One of the things memorized by Mormon children as they grow is a group of beliefs called the Articles of Faith. Written by Joseph Smith when a newspaper contacted him with questions about the church, they have stood ever since as the basic beliefs of the faith.
Over and over again, at this point in my life, I'm drawn to #11:
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
What a great statement, isn't it? It's something that I've always believed strongly in. It's why I have worked so hard to listen to what other people had to say about what they believed.
I pray every day right now, that as I move forward according my personal inner voice and conscience, I hope that those I love will offer me the same kindness.
As I posted on Facebook yesterday:
"The individual has always had to struggle to resist the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
--Nietzsche
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Dez started a blog post According to the Dictates of Our Own ConscienceAccording to the Dictates of Our Own Conscience
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The clincher for me isn't even a handful of crazy people...you will get those in any tradition. Even a super liberal church is going to have people that you're not tolerant enough to please.
The trinity for me is:
Showing through actions that one toe out of line, and you will be shunned, especially if a double-standard or arbitrary rules are involved.
Saying that the way an organization is run at this moment, is the way it always has been, and anything else is a lie told by those who hate the religion.
Having different levels of information, depending on where you stand with the organization.
I am willing to show respect for any fervently held belief, even if I personally think it's way off base, bt this point in my life, dealing with any of those again would have me speaking soothing words while I reached for a big stick. Literally or figuratively.
On a differing level. I don't always respect a given belief* but I do respect the potential of fervent belief to accomplish great things. I also acknowledge that the power contained in various institutions can do very positive things even if I really disagree with the institution on several levels. Many conservative religions fill this category. I disagree with them on one or more levels vehemently but I also consider them to be beneficial in one or more arenas and sometimes genuinely like certain facets of them. Hmm, stopping here. Otherwise there's a large tangent dealing with two or three different ways that I look at the world depending on circumstances.
*There are ideologies that I distinctly despise.