http://tomanyquestions.blogspot.com/2006/06/welcome-to-week-8-of-carnival-of-veil.html
Yes, the above link is for Week 8 of Canival of the Veil, and it is all thanks to Gunner and his team of volunteers.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Jim kindly commented on my blog. This is my reply to Jim
What Jim wrote is at the foot of this blog post
Dear Jim,
Thank you for your email.
The title of my blog might be a little confusing. I suppose the proper title would be "Not A Mormon... any more."
For I was raised as a Mormon. I read the Book of Mormon at least three times all the way through, did seminary, took part in seminary scripture chases. Went through Institute, and was made an elder in the Mormon church.
You claim I twist and distort things. I am amused by this claim. Why? Because what I write is either based on my own research or on stuff that happened to me.
Therefore they are not twisted or distored. And I note that only a Mormon would believe that someone with something critical to say about (for example) the less savoury points of the life of Joseph Smith is "bashing" anything.
Unless you are the type of Mormon who knows that every Mormon who resigned their membership only did so because they wanted to sin? :)
I left the Mormon church because I prayed very fervently to God and God told me the Mormon church was not his true church. To be frank, I was not expecting that answer, I was expecting to be told that it was true. So I felt compelled to leave the Mormon church by God.
What is of value to me? Truth. My personal integrity. Helping to inform people that the Mormon church is not God's true church, when I have the chance.
What would I devote myself to if the LDS church ceased to exist? Pretty much what I do now. Voluntary work, and working within my professional field which takes up so much time I am mildly stunned to find I have ANY free time!
The time I spend on the issues raised by the existance of the Mormon church is tiny, in reality.
Best wishes,
Matt
Hi Matt,I just came across your blog and enjoyed reading the comments that you posted.I understand by the title of your blog that you are obviously NOT A MORMON. So tell me. What exactly are you? You seem to know what you think is not right and feel pretty comfortable bashing, twisting and distorting things that you claim are of no value to you, but what exactly is of value to you?Do you actually stand for anything? If so, I would love to hear about it. You seem to be someone that has given a lot of thought to spiritual things and I am sure that you have some beliefs that you DO believe in, other than the "LDS Church is false". At least I hope that you do. Think for a moment...If the LDS Church ceased to exist tomorrow, what would you be devoting yourself to? What worthy cause would occupy your mind or would you cease to exist as well? I hope that your life isn't only built around bashing the mormons, because if it is....... then my friend, I am afraid that you need them to exist. Maybe you should begin to give some thought to that and dedicate yourself to something that doesn't require you to depend on the existence of Mormons.Best Wishes and Kindest Regards,Jim
Dear Jim,
Thank you for your email.
The title of my blog might be a little confusing. I suppose the proper title would be "Not A Mormon... any more."
For I was raised as a Mormon. I read the Book of Mormon at least three times all the way through, did seminary, took part in seminary scripture chases. Went through Institute, and was made an elder in the Mormon church.
You claim I twist and distort things. I am amused by this claim. Why? Because what I write is either based on my own research or on stuff that happened to me.
Therefore they are not twisted or distored. And I note that only a Mormon would believe that someone with something critical to say about (for example) the less savoury points of the life of Joseph Smith is "bashing" anything.
Unless you are the type of Mormon who knows that every Mormon who resigned their membership only did so because they wanted to sin? :)
I left the Mormon church because I prayed very fervently to God and God told me the Mormon church was not his true church. To be frank, I was not expecting that answer, I was expecting to be told that it was true. So I felt compelled to leave the Mormon church by God.
What is of value to me? Truth. My personal integrity. Helping to inform people that the Mormon church is not God's true church, when I have the chance.
What would I devote myself to if the LDS church ceased to exist? Pretty much what I do now. Voluntary work, and working within my professional field which takes up so much time I am mildly stunned to find I have ANY free time!
The time I spend on the issues raised by the existance of the Mormon church is tiny, in reality.
Best wishes,
Matt
Hi Matt,I just came across your blog and enjoyed reading the comments that you posted.I understand by the title of your blog that you are obviously NOT A MORMON. So tell me. What exactly are you? You seem to know what you think is not right and feel pretty comfortable bashing, twisting and distorting things that you claim are of no value to you, but what exactly is of value to you?Do you actually stand for anything? If so, I would love to hear about it. You seem to be someone that has given a lot of thought to spiritual things and I am sure that you have some beliefs that you DO believe in, other than the "LDS Church is false". At least I hope that you do. Think for a moment...If the LDS Church ceased to exist tomorrow, what would you be devoting yourself to? What worthy cause would occupy your mind or would you cease to exist as well? I hope that your life isn't only built around bashing the mormons, because if it is....... then my friend, I am afraid that you need them to exist. Maybe you should begin to give some thought to that and dedicate yourself to something that doesn't require you to depend on the existence of Mormons.Best Wishes and Kindest Regards,Jim
Thursday, June 22, 2006
New website to help you interpret and explore dreams to find their hidden meanings.
And if THIS subject ain't post-Mormon, than goodness knows what IS!
Dr. Barry Burns announced a new Web site that explores dreams and their interpretations: www.diagnoseyourdreams.com. The site specialises in how everyone can find a unique meaning of dreams.
“The central theme of the site is to help empower people to interpret dreams for themselves," said Dr. Burns.
“Dream dictionaries are of limited use. They can give you common meanings to dream symbols, but the meaning of symbols vary widely from one person to another.”
Dr. Burns cites the following as an example: "To one person the color red may symbolize 'love;' to another it means 'blood.' Dreams are created by each person's brain, so the correct answer is the association each individual's mind makes with the symbol, regardless of what a book or another person says."
Dr. Burns, a former minister, studied dreams and their interpretations while attending seminary. There were no formal classes on the topic, so he created an independent study course under the direction of his adviser.
Along with his academic research of dreams and the scientific results of previous studies, Dr. Burns conducted a lab experiment with himself and another subject. During the course, they trained themselves to wake up after each dream (usually five to six times per night) and record it in a journal.
At the same time, they kept a diary of their waking lives.Over a period of months, they were able to make connections between the dream journals and the daytime diaries and observe how the conscious and subconscious minds were interacting.
Fascinated by his study, Dr. Burns later went on to get his doctorate in the study of the subconscious mind at the American Institute of Hypnotherapy.
The new Web site includes information on dream symbols, common dreams and the spirituality of dreams. It also includes interactive features such as a Polling Booth and a Message Board where visitors can share their dreams and ask for feedback in understanding them.For more information about this release, visit www.diagnoseyourdreams.com
About Diagnose Your Dreams:Diagnose Your Dreams' parent company has been providing educational opportunities through books, tapes, seminars and the Internet since 2000.
About Dr. Barry Burns:Dr. Burns received his doctorate from the American Institute of Hypnotherapy where he studied Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis, and Dreams and did his dissertation on the role of the subconscious mind in the spiritual traditions of the world. He is the founder of Wellspring Hypnotherapy in Costa Mesa, CA and has conducted seminars around the country on personal and spiritual growth.
Dr. Barry Burns announced a new Web site that explores dreams and their interpretations: www.diagnoseyourdreams.com. The site specialises in how everyone can find a unique meaning of dreams.
“The central theme of the site is to help empower people to interpret dreams for themselves," said Dr. Burns.
“Dream dictionaries are of limited use. They can give you common meanings to dream symbols, but the meaning of symbols vary widely from one person to another.”
Dr. Burns cites the following as an example: "To one person the color red may symbolize 'love;' to another it means 'blood.' Dreams are created by each person's brain, so the correct answer is the association each individual's mind makes with the symbol, regardless of what a book or another person says."
Dr. Burns, a former minister, studied dreams and their interpretations while attending seminary. There were no formal classes on the topic, so he created an independent study course under the direction of his adviser.
Along with his academic research of dreams and the scientific results of previous studies, Dr. Burns conducted a lab experiment with himself and another subject. During the course, they trained themselves to wake up after each dream (usually five to six times per night) and record it in a journal.
At the same time, they kept a diary of their waking lives.Over a period of months, they were able to make connections between the dream journals and the daytime diaries and observe how the conscious and subconscious minds were interacting.
Fascinated by his study, Dr. Burns later went on to get his doctorate in the study of the subconscious mind at the American Institute of Hypnotherapy.
The new Web site includes information on dream symbols, common dreams and the spirituality of dreams. It also includes interactive features such as a Polling Booth and a Message Board where visitors can share their dreams and ask for feedback in understanding them.For more information about this release, visit www.diagnoseyourdreams.com
About Diagnose Your Dreams:Diagnose Your Dreams' parent company has been providing educational opportunities through books, tapes, seminars and the Internet since 2000.
About Dr. Barry Burns:Dr. Burns received his doctorate from the American Institute of Hypnotherapy where he studied Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis, and Dreams and did his dissertation on the role of the subconscious mind in the spiritual traditions of the world. He is the founder of Wellspring Hypnotherapy in Costa Mesa, CA and has conducted seminars around the country on personal and spiritual growth.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
There are NO positive benefits to Mormonism
I was thinking to myself yesterday. I thought "Surely there must have been some unique positive benefit to my membership of the Mormon church?
"So… what was it?" I thought. I could almost hear the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees of my imagination, as I waited for the answer.
Of course, no answer came. Why not? Because there was no unique, positive benefit that I, or anyone else, derived from membership of the Mormon Church.
As a youth in the church, there were no dances, no functions. Sometimes we took part on a road show. But eventually these were stopped. They had an annual stake New Year dance. Which they decided at one point had to finish at 10 pm, which rather did put a dampener on the whole thing, as you could imagine.
Before my parents made me become a Mormon I was a member of the Sea Scouts. When we became Mormons, somehow, I wasn’t a Sea Scout anymore. I was never allowed to go to school discos. It was felt that these weren’t appropriate for a young Mormon. We were supposed to attend nice safe Mormon events instead. Unfortunately there were no Mormon events for local young people, so that was a rather moot point, in reality.
There was a local youth club that was more of an outward bound style club, with trips to mountains, etc., etc. That was deemed "un-Mormon" too. So I never took part in that.
To rub salt in the wounds we had church books and magazines that told us about "cool" things like Mormon Church promoted scouting, etc., but we didn’t get anything like that in the UK, when I was growing up as a Mormon. We went on Father and son camping expeditions. But, in truth, there were only ever two or three of those organised.
What about church dances in our ward? There were only ever two. And I organised both of those, as I was so angry that nobody had organised dances when I was younger, that I decided to organise one. I used part of a redundancy compensation to hire equipment for the disco.
The disco was a great success. The second one was a failure as the Stake president’s first counsellor decided that young people should not waste their time going to dances. His words were: "Those young members who had not gone on a mission should be staying at home studying their scriptures, whilst those who had been on a mission should already be married and at home with their wife!" Weird, or what?
But that was his view. Someone complained to Stake President about him. (not me) And got excommunicated for failing to sustain the brethren, for their pains. His wife left the Mormon Church, too, taking their children with them, so I guess it worked out well for them, in the long run.
So, what about the fact that I do not smoke and me a decent person? Strangely enough, most of my non-Mormon relatives do not smoke and they are all exceedingly nice, decent, honest people. And all this despite the fact that they were never members of the Mormon Church.
Claims by Mormons that they would not be good, decent people had they not been Mormons are the result of cult indoctrination.
"So… what was it?" I thought. I could almost hear the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees of my imagination, as I waited for the answer.
Of course, no answer came. Why not? Because there was no unique, positive benefit that I, or anyone else, derived from membership of the Mormon Church.
As a youth in the church, there were no dances, no functions. Sometimes we took part on a road show. But eventually these were stopped. They had an annual stake New Year dance. Which they decided at one point had to finish at 10 pm, which rather did put a dampener on the whole thing, as you could imagine.
Before my parents made me become a Mormon I was a member of the Sea Scouts. When we became Mormons, somehow, I wasn’t a Sea Scout anymore. I was never allowed to go to school discos. It was felt that these weren’t appropriate for a young Mormon. We were supposed to attend nice safe Mormon events instead. Unfortunately there were no Mormon events for local young people, so that was a rather moot point, in reality.
There was a local youth club that was more of an outward bound style club, with trips to mountains, etc., etc. That was deemed "un-Mormon" too. So I never took part in that.
To rub salt in the wounds we had church books and magazines that told us about "cool" things like Mormon Church promoted scouting, etc., but we didn’t get anything like that in the UK, when I was growing up as a Mormon. We went on Father and son camping expeditions. But, in truth, there were only ever two or three of those organised.
What about church dances in our ward? There were only ever two. And I organised both of those, as I was so angry that nobody had organised dances when I was younger, that I decided to organise one. I used part of a redundancy compensation to hire equipment for the disco.
The disco was a great success. The second one was a failure as the Stake president’s first counsellor decided that young people should not waste their time going to dances. His words were: "Those young members who had not gone on a mission should be staying at home studying their scriptures, whilst those who had been on a mission should already be married and at home with their wife!" Weird, or what?
But that was his view. Someone complained to Stake President about him. (not me) And got excommunicated for failing to sustain the brethren, for their pains. His wife left the Mormon Church, too, taking their children with them, so I guess it worked out well for them, in the long run.
So, what about the fact that I do not smoke and me a decent person? Strangely enough, most of my non-Mormon relatives do not smoke and they are all exceedingly nice, decent, honest people. And all this despite the fact that they were never members of the Mormon Church.
Claims by Mormons that they would not be good, decent people had they not been Mormons are the result of cult indoctrination.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Exclusive Notamormon designer items now on sale at the Notamormon shop
Notamomon now has its own shop, selling exclusive Notamormon designer items. All very tastefully designed.
There’s clothing (from bibs to golf shirts, via t-shirts and jackets and thongs) clocks, mugs, beer steins, journals, trucker’s hats, calendars, greeting cards, tote bags, messenger bags, etc., etc.
To visit the Notamormon shop please visit this link http://www.cafepress.com/matt_exmo
There’s clothing (from bibs to golf shirts, via t-shirts and jackets and thongs) clocks, mugs, beer steins, journals, trucker’s hats, calendars, greeting cards, tote bags, messenger bags, etc., etc.
To visit the Notamormon shop please visit this link http://www.cafepress.com/matt_exmo
Friday, June 16, 2006
Mormon Truth!!: Welcome To Week 6, Of The Carnival Of The Veil!!
Mormon Truth!!: Welcome To Week 6, Of The Carnival Of The Veil!!
This is another exceptionally cool COTV! Enjoy!
This is another exceptionally cool COTV! Enjoy!
Mormon Truth!!: Welcome To Week 6, Of The Carnival Of The Veil!!
Mormon Truth!!: Welcome To Week 6, Of The Carnival Of The Veil!!
This is another exceptionally cool COTV! Enjoy!
This is another exceptionally cool COTV! Enjoy!
Thursday, June 15, 2006
New Mormon online service makes me somewhat sad
PRESS RELEASE:
"Clean email and a safe and fun online experience are the focus of a new website catering to the LDS community.Launched in April of 2006, http://www.ldscentral.org/ is quickly becoming “the Homepage” for many Mormon's around the world.
"The one of a kind website was created to bring together many Internet resources and make them conveniently available and centrally located for the LDS community," says Jay Olson, Founder of LDS Central.
The website boasts many online features available to the member such as: LDS Dating and Personals ads, Job listings, Mormon Scripture and Gospel, Auctions, Filtered Email service, Instant Messaging, and Healthy Living and Nutrition tips for the Mormon community.
“It is our intent to provide a safe and secure gateway to the Internet while providing an interactive and resourceful website for members of The Church.
LDS Central is maintained and monitored on a daily basis to keep in harmony with our purpose and mission of providing a safe and fun filled on-line atmosphere for all of the LDS Central members,” concluded Mr. Olson.
LDSCentral.org memberships start at just a few dollars for 1 month of access with LDS Single and Family plans available."
NOTAMORMON COMMENT
Doesn't Jay understand that his boss, Moron (sic) president Gordon "the Controller" Hinckley does NOT want Mormons like Jay running their own websites?
Repent Jay! Repent! Confess to your Bishop. Close down your website and submit to the will of the collective!
"Clean email and a safe and fun online experience are the focus of a new website catering to the LDS community.Launched in April of 2006, http://www.ldscentral.org/ is quickly becoming “the Homepage” for many Mormon's around the world.
"The one of a kind website was created to bring together many Internet resources and make them conveniently available and centrally located for the LDS community," says Jay Olson, Founder of LDS Central.
The website boasts many online features available to the member such as: LDS Dating and Personals ads, Job listings, Mormon Scripture and Gospel, Auctions, Filtered Email service, Instant Messaging, and Healthy Living and Nutrition tips for the Mormon community.
“It is our intent to provide a safe and secure gateway to the Internet while providing an interactive and resourceful website for members of The Church.
LDS Central is maintained and monitored on a daily basis to keep in harmony with our purpose and mission of providing a safe and fun filled on-line atmosphere for all of the LDS Central members,” concluded Mr. Olson.
LDSCentral.org memberships start at just a few dollars for 1 month of access with LDS Single and Family plans available."
NOTAMORMON COMMENT
Doesn't Jay understand that his boss, Moron (sic) president Gordon "the Controller" Hinckley does NOT want Mormons like Jay running their own websites?
Repent Jay! Repent! Confess to your Bishop. Close down your website and submit to the will of the collective!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Didn't Mormonism used to be a church?
Didn't Mormonism used to be a church?
The reason I pose this question is because when my parents decided the family would become Mormons in 1966, it seemed to be to my youthful mind, a church which the members and the leaders believed in.
David O. Mkay was the president, then. We got the impression that he really believed in the truth of the church and always did his best for the membership.
I believe that it is possible that the history of the Mormon church is something like this:- Joseph Smith started the Mormon church as a combined joke and method of scamming money from people. After all, making your faithful followers take baths and then getting them to wear underwear with magic markings sewn on to them has to be a joke, right?
But then, Smith had a change of heart. He sent out an order telling members to stop wearing their so-called temple garments. Perhaps he had realised that he should stop poking fun at his followers? Had he somehow received a real revelation from God chiding him for abusing his followers?
But then he was killed, so we wont know exactly what Smith would have done. But it is fair to surmise that Smith and at least Brigham Young were aware that the whole thing was nothing but a scam.
But by the mid 1960s, the leaders seems to take it all very seriously. But a curious thing happened. At some point after this, the leadership (most noticeable in the time of Hinckley) seemed to suddenly re-connect with the idea that the Mormon church was nothing but a scam and decided to take the opportunity to poke fun at the members, pretty much as Smith had done.
Mormonism used to be a church at least in the 1960s, when my parents made us join. It is not a church anymore. It is a Pyramid scheme which offers those lower down the slopes of the pyramid no chance of earning anything. President Hinckley's downline pays its members absolutely nothing!
The reason I pose this question is because when my parents decided the family would become Mormons in 1966, it seemed to be to my youthful mind, a church which the members and the leaders believed in.
David O. Mkay was the president, then. We got the impression that he really believed in the truth of the church and always did his best for the membership.
I believe that it is possible that the history of the Mormon church is something like this:- Joseph Smith started the Mormon church as a combined joke and method of scamming money from people. After all, making your faithful followers take baths and then getting them to wear underwear with magic markings sewn on to them has to be a joke, right?
But then, Smith had a change of heart. He sent out an order telling members to stop wearing their so-called temple garments. Perhaps he had realised that he should stop poking fun at his followers? Had he somehow received a real revelation from God chiding him for abusing his followers?
But then he was killed, so we wont know exactly what Smith would have done. But it is fair to surmise that Smith and at least Brigham Young were aware that the whole thing was nothing but a scam.
But by the mid 1960s, the leaders seems to take it all very seriously. But a curious thing happened. At some point after this, the leadership (most noticeable in the time of Hinckley) seemed to suddenly re-connect with the idea that the Mormon church was nothing but a scam and decided to take the opportunity to poke fun at the members, pretty much as Smith had done.
Mormonism used to be a church at least in the 1960s, when my parents made us join. It is not a church anymore. It is a Pyramid scheme which offers those lower down the slopes of the pyramid no chance of earning anything. President Hinckley's downline pays its members absolutely nothing!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Why the Mormon Church does NOT want "gay" weddings. The answer might shock you.
Why does the Mormon Church think that homosexual marriage or a similar service is a good idea?
Adam posted this on the RFM board, recently:
"I have just received a copy of a letter sent to all GA's, Seventies and Stake Presidents in the US that asks Mormons to "express themselves on this urgent matter to their elected representatives in the Senate" relative to the June 6 vote on an amendment to the Constitution "designed to protect the traditional institution of marriage."Here we go again ..."
Now, you would think that this is because the sanctity if marriage is important. That it needs to be protected, etc., etc.
But I would make a modest wager that there is another reason for their opposition to this ammendment to the law.
If that amendment is passed, it might really open the floodgates for other changes. What if, for example, polygamy was to become legalised?
The Mormon church would not be able to pretend that polygamy was a thing of the past, something of historical interest only. And minor interest at that.
Polygamy would be a live issue. A very live and dangerous issue. Because there would be no excuse not to re-introduce polygamy. Oh, damn!
Things could become very interesting for the next Mormon prophet...
Adam posted this on the RFM board, recently:
"I have just received a copy of a letter sent to all GA's, Seventies and Stake Presidents in the US that asks Mormons to "express themselves on this urgent matter to their elected representatives in the Senate" relative to the June 6 vote on an amendment to the Constitution "designed to protect the traditional institution of marriage."Here we go again ..."
Now, you would think that this is because the sanctity if marriage is important. That it needs to be protected, etc., etc.
But I would make a modest wager that there is another reason for their opposition to this ammendment to the law.
If that amendment is passed, it might really open the floodgates for other changes. What if, for example, polygamy was to become legalised?
The Mormon church would not be able to pretend that polygamy was a thing of the past, something of historical interest only. And minor interest at that.
Polygamy would be a live issue. A very live and dangerous issue. Because there would be no excuse not to re-introduce polygamy. Oh, damn!
Things could become very interesting for the next Mormon prophet...
Thursday, June 01, 2006
This week's Carnival of the Veil up a running!
The following link will take you direct to the Carnival of the Veil. Have fun!
http://tomanyquestions.blogspot.com/2006/06/welcome-to-week-4-of-carnival-of-veil.html
http://tomanyquestions.blogspot.com/2006/06/welcome-to-week-4-of-carnival-of-veil.html
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