[What do you do?]

Pardon the slight derail a moment if you would, but since I'm trying to learn more about LDS practices and beliefs, can someone explain to me the issue with Tea and Coffee? I haven't managed to read everything I wanted to read before I started participating actively in discussions, but this is a gap in my knowledge.

No disrespect intended.

[The Atheist Comes In Peace]

Interesting... very interesting...

When you do read the Book of Mormon, this what I think you are in part doing. Yet I will hope you will do one other thing when reading. I hope you will read it with the thoughts of "What if..." as in "What if this is true?" rather than coming to it with a set mind and preconcluded determination to see it as false.

That's my hope anyways =).

Before I address this I just quickly want to say that I appreciate all the helpful links people have posted! I certainly have a lot of homework to do.

As for your statement, I think it is important that if one claims to have an open mind, as I do, that one approaches new things without a bias as best you can. Obviously true non-bias is nearly impossible to achieve. We are the sum of our experiences, after all. But while I do not necessarily *expect* to find a revelation for myself while reading, it would be the height of arrogance to take the position that I most *certainly* will not. That is small minded thinking and it isn't useful to anyone.

[The Atheist Comes In Peace]

Have you read the Book of Mormon? I assume you are familiar with the Bible, and the generalities of Christianity. I would start with a reading of the Book of Mormon, and as you hit doctrinal issues, ask about them.

I do plan to read it in the future. A copy sits on my shelf at this moment (a gift from one of your missionaries, in fact. I was more than happy to accept it!).

But I want to be able to devote the proper time to it, and so for now I was simply seeking a way to more familiarize myself with the ideas behind the LDS faith. I will most definitely have questions, I can guarantee it!

[The Atheist Comes In Peace]

I am a convert to the LDS religion and I found that a good outline is the articles of faith. I used to be catholic and its like the Nicene Creed for Mormons which basically outlines what we believe in. Besides that you can go onto Mormon.org and actually talk to Mormon missionaries right online and they can answer any questions you have about anything and go into as much detail as you want. i found that very informative. They arent like regular missionaries pushing you to convert either so its very comfortable to go on.

I had not considered this, thank you for the information!

[The Atheist Comes In Peace]

I'm a beginning adult violin student. Which are your favorite web sites on music theory? (Preferably something more than "these are scales, these are quarter notes, these are half-steps and whole steps", and other such things as you learn when you take piano lessons at age six.) Any general advice for an adult beginner?

One of the best sites I've ever found is Ricci Adams' Musictheory.net

It presents beginner, intermediate and somewhat advanced theory in a way that isn't terribly patronizing to adults, and the different sections mean you can sort of just start where you want, skipping anything you know already.

I'll admit, though, that as a Theorist, I tend to stick to books most of the time...and I probably have far too many of those! But that site is a good one, you might check it out.

As for advice? The standard, of course: Practice, Practice, Practice!

But outside of that, music should always be enjoyable. It should be an experience you love doing. It's easy to get frustrated when something is working correctly, or you work on a passage for *ages* and can't seem to lick it. It's important in those moments to remember why you started to play the instrument in the first place. Everything else will come, it just takes time!

[The Atheist Comes In Peace]

I'm going to guess, by your username, that either you like music and are a musician or a music teacher. I also enjoy music even though I am tone deaf. I play the piano and the flute. But don't ask me to sing - I sound like a cat in a tin can, .

I am a professional musician and composer, yes! Music has always been my passion, and I have been fortunate to turn that into a career.

I know you said you don't want what the internet says is "correct" - I assume you mean none-lds sites...

That was exactly what I meant. I always want the source, not hear-say. I'm sure you're aware that there are a LOT of sites on the internet about Mormonism, and I'd hazard a guess that the vast majority of them aren't speaking from any position of true authority on the subject.

[The Atheist Comes In Peace]

I have to imagine you get this a lot. Someone registers on the forum, introduces themselves as a non-theist, or even a member of a different faith. They claim they are here only to learn or to foster a dialogue. No ill intent.

At first, all is well, but slowly (and sometimes, not so slowly) that person springs to the attack, and suddenly this supposed humble learner shows themselves to be nothing more than a part of the hate machine.

Allow me, then, to...well, pretty much use the same opening line I guess. That didn't quite work out at all, did it?

As the title of the thread might suggest, I am, in fact, an Atheist. I don't personally like using the term because it tends to conjure negative impressions, but it is an accurate word, so I use it.

In my youth I was a member of a different Christian faith (specifically Baptist, although the highly congregational style of that particular denomination precludes easy categorizing) and as I grew older and into my college years I eventually fell out of it entirely, and so here I am today.

Despite my lack of religion, I am always curious about things. I have found that in the past, a lot of boards devoted to other faiths or even other denominations of Christianity have not been quite as welcoming to me. Everything I have experienced of Mormon followers first hand leads me to believe that will not be the case here, and I hope I'm right.

I'm taking the time to say all of this because I want to assure you that, as I post in the various threads here and ask questions or participate in discussions, I do so only with the intent of increasing my own understanding of your particular faith. You may not be used to an Atheist having any respect for your belief system, but that is not the case with me. At no point will you ever catch me trying to "convert" you, either overtly or subtly. I am not here to try and destroy your faith (which is a pointless exercise. Belief, or even non-Belief, is not something one can simply snap a finger at and disperse, and it annoys me to no end when I see people try and force the issue), but only to learn, ask questions, and participate.

I would hope, also, that if you ever have any questions for me, personally, that you would by all means ask them. Perhaps about my Atheism, or my journey to reach that point, or maybe just to clear up a misconception. I am an open book.

I don't want to start a thread without a question, of course! So I think the most basic one will do for now: If I wanted a sort of "cliffs notes" version of your views and beliefs, where would be the best place to get it? I intend to delve deeper than that eventually, of course, but I'd like to at least have a working knowledge from the *source*, and not from what the internet tells me is "correct".

Thank you in advance.

[New Around Here]

I look forward to many interesting discussions.