tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post5088701043052164090..comments2022-03-25T14:26:07.431-07:00Comments on Saganist: Hey preacher, leave those kids alone!Saganisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935512878581351503noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-46250524356308511652009-10-27T17:35:18.494-07:002009-10-27T17:35:18.494-07:00I recently had an interview with my bishop. He as...I recently had an interview with my bishop. He asked me to stop coming to church (a single's ward) because I was a danger to all the single ladies there (being a non-believer and all). <br /><br />Then he told me if I continued down this path, I would end up like his worthless brother - a divorced, drug abusing alcoholic with nothing to live for.<br /><br />Then he told me he does not know the church is true, but believes it is and choose it because he's "kinda a fan of Christianity" and "this one seems to make the most sense."<br /><br />Then he kept talking about the Mountain Meadows Massacre for some reason and described the process by which he eliminates questionable or inconsistent teachings of the church from his mind and ignores them.<br /><br />Then he said logic is dangerous and critical thinking puts the church in an un-winnable position.<br /><br />I didn't rebut anything he said, just sat and listened. <br /><br />I was recently called in for another interview. I assume it is to get my permission to send my records out of his ward (he seems far more concerned with home teaching numbers than my spiritual well being), but if I end up going I'll probably just walk in and say "now I know what this is for, you don't have to say anything - I accept your apology."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-44052242890780934052009-10-09T09:39:58.454-07:002009-10-09T09:39:58.454-07:00Thanks, everyone. Na'me, your mom's idea i...Thanks, everyone. Na'me, your mom's idea is interesting. I wonder how uncomfortable a kid would have to be before he or she yells out for the parent. Probably very uncomfortable, even beyond the threshold of what I might consider inappropriate. Did you or any of your siblings ever call for your mom?Saganisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12935512878581351503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-20471030364986295292009-10-07T06:25:49.165-07:002009-10-07T06:25:49.165-07:00My mother experienced sexual abuse as a child (alb...My mother experienced sexual abuse as a child (albeit not thru a religious organization).<br /><br />As a consequence, she was extremely sensitive to any risky situations. On the other hand, she was a very devout mother.<br /><br />In the end she settled for standing IMMEDIATELY outside of the door (she would tell us girls this before the interview), and if anything was to make us feel uncomfortable we were supposed to call for her and she would come in.<br /><br />This was reassuring as a kid. It also had the unintended, but practical consequence of letting us know that bishops are just people, and not all people are good.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13075571019102370007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-62920538676192752832009-09-26T21:13:36.197-07:002009-09-26T21:13:36.197-07:00I really enjoyed this entry. I remember being a te...I really enjoyed this entry. I remember being a teenage girl, and HATING bishops interviews because of a lot of the reasons stated here. I was never abused or anything, but I did feel extremely uncomfortable that this man was asking me these really private questions. I then remember I would feel guilty for feeling this way, because I thought I felt uncomfortable because the Holy Ghost was telling me I was doing something wrong in my life.<br /><br />Man, those interviews can be such a mind job when you're just a kid. :(Hypatiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00058304784815468151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-45073306509037625182009-09-20T23:01:47.441-07:002009-09-20T23:01:47.441-07:00Two of my kids have been baptized now, both after ...Two of my kids have been baptized now, both after I left the church. I never really spoke with the bishop about my discomfort with interviews, and I probably should have just so he'd understand where I'm coming from. At least so he knows it's not personal. But I do sit in on them all. I never asked permission, it's my kid. I just said, "I'm going to stay." So far so good.<br /><br />But yeah, ridiculous that my nine-year-old has had three bishop's interviews this past year plus tithing settlement. He's nine ferchrissakes.ElGuapohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14479861725413367721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-3558526888522489892009-09-20T18:43:56.307-07:002009-09-20T18:43:56.307-07:00I will never forget my baptismal interview! My Dad...I will never forget my baptismal interview! My Dad was in the office with me. The bishop asked me who Joseph Smith was. I had no clue. Wasn't church for socializing anyway? :) My Dad had to answer for me. My little brother, my fellow black sheep family member, was asked the same question. His answer was priceless! He said, "That's a really good question." Hilarious. I wonder if my parents clued in at that point that he and I would be the eclectic religious ones of the family! Good times!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05309420172838842916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8668668779597398465.post-91698353607434608812009-09-20T15:45:20.977-07:002009-09-20T15:45:20.977-07:00Very nice. I especially like:
"the church o...Very nice. I especially like:<br /><br />"the church ostensibly teaches a concept of Jesus Christ as a mediator between us and God. However, in my experience, the institution itself likes to usurp that place, and interviews are a powerful way to do that."<br /><br />and...<br /><br />"The bishop asks questions to determine whether you are a good Mormon, not whether you are a good person."<br /><br />How very true! Nicely put.Michael Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15494214196613847171noreply@blogger.com