Do you feel you could exit the LDS Church absent real personal cost?

[SeattleUte]

Poll: In response to Indy's views on coersion.

Note to apostates: Read the poll as: "Did you feel your exit from the LDS Church came without real personal cost?"

[Indy Coug]

Likewise, could I exit my job, marriage, fatherly responsibilities and so forth absent real personal cost?

[scottie]

Poll: In response to Indy's views on coersion.

Note to apostates: Read the poll as: "Did you feel your exit from the LDS Church entailed real personal cost?"

SU, I'm easily confused, but I want to clarify your poll question with your note to apostates...

For someone still in the LDS Church, if they feel like they could not leave without personal cost, they would vote "No".
For someone who has left the LDS Church, if they feel like their exit came with personal cost, they should vote "Yes"?

[KillerDog]

Likewise, could I exit my job, marriage, fatherly responsibilities and so forth absent real personal cost?

True, the poll doesn't say anything re: coercion. Instead it is an indication of whether you are invested in something.

[TripletDaddy]

This poll is lame.

[SeattleUte]

SU, I'm easily confused, but I want to clarify your poll question with your note to apostates...

For someone still in the LDS Church, if they feel like they could not leave without personal cost, they would vote "No".
For someone who has left the LDS Church, if they feel like their exit came with personal cost, they should vote "Yes"?

Corrected.

[SeattleUte]

This poll is lame.

Perhaps. But equally lame is this coersion argument. Being a Mormon entails a lot of cost. Financial cost, time cost, (I submit) cost to your personal dignity, to name a few. Obviously some people believe it's worth the price. In other words, it would be more costly to exit than to stay in; the very essence of "sacrifice," i.e., give something up to get something. So, to say that there's no coersion is sophistry. There's no coersion because, yes, anyone can leave, IN THEORY. But if you choose not to leave (and we've established the cost of leaving is steep for any active member), then you have to play by the rules, i.e., there's coersion. The LDS Church is nothing if not authoritative and coercive. It doesn't use clubs, alsations, or submachine guns; it uses psychological and emotional coersion. I'm not going to give some obvious examples because I've given this nonsensical debate more words than it deserves already.

[LA Ute]

I don't think this is a very helpful question or discussion. I assume you are trying to make a point about coercion.

When someone is a part of any community, let alone a faith community, leaving always entails a cost proportional to the degree of one's investment in the community. (I'm not referring to a financial investment.)

Leaving the Democratic party could come at great personal cost. So could leaving a law firm, or converting from Judaism to Catholicism, or leaving Orthodox Judaism.

My experience (family, friends, acquaintances) among Mormons is that rather than leave altogether, long-time members (especially those with family ties to the Church) simply become less active.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I don't think this is a very helpful question or discussion. I assume you are trying to make a point about coercion.

When someone is a part of any community, let alone a faith community, leaving always entails a cost proportional to the degree of one's investment in the community. (I'm not referring to a financial investment.)

Leaving the Democratic party could come at great personal cost. So could leaving a law firm, or converting from Judaism to Catholicism, or leaving Orthodox Judaism.

My experience (family, friends, acquaintances) among Mormons is that rather than leave altogether, long-time members (especially those with family ties to the Church) simply become less active.

The emotions upon leaving the LDS church are arguably more severe because of the eternal family doctrine. For most Jews and Catholics, leaving the church is akin to abandoning one's culture. It's harsh, but you can get over it. For mormons, my wife would be distressed about not having an eternal companion and family.

I think Jarid in Cedar would have some good insight into this.

[SeattleUte]

I don't think this is a very helpful question or discussion. I assume you are trying to make a point about coercion.

I agree. I am trying to make a point about Indy being silly or trolling.

[LA Ute]

The emotions upon leaving the LDS church are arguably more severe because of the eternal family doctrine. For most Jews and Catholics, leaving the church is akin to abandoning one's culture. It's harsh, but you can get over it. For mormons, my wife would be distressed about not having an eternal companion and family.

I think Jarid in Cedar would have some good insight into this.

I hear you, but it can be tough for others too. I know of one Orthodox Jew whose family had a funeral for him when he became a Christian. In their minds, he is dead and is a traitor to his ancestors who died in the Holocaust.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I hear you, but it can be tough for others too. I know of one Orthodox Jew whose family had a funeral for him when he became a Christian. In their minds, he is dead and is a traitor to his ancestors who died in the Holocaust.

Reminds me of "Fiddler on the Roof".

[LA Ute]

Reminds me of "Fiddler on the Roof".

I feel like bursting into song. "Tradition, tradition!'

[mUUser]

It was refreshing to be in the "mainstream" religion when we lived for several years hip-deep amongst the Amish. You leave the Amish life behind and there is steep and genuine personal cost.

[byu71]

Would losing a 5 million dollar trust fund be considered a personal loss?