Windy Sydney

The infamous WindySydney temple article I wrote over a year ago is still going strong. Mormons are outraged (OUTRAGED! I tell you!) that I show a photo of the holy underwear and a video of the temple ceremonies. Never mind that you can do a google search for these at any time... I am definitely possessed by Stan-the-man, and to take a quote from one of my favorite believing Mormon emails, I "will dine at the table of Hell."

Dine at the table of Hell? People dine in Hell? Will they serve Satan-shaped sandwich cookies? At least I know the coffee will be hot...

Lately, the comments and emails have been asking me things like:

"Did you even believe in God... ever???"
"How could you turn your back on the true gospel?"
"Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?"
"What *do* you believe in?"

Well folks, since everyone assumes that I roam the earth looking for testimonies to murder, I thought I should update everyone on the state of Andee's belief. My life is an open blog.

So what *do* I believe? Lets take a look. I would like to point out that I used the word "believe" and not "know." I don't know anything about God, Jesus, Heaven or Hell... and guess what? No one else does either... Warm and fuzzy feelings are just feelings, and they prove squat. If your feelings tell you to wear funny underwear and learn secret handshakes... fine, but I am not a horrible person if I disagree.

I don't believe God would ask anyone to wear certain types of underwear, get new names, learn secret handshakes, or perform secret ceremonies in order to be with Him again. I don't know how I ever believed that. Of all the things God could choose to remind you of your covenants, why in the world would he choose UNDERWEAR? I was never able to figure that out. Why? Why?? WHY??!?!?! Pppfft!

If God is up there, and He is the all knowing, all loving, all powerful God I was raised to believe in, He would know what was in my heart and soul. He shouldn't need a new name, a handshake, or a glance at my special underpants to judge the person I am. There is no logic in that. I would like to think the creator is a smart being... and the special underwear is just silly. Yeah, I said it. Silly. Bring on the emails...

I don't think anyone upstairs gives a damn if we drink coffee or tea. Everything in moderation is my line of thought, as long as it's not illegal of course. I smirk every time someone freaks out if they taste coffee in an ice cream or candy. Come on... you think he's going to keep you from the Celestial Heaven because you accidentally ate a coffee chocolate? Please.

I believe that we will be judged by the way we treat our fellow man. I believe we should treat animals, children, the elderly and others who need more attention with love and the utmost care. Actually, I believe we should treat everyone with the utmost care. I do this every day. God will care more about how you treat your fellow man than how many Sundays you spent on Church pews.

I believe that any Church claiming to be the one and only true church (that's pretty much includes all religions, TBMs... not just you) should be studied, criticized and studied from all angles.

I believe we should help our fellow man instead of push each other down (Prop. H8 anyone?)

I don't believe in prophets. I believe that if one man or woman claims to speak with and for God while asking for your time, money and talents, they should have to prove they are a prophet. Claiming they are a prophet, or the next prophet in a line of prophets like the LDS Church has in place, shouldn't be enough. Asking questions should be a good thing. Truth can withstand criticism. Criticize away!!! If you are afraid to question your leaders, especially religious leaders, something is wrong.

How many people on the earth at this very moment claim to be prophets of God? More than you could even know. Do you give them the same consideration that you give Thomas Monson? I doubt it. You should put all people who claim to be prophets on the same playing field, if you don't, you will get taken advantage of like I was.

I believe everyone is unique and I believe that is a good thing. I don't believe God would punish a certain set of people with dark skin, I don't believe God cares what color your hair is, if you have a tattoo, what your sexual preference is, or if you like olives. I believe God cares more about how you treat others.

I believe God is busy. There are people going hungry, dying from disease, natural disasters and children living with abuse. Do you really feel as if God needs to bless every meal you eat? Do you think he keeps track of how much coffee you drink or if you pray that your high school football team wins the big game? God doesn't care about football! Yeah... I said it.

On the same track, asking the Lord to bless your funeral potatoes to nourish and strengthen your bodies is a giant waste of time. If you want your food to nourish and strengthen your bodies you should make healthy dinners and stop eating pie. (Sorry, I had a TBM neighbor who would make pie all the time, and always blessed the pie... it's so funny to me now...)

I believe that if you think homosexuality is wrong, that you shouldn't participate in homosexual activity. Don't like gay marriage? Don't marry a gay person. It really is that simple. If you don't believe in it, don't take part in it. You have no right or business making that decision for the rest of humanity.

I believe that if you have to have a special meeting once per month to convince each other that you are right, you should stop and think about that.

I believe that when people try and scare you with thoughts of the end of the world or the last days you should recognize that for what it is... scare tactics and the use of fear to control you. Every single generation has claimed that they would see the second coming of Christ, hasn't happened yet. Just sayin'.

I believe that if you want to stick around and not deal with the "last days" or the end of the world, that you should be kind to the earth and environment. Recycle, buy a hybrid car next time you need to purchase a vehicle, walk, ride your bike, do your part. If God *did* create this world, we should take better care of it.

I believe that when any leader, religious or political, holds back information you should run out and find that very information. Red. Flag. City. Your leaders, if they are honest leaders, should have nothing to hide. This includes financial statements, historical documents, and scientific evidence. Science doesn't lie to you. DNA is your friend.

I believe that you should treat everyone with kindness, and I mean that. If I ever come across one of the believing Mormons who frequent my blog to tell me how horrible I am, I am going to hug 'em... I swear!

I believe that I have purchased so much Diet Dr. Pepper that I should own part of their company. Seriously.
I believe everyone should plant a tree, help a homeless animal, help homeless human being. Do good. Be good. It's not that hard.

Andee