Comment by Jon on April 29, 2009 at 2:14pm

I'm a new writer for Examiner.com and cover "Freethinking" in SLC. My latest article is a defense for Korihor in Alma chapter 30. Thought you guys might enjoy it:

http://www.examiner.com/x-8829-Salt-Lake-City-Freethinking-Examiner

Comment by Jon on April 30, 2009 at 12:25am

Thanks Jon! I'm still working on building a good readership. I don't know yet if any believers are reading... I have yet to get any comments or emails from them. I was really hoping for some hate mail!

If you've got any feedback or suggestions, let me know!

Comment by Michelle on April 30, 2009 at 9:26am

Just wanted to add my thoughts to a thread on the last page. The mormons found me every time I moved . I couldn't imagine the church putting that much energy into searching so I assumed that my parents were sending them after me. My husband was getting really pissed off at all the well meaning phone calls. About ten years ago we moved again and I flat out told my parents that they needed to keep the info to themselves because it was messing with my marriage. I haven't been found since. You may wonder why I don't have my name stricken from the records. The simple answer is that I care more about the potential for my mom's heart to break more than it already has than being counted by a religion that means nothing to me.

Also, as a note to Jon Illum, every family is different but if this offers any long-term hope, it took about 8 or 10 years but now enjoy a really healthy, respectful and loving relationship with my very devout parents. This is a sick perspective but I think it helped that they watched many temple marriages of my childhood friends crash and burn while my relationship stayed strong. They had to reexamine a few beliefs watching something holy turn out bad and something "earthly" be so right. FYI, they are Utah mormons who have no perspective outside the religion.

To Jon, thanks for sharing the link. I look forward to reading your work. Can't believe you are in Provo! I had to leave the state entirely!

Comment by Markii on April 30, 2009 at 3:18pm

reading your stuff, jon. i like it!

Comment by Jon on April 30, 2009 at 11:10pm

Michelle,

I couldn't stand it at first. BYU is just down the street and there are LDS billboards and stores everywhere. Moving isn't an option for me, though sometimes I really wish it were. I've just come to accept it. There are places in the country even worse than Utah, as far as religious influence is concerned, and I get a weird perverse pleasure out of being an evil influence in the heart of Mormonism. ;)

My girlfriend and I occasionally dress up some nearby LDS statues. Last year we put snorkels and Hawaiian lay's on Joseph and Hyrum. For Easter, we gave Joseph bunny years, a huge carrot, and a giant Easter egg.

The stuff never lasts for long, it's quickly taken down, but it's a huge laugh, relieves some the of stress, and we can only imagine the confusion members get when they see it. :P

Comment by Jon on April 30, 2009 at 11:11pm

Oh, and I posted a followup to the Korihor article. This one explores Alma's arguments to Korihor for believing.

Thanks to Joey for the suggestion. :)

Comment by Sean Corey on May 1, 2009 at 10:33pm

Hey Jon, I read several of your articles and thought they were great. I was wondering what the LDS members response has been to the articles on Korihor and Gay marriage. I'm curios to read what arguments members use in their defense.

Comment by Jon on May 2, 2009 at 3:19am

Thanks!

I haven't gotten ANY real Mormon response yet. I'm really disappointed. The closest I've gotten is a couple of comments from my girlfriends brother who is LDS, but he almost entirely agreed with me about needing to doubt and that gay marriage ought to be legal. He even pointed out that the church has temples operating in other countries that do allow gay marriage, and that the church is mostly silent about it there. He hasn't said anything about my more recent posts.

Comment by S A R A H on May 9, 2009 at 11:39pm

Hey all. I'm new to Atheist Nexus and thus haven't quite figured it all out yet, but I got excited when I saw this group. It's rare that I meet other ex Mormon atheists.... I am excited to get to know everyone here and hear stories that are possibly quite similar to my own. How refreshing!!

Hope everyone is doing well.

- Sarah

Comment by Noah M on May 12, 2009 at 1:21am

Good day to you all. I am quite new to this website. I am as far as I know still an ordained Aaronic Priest. When I was at the proper age for such a thing my father and other LDS' persuaded the bishop that this was a great idea to go through with although not very orthodox since I managed to avoid the ceremony of becoming a "Teacher" at 14. Perhaps some oily-handed priesthood double-upgrading might set me on the right track and restore my faith and interest in "The Church". Hmmm, not very successful.

Comment

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• …
• 15
• Next ›
• Page