One Part Faith, Seven Parts Doubt-A Recipe to Reduce Faith and Maintain Doubt
The ratio of faith to doubt is what I have on my mind as I write. Faith and doubt are topics that make up much of what is written in the Bloggernacle. I got to thinking the other day about the ratio of post and comments in the Bloggernacle that feed our faith and/or our doubt. I don't have any idea what the actual ratio is, but I came up with 1 to 7. It seems to me that for every post and comment that builds faith there are 7 that foster doubt.
There is plenty of anti-Mormon material on the internet, and there is also ample doubter material as well. Anti-Mormon material, as a rule, is presented by non-members and doubter material, based on my observation in the Bloggernacle, is offered by church members, many who appear to be active members who hold positions of influence in their Wards and Stakes.
Plateauing Bloggernaclist (Latter-Day-Saints)-Fighting Spiritual Boredom
Plateauing: to reach a state or level of little or no growth or decline, esp. to stop increasing or progressing; remain at a stable level of achievement; level off.
Reaching a plateau in any aspect of our life is better than never having done so. Think about it. Reaching a plateau means one has achieved something of worth. It could mean you're at the pinnacle, the zenith of something meaningful. However, the word laurels and the phrase "don't rest on your laurels" come to mind.
Latter Day Saints Who Lose Faith
Cruising the Bloggernacle in recent weeks, I’ve read much on the topic of faith. Much of what I’ve read related to the lost of faith. A few commenters even shared their “testimony” of deconversion. Here is a sampling:
One writer related how at a young age she “quite unexpectedly”, became an atheist.
A long time active member of the church relates how she lost her faith when she began to study contradictions and problems with church history and doctrine, and when no one could provide answers—her faith was shattered.
There were others who wrote about suffering with anemic faith:
Writing and Commenting in the Bloggernacle
Good, better, and best are terms that can be used to describe the relative worth of competing choices. The one thing they have in common is the fact that a favorable outcome can be expected from each. However, the favorable outcomes are not of equal value. All of us come to forks in the road of life where we have choices to make from competing interest.
Elder Dallin Oaks has taught:
“As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best.” Ensign, Nov 2007, 104-8.