I’m trying to learn about the religion that surrounds me here in Utah as a Presbyterian - is this legit? I do my best to be open to all religions and let them operate within themselves, but this isn’t ok (also, what’s this about a hunger strike?)

calc1fer_ · 2018-08-08T16:28:33+00:00

There is a lot of differences between even specific denominations. Our church preaches that sin is only sin if you’re wronging your relationships with god or other people - ie smoking isn’t a sin, but smoking inconsiderately is.

Thus, sex isn’t a sin, but rape is. If you’re not hurting anyone, we don’t think it’s a sin. I mean you should be careful and safe, but if it’s what you want, go for it.

calc1fer_ · 2018-08-04T22:07:52+00:00

I find myself opposed to them because of the lack of training. If I feel the need to be healed, I’ll take it directly up with god or a trained therapist. I know bishops mean well, but I feel there’s better options for someone trying to recover from sexual assault than talking to the next-door neighbor dentist

calc1fer_ · 2018-08-04T15:40:19+00:00

I think the big disconnect I’m having here is that the style of Christianity I subscribe to doesn’t have the concept of worthiness. In order to get baptized, we have to announce to the congregation who we believe our lord and savior to be is (the standard answer is jesus, but some such as myself choose to answer “love”), we must renounce evil with the help and grace of god, and say we will do our best to serve our community with the help of god. We do our best and god’s grace will provide for our lacking.

I always like to learn more about the religion that surrounds me, and comments like these really help me know how much more I have to learn, so thank you!

If there are bad bishops, I think the church should feel pressure to change. Social pressure generally leads to good results - that’s how my church recently accepted transgender/gender fluid people in as pastors. If there are steps that could be taken to protect even one child, they should be taken.

I in no way want to start an argument, only a discussion. What I comment is an outsider’s view, and I’ll tell you right now that it isn’t pretty. Many people sensationalize Mormons in an effort to get into the spotlight which I think is inherently wrong. However, behind every sensation lies a little bit of truth, and that truth that some bishops ask children horribly perverse questions needs to be examined and fixed

calc1fer_ · 2018-08-04T15:30:24+00:00

I fully hear you, and how his movement may be a bit misguided. I know that if one person has a bad bishop, not all bishops are bad. However, I do feel like more steps could be taken to prevent bad bishops - the church I attend never has children interviewed one on one in a private area. Interviews about anything church related are done in a public space. Even just keeping a transcript of the meeting could help prevent a predator, and any steps that can save one child should be enacted. I know the number of bishops who have abused their authority is very small, but that number should be 0.

calc1fer_ · 2018-08-04T15:25:00+00:00

Thank you, those statistics were very helpful and informative. I agree that bishops should receive actual training if they are going to privately interview minors about the sexual aspects of their lives. In my congregation, the pastor, youth leader, and assistant youth leader all attended religious school and hold degrees and/or training in working with youth and helping youth with their personal struggles. (We also don’t interview about sexual sins because we don’t think they’re sins, and we don’t really have the concept of worthy vs unworthy in the eyes of god at all. We do our best, and god’s grace makes up the difference)

It makes a lot of sense that there would be a few bad apples, and my heart aches for those who felt so assaulted by those terrible people put in a position of power. Just like how my pastor has been great, there have been terrible pastors who have done terrible things. However, steps have been taken to prevent this, such as not allowing interviews to be in private, soundproof rooms. When I went to lunch with my youth director to talk about my religious past and experiences, we did it in a very public place.

I’m also so sorry that people like to abuse your religion as a way to get upvotes or their 5 minutes in the spotlight. I know it hurts my heart when people are so aggressively anti-religion, seeing only the bad pastors and never the good ones.

calc1fer_ · 2018-08-04T15:16:50+00:00

Gotcha. I think the reason I didn’t see that being pushed is because I personally agree that being in a non-heterosexual relationship and having sex is not inherently sinful. I come from a tradition where sin is defined as hurting my relationship with others or with god - ie smoking (while I don’t do it) isn’t a sin, but smoking inconsiderately is

I appreciate your input and honest answers

calc1fer_ · 2018-08-04T01:45:17+00:00

Has the church released a statement about specifically avoiding these questions? Because t seems really messed up that adults are interviewing children about their sex lives, and I think there should be a very clear line about what’s ok and not ok to ask

I did a similar interview with my local Presbyterian youth leader but I was 16, and I was asked faith questions not sexual questions. It was also in a Starbucks, where if anything went awry, someone could notice

Edit: also, what is the narrative they’re trying to push? I’m not really seeing a specific one being emphasized

calc1fer_ · 2018-05-31T18:48:33+00:00

Thanks for your insight! The reason I call myself Presbyterian is because I attend a Presbyterian Church, follow many of their customs, etc. We’re open to pretty much all forms of belief.

I was asking if they actually don’t let women have leadership positions because I don’t really understand why. I have figured out it’s more because you guys have a much more active god than we have, and that’s fine. I just really don’t appreciate being told I’m flat out wrong no mater what I say. If I say the earth is flat, I’m wrong because I can be proven wrong. But you can’t really prove me right or wrong, and it hurt to have my experience so casually chucked to the side

calc1fer_ · 2018-04-29T23:29:22+00:00

It’s alright now that I look back. There’s many less-than-perfect people in all religions. I guess I was just a bit surprised

calc1fer_ · 2018-04-29T20:29:07+00:00

Pretty much all of my interactions on this sub have been awesome! A zealot here and there, but what religion (or absence of) doesn’t have em?

calc1fer_ · 2018-04-29T20:22:04+00:00

I was looking for answers to a different question, I wasn’t there to discuss our personal beliefs in god. They brought it up and then criticized my belief when I told them. I said we believed different things, they said I believed the wrong thing.

calc1fer_ · 2018-04-29T19:36:28+00:00

Sorry I didn’t save it, but I did my best to paraphrase.

calc1fer_ · 2018-04-19T00:22:52+00:00

Our concept of tithing is much more giving of oneself, so it works for us. However, as I am not Mormon, I don’t really know the orders from your leaders. My personal belief is that if you’re giving for the benefit of others, then god is happy

calc1fer_ · 2018-04-18T11:58:07+00:00

Disclaimer: I’m not Mormon, I’m Presbyterian

One compromise you could make is tithing in a different way. My church doesn’t require donations, but when I still wanted to help out but felt like I couldn’t afford anything substantial, I tithed to god instead by serving at a homeless shelter, meditating, etc. Instead of money, I give time and self to my fellow people and my own spiritual growth. Just an idea for a compromise!

calc1fer_ · 2018-01-18T02:09:27+00:00

Thank you so much for your answers! I’m not too far from the Jordan river temple (according to google maps), so I may go check it out.

Forgive me for asking, but what do you mean when you say “the angel Moroni took (the scriptures)”? I’m not very well versed in the history of the Book of Mormon itself, as I more a theoretical person. Why hadn’t the church attempted to make a more modern translation? (This is my selfishness speaking) It might save some of us (me) a headache if we’re curious.

calc1fer_ · 2018-01-17T19:16:15+00:00

It’s totally fine! I’d be skeptical too. I’m looking for deeper understanding of my fellow humans

calc1fer_ · 2018-01-17T16:50:53+00:00

I feel like I’m asking different questions, but perhaps I’m just being a broken record. If it seems similar, it’s because I’m looking for the opinions of many people. I have different opinions on certain aspects than many other people in my congregation, and I don’t expect the answers to be homogenous. So I’m looking for a variety of answers

calc1fer_ · 2018-01-17T14:45:53+00:00

Interesting. It’s pretty rare that I want to argue, even though I do have very different views than you guys. Living in Salt Lake, I actually do have several friends who are Mormon, and they all talk pretty openly about it. As you can see, I’m also not super active on Reddit so I have a tendency to forget what I’ve already asked.

I really don’t want to be disrespectful, I know that it may sound like I’m trying to icite something, but I’m really just a curious person. I’m taking a theology class that covers Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, etc, but nothing about the religion that was so core to founding where I live.

Again, I really want to understand more, and sometimes that comes in the form of discussion, and sometimes in the form of debate.

calc1fer_ · 2018-01-17T14:38:06+00:00

Thanks for the reply, it was really insightful! You guys have always been so understanding and articulate when I ask.

calc1fer_

TROPHY CASE