2nd Family Gathering Since Opening up About Beliefs
Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 11:34 pm
I recently told my family that I don't believe in the church and that I am basically some form of agnostic. Today was the second family get together since telling them. The first was pretty awkward, but this one was close to normal.
One of my brothers lives in a Utah county city that had a law against businesses being open on Sunday until recently when Walmart came knocking. Apparently there were some intense debates among the citizens on the subject at the time. It sounds like there were TBMs on both sides, some for forcing the blessings of Sabbath observance on people, and some for allowing people to choose.
My brother argued that to most of the community the blessings of sabbath observance are far more valuable than the profits you could earn by being open an extra day a week, and that we live in a society where the majority vote imposes its moral values on all by voting things into law. I argued that it isn't right to force your morals on others. It was a passionate but respectful discussion and I am so happy that we were able to have it. I probably made my brother look like a jerk, but he is a kind and thoughtful man and I am really glad my change in beliefs hasn't hurt his willingness to discuss stuff like this with me. I love NOM, but like we've discussed it can be an echo chamber.
Somehow the way the church puts attendance requirements on its help for those in need came up. I mentioned that it bothers me that they give with an ulterior motive. My brother responded that for TBMs getting people to church is the main motive and helping a person who is struggling temporally is the ulterior motive. Because they believe that what will really help a family is for them to become TBM. Because that's the way to get the windows of heaven to open, and to get eternal happiness, and with the infinity of eternal happiness on any one side of an equation it dwarfs anything else, so the logic makes sense. I forgot how to think this way. It shouldn't be legal to claim that you have rules that if followed are rewarded with infinity, it makes for crazy logic.
One of my brothers lives in a Utah county city that had a law against businesses being open on Sunday until recently when Walmart came knocking. Apparently there were some intense debates among the citizens on the subject at the time. It sounds like there were TBMs on both sides, some for forcing the blessings of Sabbath observance on people, and some for allowing people to choose.
My brother argued that to most of the community the blessings of sabbath observance are far more valuable than the profits you could earn by being open an extra day a week, and that we live in a society where the majority vote imposes its moral values on all by voting things into law. I argued that it isn't right to force your morals on others. It was a passionate but respectful discussion and I am so happy that we were able to have it. I probably made my brother look like a jerk, but he is a kind and thoughtful man and I am really glad my change in beliefs hasn't hurt his willingness to discuss stuff like this with me. I love NOM, but like we've discussed it can be an echo chamber.
Somehow the way the church puts attendance requirements on its help for those in need came up. I mentioned that it bothers me that they give with an ulterior motive. My brother responded that for TBMs getting people to church is the main motive and helping a person who is struggling temporally is the ulterior motive. Because they believe that what will really help a family is for them to become TBM. Because that's the way to get the windows of heaven to open, and to get eternal happiness, and with the infinity of eternal happiness on any one side of an equation it dwarfs anything else, so the logic makes sense. I forgot how to think this way. It shouldn't be legal to claim that you have rules that if followed are rewarded with infinity, it makes for crazy logic.