tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post3814790038882538246..comments2022-03-25T14:26:07.431-07:00Comments on Saganist: Sometimes I miss beliefSaganisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935512878581351503noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-69773439203634500932008-12-06T22:12:00.000-08:002008-12-06T22:12:00.000-08:00I have no desire to go back to my childhood either...I have no desire to go back to my childhood either, nor do I think my faith give me any power or control over the world. Comfort, yes. I don't see faith as being naive at all, if anything it takes strength to accept or believe in something that can transcend beyond us or what we know. Faith and spirituality are always on a personal level that we alone find meaning in, and a cosmic journey, one that is never stagnant, that is for sure.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17823475922118831275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-2361418755740081532008-12-06T19:19:00.000-08:002008-12-06T19:19:00.000-08:00Thanks, Chris. Exactly.Thanks, Chris. Exactly.Saganisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12935512878581351503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-16586751024424474392008-12-04T02:08:00.000-08:002008-12-04T02:08:00.000-08:00Very well-written post, Saganist. I know exactly ...Very well-written post, Saganist. I know exactly what you mean. I like knowing the truth; it gives me a sense of power and control over the universe that feels so-- for lack of a better way of putting it-- <I>grown up</I>. But I still remember the comfort and satisfaction that my naive, childlike faith gave me, and a part of me misses that. I also miss the solidarity that it created among my family and friends over against the rest of the world in its unbelief. In spite of all that, I have no real desire to put aside my adulthood and go back to being a child.Christopher Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09539170598198122642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-752431600771117362008-11-29T19:22:00.000-08:002008-11-29T19:22:00.000-08:00Tag.<A HREF="http://tranchingreality.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/this-is-a-meme-that-i-can-get-behind/" REL="nofollow">Tag.</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-82856784572923537572008-11-26T11:22:00.000-08:002008-11-26T11:22:00.000-08:00Thanks, Pam. I think you're right, there are a lo...Thanks, Pam. I think you're right, there are a lot of things I'm mourning the loss of. Certainty is near the top of the list, but the idea of a personal God who cares about me is right up there, too.<BR/><BR/>Even if the Book of Mormon were historical fact, it wouldn't prove that the LDS church is "the true church" - there are plenty of other churches in the Latter Day Saint movement that claim authoritative succession. As always, things aren't so black and white.<BR/><BR/>It is touch sometimes to realize that I will never again see those who have passed on. I wish I could. I would love it, and I think that's one thing that makes religion, Mormonism in particular, so appealing. As Julia Sweeney talks about in her brilliant piece <I>Letting Go of God</I>, when you lose your belief in the afterlife, you basically have to mourn everyone you've ever lost, again! They were gone before, but at least you were going to see them again. Now they're really gone for good. It's sad. But it really does help me focus my thoughts on how I want to live this life before I'm gone.Saganisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12935512878581351503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-62333125441587319992008-11-25T11:11:00.000-08:002008-11-25T11:11:00.000-08:00So I had a discussion on the BofM with my son just...So I had a discussion on the BofM with my son just now, and I can say that in part, I do want to still believe in the BofM or at least in some of the stories, so maybe I can relate to your missing belief in that respect. I like Alma's discussions with his 4 sons, he was a good parent or Ammon as a missionary or the part about the mothers of the stripling warriors... they are good stories. My son believes that if that book is is true... it all is. Why can't he see it is not that simple or black and white? <BR/><BR/>That a book with stories of faith can testify of truths or principles, but not necessarily be historical. I do want some of it to be, as it compelling to believe but my reasoning knows better to trust it fully. I respect what is good in that book, for now. I, too am learning to be comfortable with uncertainty. <BR/><BR/>And in response to your blog about your grandfather's death, that realization hits one hard. Death is cold hard reality, even if you have faith in Christ or want to trust in the power of the resurrection, that is one thing that is hard to know or be certain about... Will we really see our loved ones again? I sure hope so as my memory is fading at times of those I have lost.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17823475922118831275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-25756844337349745572008-11-22T15:53:00.000-08:002008-11-22T15:53:00.000-08:00Because my belief is not in this man nor ever real...Because my belief is not in this man nor ever really was, I honestly don't experience the missing of it. Perhaps you are missing the belief in God or the Savior more, which is more understandable to my mind. Either way, it is probably grief of some sort that you felt. My own grief was not so much over the truth of the history, but more the lack of compassion or actions I felt by church leaders after giving 30 years of my life to it.<BR/><BR/> I didn't watch the whole thing as like you said of what you thought while viewing it, I began thinking the same thoughts... I, like you, know too much of the real truth to stomach the sugar coated fairly tales. The gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple in principle and in action, we don't need the fairy tale to believe in the Good News. My own 2 cents on the subject.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17823475922118831275noreply@blogger.com