Levin's new project

[PaloAltoCougar]

I once said something positive about Mormonism to a biochemist from New Zealand. His response was: "SoonerCoug, that's nice, but you must realize that you're saying this from an insider's perspective. You're not objective."

As one of a few board members who has gone from inside the church to the outside, I can say that this particular New Zealander was right.

It is impossible to appreciate how much better life is without the Church until one actually tries leaving it. I implore everyone on this board to exercise even a particle of faith in my words, that this particle might be like unto a seed, which swells and grows within your hearts, even growing as a tree that bears good fruit, so that you may know that my words are true.

Honestly, my life is pretty awesome (I'll spare you the deets). If I follow your suggestion and leave the Church, only to discover that my life has become less awesome, what compensation are you prepared to give me?

[falafel]

I once said something positive about Mormonism to a biochemist from New Zealand. His response was: "SoonerCoug, that's nice, but you must realize that you're saying this from an insider's perspective. You're not objective."

As one of a few board members who has gone from inside the church to the outside, I can say that this particular New Zealander was right.

It is impossible to appreciate how much better life is without the Church until one actually tries leaving it. I implore everyone on this board to exercise even a particle of faith in my words, that this particle might be like unto a seed, which swells and grows within your hearts, even growing as a tree that bears good fruit, so that you may know that my words are true.

SoonerCoug, that's nice, but you must realize that you're saying this from an ex-mo's perspective. You're not objective.

[Pelado]

SoonerCoug, that's nice, but you must realize that you're saying this from an ex-mo's perspective. You're not objective.

When did Sooner get his name removed? Exed? I thought he was still a member.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I once said something positive about Mormonism to a biochemist from New Zealand. His response was: "SoonerCoug, that's nice, but you must realize that you're saying this from an insider's perspective. You're not objective."

As one of a few board members who has gone from inside the church to the outside

You aren't an active member of the church? When did this happen?

[creekster]

When did Sooner get his name removed? Exed? I thought he was still a member.

ex-mo is an attitude and a lifestyle, not a piece of paper.

[clackamascoug]

I'd be afraid to leave the Church and be happier than I currently am. I'm only one man, and if I took on anymore happiness than I currently have, it would sink me.

[wuapinmon]

I implore everyone on this board to exercise even a particle of faith in my words, that this particle might be like unto a seed, which swells and grows within your hearts, even growing as a tree that bears good fruit, so that you may know that my words are true.

I think that's the epitome of the philosophies of men mingled with scripture. So, in response:

[Nakoma]

I once said something positive about Mormonism to a biochemist from New Zealand. His response was: "SoonerCoug, that's nice, but you must realize that you're saying this from an insider's perspective. You're not objective."

As one of a few board members who has gone from inside the church to the outside, I can say that this particular New Zealander was right.

It is impossible to appreciate how much better life is without the Church until one actually tries leaving it. I implore everyone on this board to exercise even a particle of faith in my words, that this particle might be like unto a seed, which swells and grows within your hearts, even growing as a tree that bears good fruit, so that you may know that my words are true.

If only there were some people who have been without the Church and joined who could objectively tell Mormon lifers how much better life is with the Church than without the Church.

[Clark Addison]

As one of a few board members who has gone from inside the church to the outside ...

LOL. Half of this board has gone from inside the church to the outside.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

LOL. Half of this board has gone from inside the church to the outside.

I'd guess that none of the board member are inside the church at this exact moment.

[SoonerCoug]

Honestly, my life is pretty awesome (I'll spare you the deets). If I follow your suggestion and leave the Church, only to discover that my life has become less awesome, what compensation are you prepared to give me?

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.

[imanihonjin]

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.

Perhaps people might take you as a sincere individual in your quest to help others if you weren't such an asshole.

[TripletDaddy]

The amount of human effort that is wasted in religion is completely mind boggling.

Tell me more about the frivolity of w.a.s.t.e.d time and effort.....

[Jeff Lebowski]

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.

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/

GRUBER: [The religious are] more likely to have higher incomes, higher education, have more stable marriages, be less likely to be on welfare, essentially be more successful on any economic measure you want to use.

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

Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College, recently gave a talk, “Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness,” in which she described things that we think will make us happy but don’t and things that really do. It turns out that a private plane would not make me happier. (I’m still not convinced.) It also turns out that people who have religious or spiritual beliefs are happier than those who don’t, no matter what their beliefs.

Religious beliefs, she says, “give people a sense of meaning.” It also gives them a social network. “It gives a sense of well being or comfort.”

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

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

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!

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".