Thank you for this piece, Roger. This resonates strongly with my experience. As someone who has wrestled deeply with questions of my faith I never wanted the fact that I was wrestling cause me to be seen as a pariah who should not be supported in the full arms of loving fellowship (just as that was what I was needing and craving). I have so much more empathy now for others who wrestle with these issues, and although I've learned that my path is not necessarily theirs, I can sit with them in their struggle and be a loving and listening ear to validate their journey.
Jesus also advocated against the institutional church of his time. Somehow I don't think this is what our leaders expect when they tell us to follow Christ
I appreciate your intentions with this, your intentions to build bridges is important. The issue for me is using Joseph Smith as a model for deconstruction. Joseph Smith is the person that many people doubt in the first place—his sincerity, his truthfulness, his intentions, his actions. Using him as a comparison for those that are not trusting the history and actions of church leaders past and present—for me, it seems to miss the mark by a mile. That being said I appreciate what you’re trying to do.
This essay strikes me as being apologist. It avoids all of the emotionally, spiritually, faith killing actions of the church and its leaders. This is what happens when a church turns into a for profit corporation.
Thank you for this piece, Roger. This resonates strongly with my experience. As someone who has wrestled deeply with questions of my faith I never wanted the fact that I was wrestling cause me to be seen as a pariah who should not be supported in the full arms of loving fellowship (just as that was what I was needing and craving). I have so much more empathy now for others who wrestle with these issues, and although I've learned that my path is not necessarily theirs, I can sit with them in their struggle and be a loving and listening ear to validate their journey.
Jesus also advocated against the institutional church of his time. Somehow I don't think this is what our leaders expect when they tell us to follow Christ
Love this sentiment and thought! Thank you for sharing!!!
I appreciate your intentions with this, your intentions to build bridges is important. The issue for me is using Joseph Smith as a model for deconstruction. Joseph Smith is the person that many people doubt in the first place—his sincerity, his truthfulness, his intentions, his actions. Using him as a comparison for those that are not trusting the history and actions of church leaders past and present—for me, it seems to miss the mark by a mile. That being said I appreciate what you’re trying to do.
This essay strikes me as being apologist. It avoids all of the emotionally, spiritually, faith killing actions of the church and its leaders. This is what happens when a church turns into a for profit corporation.
That's fascinating--I don't often get accused of being apologist. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.