One of the speakers in Sacrament Meeting yesterday was talking about doubt and redefining our relationship with the church ( ). This is a lady I had never really met, but I had noticed that her husband only shows up about half of the time (the times that I'm there, anyway), so I assumed she might be talking about him until I heard the unexpected words, "Elder Poleman said..." after which she proceeded to quote from the ORIGINAL, un-redacted Ronald Poleman talk. Better yet, she inserted a few statements about how people who leave the church were supposedly happier before leaving and suggested that they had been happy because they were fully engaged in something that they thought was true at the time, before they came to the realization that it wasn't quite as advertised (my wording - hers was more subtle).
Afterwards I thanked her for giving such a refreshing talk and said, "That was Poleman's original talk, right?" She said, "Yes, I had to go to Sunstone to find it."
I think this is a family that I need to try to get to know better.
Ronald Poleman quoted in Sacrament Meeting
Ronald Poleman quoted in Sacrament Meeting
“The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.” -Mark Twain
Jesus: "The Kingdom of God is within you." The Buddha: "Be your own light."
Jesus: "The Kingdom of God is within you." The Buddha: "Be your own light."
Re: Ronald Poleman quoted in Sacrament Meeting
Yes. Yes, you do. That's totally awesome.
Learn to doubt the stories you tell about yourselves and your adversaries.
Re: Ronald Poleman quoted in Sacrament Meeting
That is too cool! It's a dream of mine to quote the original Poleman talk in SM.
And yay for new possible NOM friends in your ward!
And yay for new possible NOM friends in your ward!
...walked eye-deep in hell
believing in old men’s lies...--Ezra Pound
believing in old men’s lies...--Ezra Pound
Re: Ronald Poleman quoted in Sacrament Meeting
That is so awesome.
My last speaking engagement at church was years ago. Wish the old NOM archive was around so I could remember it better since I posted it there. I preceded an area authority 70, but gave a very NOM speech about reverence, I believe, but conspicuously referenced a lot of non-mormons as good examples of showing what was my definition of reverence, while leaving out all church authority.
But quoting the original Poelman is perfect. It's like wearing a t-shirt with a giant tapir on the front during your talk for those who know the reference. Subtle enough for everyone else to not draw huge questions.
There's no way they'd let me speak now, even though my butt is still in the pew every week. Sometimes, rarely, do I wish for the chance to give a talk like that.
My last speaking engagement at church was years ago. Wish the old NOM archive was around so I could remember it better since I posted it there. I preceded an area authority 70, but gave a very NOM speech about reverence, I believe, but conspicuously referenced a lot of non-mormons as good examples of showing what was my definition of reverence, while leaving out all church authority.
But quoting the original Poelman is perfect. It's like wearing a t-shirt with a giant tapir on the front during your talk for those who know the reference. Subtle enough for everyone else to not draw huge questions.
There's no way they'd let me speak now, even though my butt is still in the pew every week. Sometimes, rarely, do I wish for the chance to give a talk like that.
"Healing is impossible in loneliness; it is the opposite of loneliness. Conviviality is healing. To be healed we must come with all the other creates to the feast of Creation." --Wendell Berry
Re: Ronald Poleman quoted in Sacrament Meeting
Hagoth goes to a relatively enlightened ward. Hope it spreads to other wards.
Good faith does not require evidence, but it also does not turn a blind eye to that evidence. Otherwise, it becomes misplaced faith.
-- Moksha
-- Moksha