and everything in it is amazingly complex... I don't know what made it- or whether it 'was made' by ANYthing, so I can't say I believe in any one thing. ETA: maybe more like this, from gar: "I mostly go by what science shows me to be factual. I have room for the possibility that there may be things we don't understand yet and I am open to spirituality..." Nature and what we DO know about the world and the universe is intricate enough to be amazed by in and of itself, for me. Does it make me feel 'spiritual' about it, though? I think I would have to say no. I have had some experiences that could be seen as spiritual, perhaps, depending on who's interpreting them... but I think more on the level of 'we could figure out how it all works, given enough time."
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,606
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 6, 2016 20:57:11 GMT
I believe I have a responsibility to show up in life as a decent human being. I believe in science. I believe that organized religion is at the basis of virtually every war that has ever been fought and wonder if the extinction of religion would end wars.
And: I believe in the power of faith.
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Post by femalebusiness on Jun 6, 2016 21:03:43 GMT
I have to ask do most of your husband feel the same as you? My DH I agree on almost every major subject which means conflict almost nonexistent and believe me we are are opinionated.
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jayfab
Drama Llama
procastinating
Posts: 5,592
Jun 26, 2014 21:55:15 GMT
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Post by jayfab on Jun 6, 2016 21:10:37 GMT
I don't know...i believe we need to live in this world mindfully, caring for ourselves and others, sharing an open heart and mind, and holding space for what other believe and need. Where all leads , who knows.... I like this. Kind of sums up what I feel.
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Post by melanell on Jun 6, 2016 21:33:12 GMT
I wouldn't quite call myself an atheist and I would never argue there isn't some kind of creative force behind the existence of our universe. But I don't believe in the Judeo-Christian God our culture has created, or any God-like figure from other belief systems. (On the other hand, I do like church. I know, I'm weird.) What I "believe in," if you want to call it that, is nature and science. I believe in evolution. I don't worry about whether evolution was set in motion by a higher power or not. I like Church for reasons outside of religion. Something about it can be calming to me. Plus, I like tradition, and if there is a history, either local to the church building itself, or familial in regards to the denomination, I enjoy that aspect of it, too.
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