mormon lds skeptic
An LDS Stake President – What Is He?
One of my favorite blogs online is/was a blog that claimed to be written by an LDS Stake President. It was http://stakepresident.blogspot.com/ He called himself “President Paternoster“. He claimed to be the LDS Stake President for a Stake of the LDS Church in Ireland [but few readers really believed that]. His stated purpose in blogging … Continue reading
Writing Inspirational Fiction — Does It Apply To The LDS Book of Mormon?
People have written some pretty unusual books and articles. In my lifetime, computer programs have improved to the point that translations are as easy as going to Google translate and typing in the text that I need to be translated and Google will detect the language and automatically translate my choice of about 60 different … Continue reading
Thoughts on Prejudice, Racism, Religion and human “Races”
I need to share some thoughts about racism in today’s post. Nobody wants to be thought of as being “racist“. As I write this post today, I realize that I have been occasionally biased and racist in my own past. I have lacked empathy for different groups and individuals at many times throughout my life. … Continue reading
A “Higher Power”
I have been accused of NOT believing in “God”, but, to be honest, I have to admit that I have wondered myself exactly what “God” is and whether or not I have become an atheist, an agnostic, or a person that is best known by a different kind of celestial label. The most appropriate label … Continue reading
Self Deportation Strategy of Romney
During the second Presidential debate between Obama and Romney on October 16, 2012, the topic of “self-deportation” came up. Governor Romney said, “Now let me mention one other thing, and that is, self-deportation says let it — let people make their own choice. What I was saying is, we’re not going to round up 12 … Continue reading
Going To Heaven — Or Going to “ONE” of Many Heavens
The images in my mind of heaven as I grew up in a strict LDS home were generally the kind of images in church lesson manuals and included the time-honored “Christus” statue that is displayed in the visitors center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Christ is depicted as brilliant white and wearing a pure white … Continue reading
Is That All There Is To Life?
I had a long conversation at dinner with my older brother, Roger, this past week. He has always expressed dismay at the fact that I have embraced a “Humanist” perspective of life, rather that a divine one. “How can you possibly continue living while not believing in an afterlife?“, he asked. “There is no purpose … Continue reading
The “September Six” — In My Perspective (1993)
Fairness, Tolerance and Being Right My childhood years (1943-1961) were spent in a loving, fairly large family. There were seven of us kids with age differences spanning over 16 years. I quickly learned that we were each different in many ways: while one liked sports, another would be interested in school studies, and others would … Continue reading
Why Did It Take Me So Many Years? — A Partial Explanation: Status Quo Bias
I wrote previously about “confirmation bias” as it pertains to how we all make choices. There are other pressures on all of us when faced with a decision. I read a letter this week from another older person who had finally decided that continuing to profess belief in a fundamentalist religion that he finally decided … Continue reading
Superstition and the LDS Mind — Well at least My Mind and Superstition
I posted a very brief post last year about Superstitions. (See it here) I now am going to try to share some of my thoughts about magical thinking, superstition, talismans, occultism and LDS thinking. I’m first going to go out on a limb here and claim that most people at least understand magical thinking — … Continue reading
