Why I Chucked My Mormon Faith and Became an Atheist

[Librarian]

A nice eye opener for some I'm sure. Although most of us tell newcomers to go read all they can, I've heard of some teachers who try to limit what their students get.

Why I Chucked My Mormon Faith and Became an Atheist

How I joined the record numbers of young Americans who lose their faith each year .

My faith died in a public library.

It was a sunny day -- Perfect weather to have your faith crushed. I had biked the short ride from my house to the San Clemente Library, a small building in one of Southern California's last small towns. With a hand-scribbled slip of paper in one hand, I walked the stacks looking for a book I had read about on the Internet: Fawn Brodie's No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith.

I sought the book to find confirmation of something that had troubled me for nearly two years. See, as a lifelong Mormon, I understood that the church's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., was martyred by an armed mob in a jail cell in Carthage, Ill. But something I read in a magazine article and later researched online told me I didn't have the whole story. Brodie's book held the answer I desperately needed.

I was about to join the record numbers of young Americans who are lose their faith each year. Preachers and pastors lament the loss of faith of 30-something and younger Americans. They debate how to best reach out to an entire generation that, for the first time in our country's history, is becoming nonreligious.

Read more here: http://www.alternet.org/belief/149261/w ... age=entire

[Draconia]

If someone wants to believe one author that is obviously anti-Mormon, then I feel sorry for them. There are so many falsehoods written because one person doesn't believe like other people. I have long held to the fact that I am both Christian and Pagan. It is something that I've had to come to peace with within myself. In fact I'm actually Mormon and Pagan. One of my ancestors was one of the original witnesses to the Golden Plates, and even though he was later excommunicated he never once denied seeing the Golden Plates that the Book of Mormon was translated from. I have a rich heritage on both sides of my beliefs, and have seen and done too much to be able to deny the truth and validity of Mormonism or Paganism. To me they are rather similar. Others may argue that point but I feel that everyone is entitled to their beliefs. Even though I don't agree with many of the world's religious beliefs it is not on me or any other individual to bash them. The LDS (Mormon) religion does not suppress information, They encourage there congregation to learn about others and to be open to others beliefs, and then ponder within themselves and with their God (by whichever name), to know what is true. I've known many members that have left the church all together and have become Pagan, but they still hold to a lot of the base beliefs.

Okay guys I have now stepped off my soapbox

[runewulf]

You know my thoughts, cher... While Mormons can be a bit odd, generally speaking, they're more solid in their beliefs and practices than most other Christian denominations. As far as faith goes, none of them are right, they're all mythologies that are built up by the followers for one reason or another and change over time to suit that religion's needs at the time, or it's leaders desires and goals. Faith isn't fact, it's belief. Much like opinions, we all have them and more often than not, no one is better than the other. There is fact, then there is faith. Of course, then there's actual spirituality which is something of it's own as well.

All paths can teach valid lessons and most all of them do, it's what the followers and teachers of those paths do that counts. Like being a good or a bad person, it's individualistic. Think about it. If there was a single good or right way, there'd be a lot less religions in existence

[Librarian]

While I agree with both of you that "All paths can teach valid lessons and most all of them do", I've seen Mormonism hiding details from it's followers. The same, we all know, is true of Evangelical sects, particularly fundamentalist ones. Ever seen the creationist museum?

Ok, I'll pass the soap box on.