T
TOmNossor
Guest
I am not offended, but I want to take a brief leave.
I perhaps offended someone here when I was being vague. I am sorry. The other LDS on this board do a better job of explaining Mormonism than I do. I regularly look at the criticisms from Catholics and think of similar criticisms that have been levied against the RCC. The CoJCoLDS does not shine in perfection, it shines only because it is closest to Perfect.
From this board. “I could not and CANNOT believe it. It is impossible, I would have to be lobotomized first.” How should I respond?
A Lobotomy removes an offending part of the brain(only unintendedly affecting reason).
The BOA vs. BOB problem, BOM new world archeology (place and people names for example), and DNA are not faith promoting.(I might mention that these early interpretation were abandoned due to textual evidences long before DNA). There are a number that could be mentioned. Who could believe? I know a convert to the church who converted fully cognizant of such things and an anti-Mormon who is now a LDS. They had no lobotomy, but perhaps they are “lobotomized.”
Next I should list the things I find in Catholic history and doctrine that require one to be “lobotomized” to embrace. In my BIASED mind one of our churches has greater problems. Recently I have been emboldened by a LDS who independently came up with something that I consider to be a huge issue (his conclusions come from a different direction and is more absolute too). So I should mention this then list a number of other historical/doctrinal events and say “you too.” I will not though.
Instead, I will suggest that God has a Son who died and who rose from the dead. And if that is not “lobotomized” enough then, this God-man never sinned yet had to die because you and I sinned. Of course this is what I would have to say to the pedigree-denying-Protestant. They have fewer ghosts in the closet then either the Catholics or the Mormons. The other good thing about this is that I suspect that few Christians have not already come to grips with these little SHOCKERS.
I would like to say something that may surprise both my LDS and Catholic brothers and sisters. Despite the fact that I am ever more convinced that the CoJCoLDS is a “higher paradigm” than Catholicism or any other paradigm, I have seldom seen an ex-LDS Christian who did not in some sense get more from leaving the CoJCoLDS. Ex-LDS atheists comprise a lot greater percentage of the total ex-LDS population than I would like, and I am concerned that unlike the ex-LDS Christians they seldom have more than they did when they were LDS.
It seems to me that there are a number of ex-LDS Catholics HERE who have in fact found more than they had as LDS. I would happily convince those who were feeling unfulfilled as LDS that they should seek their fulfillment as LDS. In addition to this I must admit that if and unfulfilled Catholic came to me seeking information about the CoJCoLDS, I would also encourage them to consider the beauty I have found. But when I see comments like “I would have to be lobotomized first,” I strongly suspect that finding fulfillment as LDS is something that is unlikely and certainly in Other hands.
My message to my ex-LDS Catholic brothers and sisters (and my never LDS, Catholic brothers and sisters) is, “Be not unbelieving, but believe.” Believing what I do about Catholicism I take very seriously Matthew 18:6 and Mark 9:39. As much as it troubles me to see the CoJCoLDS disparaged with historical and doctrinal issues (both real and imagined), I believe we all must worship in accordance with the Word as it is written in our hearts and minds. I would love to believe that the real presence of Christ was in the Eucharist. To Catholics, though it seems I will never accept it, I will continue to have holy envy for the real presence. To the Protestants I say (in the words of Cardinal Newman), “I believe what you do – but I BELIEVE MORE. I rejoice to think that you with all your heart and soul believe our Lord Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world…”
To those who are LDS or are seriously considering being a LDS I testify that one (myself included) can “BELIEVE MORE.” Falser words have seldom been spoken than these, “Mormonism is a philosophically shallow counterfeit.” The spiritual and intellectual depth available through Mormonism is amazing to me. This of course matters not if it is untrue, but it is true. “To whom shall we (I) go?” God is ever present.
Charity, TOm
I perhaps offended someone here when I was being vague. I am sorry. The other LDS on this board do a better job of explaining Mormonism than I do. I regularly look at the criticisms from Catholics and think of similar criticisms that have been levied against the RCC. The CoJCoLDS does not shine in perfection, it shines only because it is closest to Perfect.
From this board. “I could not and CANNOT believe it. It is impossible, I would have to be lobotomized first.” How should I respond?
A Lobotomy removes an offending part of the brain(only unintendedly affecting reason).
The BOA vs. BOB problem, BOM new world archeology (place and people names for example), and DNA are not faith promoting.(I might mention that these early interpretation were abandoned due to textual evidences long before DNA). There are a number that could be mentioned. Who could believe? I know a convert to the church who converted fully cognizant of such things and an anti-Mormon who is now a LDS. They had no lobotomy, but perhaps they are “lobotomized.”
Next I should list the things I find in Catholic history and doctrine that require one to be “lobotomized” to embrace. In my BIASED mind one of our churches has greater problems. Recently I have been emboldened by a LDS who independently came up with something that I consider to be a huge issue (his conclusions come from a different direction and is more absolute too). So I should mention this then list a number of other historical/doctrinal events and say “you too.” I will not though.
Instead, I will suggest that God has a Son who died and who rose from the dead. And if that is not “lobotomized” enough then, this God-man never sinned yet had to die because you and I sinned. Of course this is what I would have to say to the pedigree-denying-Protestant. They have fewer ghosts in the closet then either the Catholics or the Mormons. The other good thing about this is that I suspect that few Christians have not already come to grips with these little SHOCKERS.
I would like to say something that may surprise both my LDS and Catholic brothers and sisters. Despite the fact that I am ever more convinced that the CoJCoLDS is a “higher paradigm” than Catholicism or any other paradigm, I have seldom seen an ex-LDS Christian who did not in some sense get more from leaving the CoJCoLDS. Ex-LDS atheists comprise a lot greater percentage of the total ex-LDS population than I would like, and I am concerned that unlike the ex-LDS Christians they seldom have more than they did when they were LDS.
It seems to me that there are a number of ex-LDS Catholics HERE who have in fact found more than they had as LDS. I would happily convince those who were feeling unfulfilled as LDS that they should seek their fulfillment as LDS. In addition to this I must admit that if and unfulfilled Catholic came to me seeking information about the CoJCoLDS, I would also encourage them to consider the beauty I have found. But when I see comments like “I would have to be lobotomized first,” I strongly suspect that finding fulfillment as LDS is something that is unlikely and certainly in Other hands.
My message to my ex-LDS Catholic brothers and sisters (and my never LDS, Catholic brothers and sisters) is, “Be not unbelieving, but believe.” Believing what I do about Catholicism I take very seriously Matthew 18:6 and Mark 9:39. As much as it troubles me to see the CoJCoLDS disparaged with historical and doctrinal issues (both real and imagined), I believe we all must worship in accordance with the Word as it is written in our hearts and minds. I would love to believe that the real presence of Christ was in the Eucharist. To Catholics, though it seems I will never accept it, I will continue to have holy envy for the real presence. To the Protestants I say (in the words of Cardinal Newman), “I believe what you do – but I BELIEVE MORE. I rejoice to think that you with all your heart and soul believe our Lord Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world…”
To those who are LDS or are seriously considering being a LDS I testify that one (myself included) can “BELIEVE MORE.” Falser words have seldom been spoken than these, “Mormonism is a philosophically shallow counterfeit.” The spiritual and intellectual depth available through Mormonism is amazing to me. This of course matters not if it is untrue, but it is true. “To whom shall we (I) go?” God is ever present.
Charity, TOm
