Other religions

Newcomer4831 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 03:51 PM

I'm not advocating my religion, but I'm wondering how many people made a similar journey as I have. I have actually listened and visited many people of differing beliefs from Yoga to LDS. If I had the money, who knows, I may have been a scientologist. However I found something that suited me, it wasn't something I was raised with, something that I wasn't just fascinated with, or something anybody in my area knew anything about. In fact my library only had 4 books on Buddhism. I'm just wondering what events led people to where they are right now.

tomk · #2 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 04:12 PM

I think this is a great question!

For me, I was born into the LDS Faith, baptized at age 8. So nothing "led" me to this religion. I just grew up in it and never questioned my faith.

About four or five years ago (I am 39) I began to come back to Church after a long period of inactivity. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was questioning my faith, and seeking to REALLY KNOW if it was true.

For me, that has made all the difference. Everyone must make this journey. Particulars may differ from person to person, but the core journey is the same. It is a journey of discovering, for yourself, the Truth, and then following it from moment to moment. I call that Truth the Light of Christ. It lights every man that comes into this world. All that is required to follow it is to be still and listen. Obedience strengthens our hearing.

I look at other religions, and even my own religion, as "means to an end". I believe my religion to be true. But if I do not become converted, it matters very little. Just membership in a religion gaurantees nothing. It is living what you believe.

I am not here to convince you, or anyone, that my beliefs are true. If asked to do that, I probably could not provide enough evidence, no matter how much proof I gave or how eloquent my oratory. Only God can give you the witness. I have had that witness. For others who claim they have the same witness about THEIR religion -- I do not know what to say. Let them worship as they want, for that is what God does. He does not interfere. And it may be that He desires us to be in another religion for a while. Almost any religious belief is GOOD and BRINGS LIGHT. One way or another we will all be brought to know the TRUTH and have a chance to accept it or deny it. But it will be our choice.

Tom

hordak · #3 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newcomer4831

I'm not advocating my religion, but I'm wondering how many people made a similar journey as I have. I have actually listened and visited many people of differing beliefs from Yoga to LDS. If I had the money, who knows, I may have been a scientologist. However I found something that suited me, it wasn't something I was raised with, something that I wasn't just fascinated with, or something anybody in my area knew anything about. In fact my library only had 4 books on Buddhism. I'm just wondering what events led people to where they are right now.

That is awesome. When i was a kid i was told to take a BoM to a friend who was not part of "the true church". When talking with him he was telling my how i was a member of a "false church". It was this assignment that made me realize i was LDS for the same reason he was catholic and our other buddy was Protestant. We were simply following the faith of our fathers. This caused me to question my faith and I have come to the conclusion that God wouldn't expect everyone to be the same religion anymore then I would expect the exact same things from my kids when they are completely different people. I think it is much better to find a faith through true diligence then to just accept what you are handed.

Just_A_Guy · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 04:55 PM

My experience is very much like Hordak's.

When the opportunity presents itself I'll try to learn what I can from people of other faiths; and I've examined the arguments for and against Mormonism in some detail. But I've never engaged in some kind of systematic quest to deeply examine other religions the way Newcomer seems to have done. To be frank, I've never personally felt the need.

Newcomer4831 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 05:34 PM

But what rational made you guys pick the faiths you are in. Was it just feeling alone? Or did you have conditions? I know I did. One of my conditions was that it had to fit in the name of science. There is a reason the religions you guys belong to do not claim that the moon was made of cheese or that clouds were made of cotton candy. Those nice things but I'm guessing you guys wouldn't belong to the "Church of Candy Land" if it existed for that very reason. I had other conditions as well such as, it would have to be non-violent and such.

Maxel · #6 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 05:41 PM

A very brief account of my initial conversion can be found here.

When a man is looking for a lost piece of money, he does not continue to look when it is found. In the same way, a man does not continue to look for 'The Truth' in other places once he has found it in one place. I believe I have found the truth.

I have read up and enjoy learning (a little) about other religions: I am currently reading a great book about world religions from an LDS perspective. I like it because it differentiates between what other religions believe about themselves, and how LDS theology interacts with other religious theology.

Faded · #7 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newcomer4831

I'm not advocating my religion, but I'm wondering how many people made a similar journey as I have. I have actually listened and visited many people of differing beliefs from Yoga to LDS. If I had the money, who knows, I may have been a scientologist. However I found something that suited me, it wasn't something I was raised with, something that I wasn't just fascinated with, or something anybody in my area knew anything about. In fact my library only had 4 books on Buddhism. I'm just wondering what events led people to where they are right now.

You could read through my story on my page for a longer run-through.

I was born into this Church, but I was also raised to never take anything as true unless I knew firsthand from God that it was true. So after many instances of personal prayer to God and spiritual confirmation that it is true and that it is where I need to be, it's second nature to me. I know what I am, through and through, head to toe.

I'm very analytical so I do love how everything falls into place logically, but that is not my core reason for being LDS. Just a few examples of the beautiful logic:
1.) God is our Father, every human being to ever live was and is his child. He is the literal father of our spirits.
2.) Gender is eternally significant and relevant.
3.) God spoke in the past and he speaks now. His words to day are just as important as his words from thousands of years ago.
4.) God our Father is all-powerful, all-knowing, and his power touches everything. He wants us, His children to grow up to be what he is.

Newcomer4831 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxel

A very brief account of my initial conversion can be found here.

When a man is looking for a lost piece of money, he does not continue to look when it is found. In the same way, a man does not continue to look for 'The Truth' in other places once he has found it in one place. I believe I have found the truth.

I have read up and enjoy learning (a little) about other religions: I am currently reading a great book about world religions from an LDS perspective. I like it because it differentiates between what other religions believe about themselves, and how LDS theology interacts with other religious theology.

I like your analogy, but I have one I've been using. The truth is like a good grape among rotten grapes. And sometimes you can just spot bad grapes, sometimes it takes a bite to figure it out. However in the end, you need lots of grapes to fill your stomach.

So I'm noticing that most people are just born into LDS rather than "discovering it." [What I mean by discover, is that you had no idea what LDS was, then you decided to investigate; almost what I'm doing now]

Maxel · #9 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newcomer4831

I like your analogy, but I have one I've been using. The truth is like a good grape among rotten grapes. And sometimes you can just spot bad grapes, sometimes it takes a bit to figure it out. However in the end, you need lots of grapes to fill your stomach.

True- but, we have to make sure we're equating the same things in our analogies. While we do need many grapes to fill our stomach, we can equate different religions as different grape vines from which to pick grapes. We have to carefully search and see which produces the best grapes. Once we have found the best vine, moving on to test other vines is counterproductive. If someone hasn't found the best vine yet, however, continuing to test all the grapes is the best action.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newcomer4831

So I'm noticing that most people are just born into LDS rather than "discovering it." [What I mean by discover, is that you had no idea what LDS was, then you decided to investigate; almost what I'm doing now]

I wouldn't say I was 'just' born into the LDS faith. I have investigated its claims extensively, and while searching for the truth I judged it against other religions and philosophies that I knew. My current position is the result of years of prayerful searching.

Godless · #10 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 11:50 PM

I was born and raised in the LDS church. I got a semi-natural sense of curiosity about other religions from my mother (she minored in Eastern religions in college). After deciding that that LDS church wasn't for me, I started researching other religions and decided that none of them made any sense to me. I still have an insatiable curiosity about them though, and I'm constantly trying to learn more. I guess you could say I'm a nerd wannabe when it comes to religion.