Gomezy3k

OK so we need to be punished for what we do wrong... then why is it that we cannot take the punishment and when finished with it, move on. It seems like from what I get, when we are judged we are screwed and no matter how long we are punished we can never continue on. And the only way to move on is to accept Jesus or else. God judges us for the one Planck (note for the uneducated that is the smallest measurement of time there is) we are here on earth and then we are punished eternally for that minute segment of time forever. Somewhat similar to me taking a second and if my kids were doing something wrong at that second, locking them in a closet for the rest of their lives, or if they were doing something good rewarding them for the rest of their lives. To me this is definitely NOT a fair and "loving" way for god to treat us. We should be able to continue to progress and eventually ALL become "gods" instead of a lucky few, while the rest of us are screwed over by the big guy.

Well since sex is fun, enjoyable and just about everyone wants to do it in one form or another, trying to legislate morality is going to be next to impossible. Personally I wish there were fewer laws in selected places where one could go to enjoy the pleasures of sin.

I think the whole country should go against everything that people enjoy except for Nevada. That state should be an "anything goes" place where people could come and enjoy life for a short visit. Unfortunately, the government here has come up with too many restrictions. They are ruining a great place to live. LOL

I was baptized when I was 9 years old and my parents were very active in the church. I went on a mission and got married in the SLC Temple and taught Seminary among other things. After 35 years began to question. I am now an agnostic. I have issues with god and his/her/its lack of helping people or answering prayers.

I am glad it is working for you. I have been going through therapy for quite some time. Seems like each shrink comes up with their own pet diagnosis. Presently just seeing a shrink for meds and nothing else. I have thought about trying to find a good shrink but apathy rules...

Very true...in order to have faith, you need something to base it on, other than reading it in a book which is of questionable origin or being told something is true by another person. You have to experience it yourself. I have spent 50 of my 57 years looking for a god and wishing that the things that I was told was true, but so far, cannot say if god exists or doesn't exist. I have experienced NOTHING to show me either way...

I was diagnosed with Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder... Homicidal/Suicial Ideation, PTSD, and RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder)... Needless to say I am pretty screwed up. I am on Anti-depressants and been through so many shrinks I lost count. I was an in patient in a Psyche ward a few times, the last time for almost a year. I vowed never to go back.... This is pretty much the reason I am inactive. I feel nothing..well anger, but nothing else. I can function but not real well. I have tried praying to be healed or helped but god in his infinite wisdom has failed me. So.. I am still inactive... I am glad you were able to over come your problems...

My parents were members but we lived so far from church. When I was 8 we moved to a small town that had a branch. My mother started first, dragging me along, and finally convinced (nagged) my father to start going to... I was baptized at 9. From then on we were almost always at the church for some meeting or another. My mother was in the Primary as a teacher, counselor and president and Relief Society in all sorts of positions. My father was second counselor and executive secretary and several other positions that I forget. I was sent on a mission, (didn't want to go, but my mother wanted me to go so I went.). When I returned I taught Seminary... I got married in the SLC Temple and over the next 18 years my wife and I held assorted positions. I went through periods of belief, and periods of doubt. I would study, fast and pray all the while still going to church and then when I got no answer my doubting period would begin. It cycled. When I was on the mission I saw good people who sincerely believed, but they barely were able to survive..some had no indoor plumbing and the light shown through the walls of the house...and yet they scraped and saved to pay what little tithes and offerings they could. I began to wonder how a god who demanded we worship him, not help people who worshipped him. Oh sure there were stories of prayers being answered but it was always "so and so who knew someone who knew someone who had their prayers answered". I noticed that my prayers were not answered. I have been praying to know if the church was true, if the bible and BOM was true, etc. And got nothing. Oh sure I could be like everyone else and stand up and bear my testimony...even get a tear in my eye. But it was all an act. I felt nothing. After 18 years, I could take it no more, and got a divorce. (I spent almost a year in a psyche ward before I made the decision to get free.) Once on my own, I went searching, I looked into Pagan religions, christian religions, spiritual religions, and other belief systems. I discovered that I felt nothing when I tried them. So went back to Christianity and the LDS church and tried again. I read, fasted, prayed, etc. All the things that I had told investigators to do...and got zip. No prayers answered. I felt nothing.. and so now I am an agnostic. Why am I here on an LDS forum if I do not believe? Well, as one of my shrinks told me, we hang onto what we were raised with and feel somewhat comfortable with. So I guess the reason I am inactive is because "god" could care less about answering any of my prayers. I was told if you are doing something and it isn't working then stop doing it and try something else... so I am at the point where if god wants me to worship him, then he better be coming across with help and answers. I pray, god answers, I worship.