Levin's new project

[Harry Tic]

Lebowski, Sooner is basing his stance more on a feeling in his heart of happiness not something that you can prove or disprove with your "science".

Why does every discussion in which Sooner participates end up looking exactly the same, no matter the OP? Maybe it's like a corollary to the John Dehlin rule that every thread on CS, if it gets long enough, ends up being about John Dehlin.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Why does every discussion in which Sooner participates end up looking exactly the same, no matter the OP? Maybe it's like a corollary to the John Dehlin rule that every thread on CS, if it gets long enough, ends up being about John Dehlin.

I've suggested multiple times that all of Sooner's posts get moved into a single thread for this reason, I'm but a lowly peon here not a part of Lebowski's elite council.

[imanihonjin]

I've suggested multiple times that all of Sooner's posts get moved into a single thread for this reason, I'm but a lowly peon here not a part of Lebowski's elite council.

If it helps, I would vote for you to be the leader of us peons.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

If it helps, I would vote for you to be the leader of us peons.

It doesn't.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I've suggested multiple times that all of Sooner's posts get moved into a single thread for this reason, I'm but a lowly peon here not a part of Lebowski's elite council.

Dude. I consider you elite.

[Non Sequitur]

That's very cool. Happy for you.

However, this is what we call anecdotal evidence. And you seem awfully biased. Since I know you are a man of science, let's look at some hard data. Every year the states are ranked on happiness and well-being. Mormon-dominant Utah came in at #8:

http://www.well-beingindex.com/alaska-leads-u.s.-states-in-well-being-for-first-time

Religion makes you happy:

http://freakonomics.com/2014/07/24/does-religion-make-you-happy-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

Psychology research shows that religion makes you happy:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/religion-is-a-sure-route-to-true-happiness/2014/01/23/f6522120-8452-11e3-bbe5-6a2a3141e3a9_story.html

There you go, Sooner. Stop being so anti-science!

Heroin also makes you happy .

I don't know if leaving the church has made me happier, but it has definitely eased the burden of guilt I used to lug around every day. On the flip side, having so many friends and family in the church, it has made my life much more complicated.

[imanihonjin]

It doesn't.

Hey man, I don't vote for just anyone. #voteordie

[smokymountainrain]

Why don't you just try taking 1 year off? Enjoy your Sundays. Or do something real (e.g., help the homeless on Sundays instead of sitting in church for 3 hours).

I think time spent in Church is pretty much a complete waste. I have found that there is absolutely no comparison between doing productive, life-changing things and wasting time in Church meetings.

For me, a major turning poing was back in residency when people at Church were trying to reactivate me while I was missing meetings mostly just because of work obligations. Pretty much no one seemed to accept the explanation that I had to work most Sundays. (It was bizarre. But most of the LDS residents in the ward had specialties where they didn't have to work very many Sundays.)

It made me think about where I would rather be and what had more meaning, and honestly--there was absolutely no comparison between helping sick people and attending church meetings. It wasn't even close. It also made me realize that there are a million genuinely productive things that can be done on Sunday instead of participating in discussions about mythology for hours on end.

I know that the Church organizes service projects, etc. But in reality, the Church spends only a tiny fraction of its money on welfare and charity. Generally, I consider Church meetings, temple worship, and most other activities to be silly community distractions from the real world rather than genuine solutions to life's problems.

The amount of human effort that is wasted in religion is completely mind boggling. If humanity spent 1/10th that money and time effort in pursuit of real things, the entire world would be a remarkably better place.

Leaving the Church has been a liberating experience for both me and my wife. I highly recommend it. That said, I know it's hard to leave if the entire family isn't on board.

Good post.

[Moliere]

Why does every discussion in which Sooner participates end up looking exactly the same, no matter the OP? Maybe it's like a corollary to the John Dehlin rule that every thread on CS, if it gets long enough, ends up being about John Dehlin.

That corollary can't exist here since half this board has never heard of John Dehlin.

[Northwestcoug]

Heroin also makes you happy .

I don't know if leaving the church has made me happier, but it has definitely eased the burden of guilt I used to lug around every day. On the flip side, having so many friends and family in the church, it has made my life much more complicated.

That's pretty honest, and mirrors a lot of my experience. Well, except for the heroin part.

[creekster]

That corollary can't exist here since half this board has never heard of John Dehlin.

Only the half that doesn't ever read the board. Dehlin is sort of like a fungus in a locker room. You can avoid it but you have to be very careful and it's always lurking.

[YOhio]

Dude. I consider you elite.

You might consider him as such, but he isn't part of our elite council. Just a peon who does what we tell him.

[clackamascoug]

Thread Jack.

When are you the happiest?

I'm consistently happy on the drive home from church, and on the first three holes of a golf course.

[TripletDaddy]

Thread Jack.

When are you the happiest?

I'm consistently happy on the drive home from church, and on the first three holes of a golf course.

Im also happiest when leaving church.

[Northwestcoug]

Im also happiest when leaving church.

You seem ripe for Sooner's challenge...