WindySydney began as an online journal detailing my exit from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Since leaving the Mormon Church, I have come to the conclusion that religion does more harm than good. I have also become an atheist, looking for logic and reason instead of accepting things on faith.
I also blog about things going on in my life. I am learning photography, I have a severe addiction to diet coke, I am a proud vegetarian, and I have two of the cutest cats in the world. Life is officially an adventure without the magical fairy-tale ending. I plan on enjoying it.
The Church has unveiled a new video on lds.org telling the Young Women about the brand new Personal Progress books and website... and they are PINK! Ooooh, that will get girls to pay attention. Pink! Please watch the video. Please. You won't be disappointed.
Okay, see what I mean about the word Pink? Hilarious, isn't it? It's PINK!
Anyway, I would love to go into detail about this video and how disturbingly bad and wrong it is, and so I'm going to do it. You have been warned.
First of all, what ever happened to people being real? The women in this video are in la-la land, smiling that spirit-driven smile, glancing at one another as if they are in the Brady Bunch opening. Look how proud they are of their new pink handbook! The one they had nothing to do with! The one men wrote and gave to them!
They look like they are so drugged up on Prozac that they can't even focus on the camera. They are so sweet... but not a good sweet. Too sweet. So sweet that the sugar in my bloodstream as caused me to go into church-shock. Give me a break ladies... be who you are. Not who the church wants you to be.
But that is the main problem with the whole personal progress thing anyway...
It teaches young women who the church wants them to be, and doesn't give them any room to be themselves. It's a shame really.
The personal progress book taught me that God wanted me to be feminine, a mother, a wife, a temple-attending-tithing-paying robot like the rest of my Mormon friends... but I knew that wouldn't make me happy. I knew it in my head and in my heart... and when I told my leaders about this, I was told to pray more. To fast... and then I wasn't being sincere with my prayers because their advice didn't work. I didn't fit their mold and it was because I wasn't good enough.
There was a lot of talk about my "divine role" when I was a teenager. They make it sound so wonderful, don't they? A role that God himself wanted me to fulfill?
Why do this to young women?
I'll tell you why.
To keep the machine moving.
I have read on forums that baptisms are down, people are leaving the church and taking their entire families with them. The internet has made it difficult to keep the hard-to-believe doctrine away from potential converts and interested members.
The main way to keep the church growing is to tell the young men and women at an early age that they must follow God's plan to marry in the temple, have lots of babies, and raise them in the church. That way, there are tons of small children ready for their brainwashing as soon as they can say "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam."
Let's get back to the review...
Look! There is a picture of the temple on the front of the progress book. Wow, thats something. Isn't it? I mean, heaven knows a young woman can't have enough pictures of the temple, right? You see, that is to remind them, as often as possible, what their goals SHOULD be. Temple marriage and children.
They promise that there are plenty of blessings that come with getting married in the temple, or just attending the temple in general... but everyone I have ever talked to about this can't really say they were more blessed than someone else. It's just a promise that can't be delivered.
Parents who were married in the temple have just as many problems, accidents, sicknesses, and random acts of anything than the rest of us.
What blessings are they talking about? The afterlife? Thats funny... because no one knows what happens in the afterlife, and they are drilling these things into the heads of young ladies that the only way they will be happy is following their directions. It makes me sick to my stomach.
Now, they tell the young women that they will learn new things, study the scriptures and pray every single day. These are things the young women are probably already doing in most TBM households. The new things they learn? How to sew, cook, clean and organize a home, how to care for babies and children, how to be a helpmeet to your priesthood holding husband who is the head of the family... you get the idea.
They offer pretty ribbons and necklaces as gifts for completing the lessons. This is amazing when you see it from the other side. What young woman doesn't want to earn those pretty ribbons? Those necklaces? What young woman (especially in a Mormon Community) doesn't want to show her friends how well she's doing and how many ribbons she has earned?
A tip for young women seeking truth? Go to JoAnn's and buy some ribbons. Give me a break.
Oh, yes... the young women are going through so many changes in their lives. Of course people notice. Especially the church. The church wont let them forget. The separate them from the boys, and constantly feed them "girl stuff" (for lack of a better explanation). What harm could come from teaching men and women the same thing about scriptures and church doctrine in the same class?
The entire video is just... fake. It's sad how they talk to the young women as though they are 5 years old and can't possibly comprehend anything without the super-sweet baby talk.
Okay, I have to admit that I have read the first three books of the Left Behind series. I actually really enjoyed them, and their... well, their imagination.
Apparently, the show producers go out of their way to convince a random fellow Christian that the rapture has taken place, and scare her into thinking she has been left behind by the Lord.
This really bothers me for some reason, and I can't really put my finger on it.
I just think that it's pretty sad to do this to someone who has devoted their life to living their religion. Yeah, I know it's a prank... I just think it's a pretty mean prank.
Kind of like those fake lottery tickets? I think thats pretty damned mean. Not funny at all. Think of the relief those people feel thinking they have won millions, and then the heartbreak that it wasn't real? That their money problems were not suddenly solved?
Next, this girl isn't a very good actress... and the host isn't that much better. I don't buy for one second that her reaction was real. The whole thing was planned ahead of time... including her. Maybe it's me.
What do you think?
What would you think if this was a REAL show?
Now, I have written about this before, but I feel the need to share the story one more time.
When I was in girls camp, we were asked out of our sleeping bags in the middle of the night one night, blindfolded, and told to follow a trail and hold onto a rope and not let go... no matter what. There were older girls from the staff trying to trick us into letting go of this rope, but I just wanted the exercise to be over with, so I held on. When I got to the end of the rope, there was a huge tree covered in white Christmas lights and the adults were all dressed in white.
I had followed the plan and held onto the rope and therefore I had made it to heaven. Lucky me. What happened to the other girls who let go? They were taken to a clearing and given a lecture about holding onto the gospel and following the Lord's plan no matter what... and how people will try to trick them into letting go of their "rope."
These girls were then given a second chance to follow the trail and join the rest of us in heaven, but when they got there they were crying and sad. They felt they were not good enough and even the older girls who had tricked them into letting go were sad... sad that they had been the ones to lead the younger girls "astray."
The next morning, at the sunrise testimony meeting, many of these girls who let go bore their testimony-tearfully mind you- that they had learned a valuable lesson. That they never knew when their time would be up, and that they had to hold onto the church and it's teachings at all time, or risk everything.
I think tricks and pranks like these are manipulative and really creepy. The experience I went through is burned into my mind forever... kind of like a movie. It was one of my very first WTF moments.
I made a YouTube video a long time ago listing my favorite atheist quotes and cartoons, and an LDS gentleman started leaving me comments. I thought you guys would like to read the comments, so here they are. I changed the guy's name (YouTube username) because I thought I should keep him as anonymous as possible... well, as anonymous as you can get online nowadays...
I will highlight his annoying arrogance (according to me).
Mormon Gentleman:
You did in a sense misquote Einstein. He was not against religion and a general belief in a God or higher being. However in general, your video was fine (for atheists, I'm LDS, and was quite offended by it). The only thing I hate about some atheists (and I mean no offence), is they consider them selves high and mighty to say a person who believes in a God is dumb and can't make decisions without advice. If you do make another video, it would be nice if you left that out. :)
Me:
So sorry you were offended by my video, or the quotes in it, but let me be the first to say that there are MANY beliefs in the LDS faith that are MORE than offensive to me.
Racism Sexism Polygamy Milk Before Meat Baptism for the Dead
Guess we will just have to keep on offending each other.As for the quotes, I got them from a quote website and copied them as is. Even if they are misquotes or incomplete, I agree with the message they give... therefore they stay.
Mormon Gentleman:
Im just opinionating what I think you should change.Hell, one thing I cant understand about some atheists is they think we dont make our own choices. Same thing goes for the government then!Once you become military you basically sign over your rights. If you want to get a point through to the people you are trying to "help", act humble and give credit and discredit to both sides.
Well listen, Ive said what Ove said, and I don't intend my channel to be used for this. Even though you and I could argue forever about what's right and wrong, you stop a fight by not participating anymore. I do not intend to offend you, niether. That's another thing. Atheists say history proves religion is evil while they continue to fight and offend us while most of us don't fight back! And what does that prove? You're literally doing what religion did in the middle ages!
Me:
Why would I take offense to someone claiming that some atheists consider themselves high and mighty when SO MANY religious people act the exact same way?
Funny how that works, isn't it?
I will keep what I think I should keep. You might think it would be nice for me to check in with people before I make my videos, but that's not really something I'm interested in.
Thanks for watching.
Mormon Gentleman:
Its also sad how it works too, and I hope you keep yourself humble.
In my opinion, it's only the leader of a religion that acts high and mighty, while members of said religion will act more humble towards others
Heck, I don't agree or disagree with you. As far as Im concerned, where there is good, there is evil, and even a completely Atheistic world would have both, but we don't know how much.
I hope you know Einstein wasn't atheist. That is just assumed, since most atheists believe (in my opinion) that they are the only ones who make any scientific progress. He was very active and believed in a God.
I hope you have found great peace in your choice friend even though I dont agree completely with you :)
I don't think my church is perfect, and Im not in 100% in agreement with entire religious doctrine, but I do think there is a reason behind this universe, and that reason was not empty space with millions of molecules coming together in an explosion, something made that happen.
Me:
If you don't think your church is perfect, why do you believe in it?
Just curious.
I mean, take it from a girl who grew up in the church, then seriously studied church history and doctrine only to be blindsided by things the church kept from me:
There is more evidence that the LDS church isn't what it claims to be than evidence for the belief in it's doctrine.What is it that makes you so sure the LDS faith is correct... and the feeling you get when you pray doesn't count.
Real evidence.
If a church who claims to have a prophet of God has such serious problems, what would it take to convince you that the prophet isn't a prophet at all?
I'm not trying to say that you have to believe in evolution or even answer my questions.. I'm just curious about the answers.
Wouldn't God go to his prophet and say, "Monson... this isn't right. You need to do this, say this, put money where it should go, apologize for this old doctrine." Yet none of that happens... Why?
Let's take just one example of the thousands that I could choose:
God: Monson, we need to go to the people of the world and tell them I never once said black skin was a curse from me. I never once said that black skin on the earth was because the devil needed representation on the earth (as a prophet once stated).
We need to apologize for the racist statements and admit our past prophets were wrong. We need to make public amends.
Wouldn't a kind God do/say this? Would a kind and loving God have ANYTHING to do with the racism that came out of the church in its early days?
Doesn't the belief that God actually DID say these things scream "God's a racist" to you?" I know the answer to that question is probably "no," because I was trained to think the same thing... but it IS racist.
According to the church, God has a mouthpiece on the earth. If He wants us to join the true church, why doesn't he utilize that mouthpiece and clear things up?
You think members of the LDS faith, including the leaders of the church are humble?Really?
Is being totally convinced that they are right and everyone else is wrong... to the point that they take dead people and baptize them after they die without permission of family of said deceased person humble?
That is the opposite of humble.
A man claiming to be a prophet of God, without any proof of his being a prophet of God, and telling his church members to do as he says isn't humble either.
Religion can be evil.
The crusades Waco COUNTLESS other examples...
"Atheists say history proves religion is evil," isn't a true statement. We claim religion can be evil. There is historical evidence to this.Religion molds the minds of the believers, to the point that they are willing to do anything their leaders say.
If Monson asked you to do something, would you do it? I mean, he's a prophet of God to you, right? Why would or wouldn't you?
If you don't want to continue the discussion, thats fine. I just don't think you understand where atheists are coming from. You lump us all in together, much like you think we lump all religious people together.
The complaints most people have about atheists can be said about the people complaining.Just saying.
Members of a religion do as their leader instructs, sometimes without thought.
Are you saying that your church leaders are not humble? I would agree with you, but I'm just curious.
I think that I dodged his arrogance pretty well... he had no idea how condescending he was... it was hilarious to me... then again, I might come off the same way, at least I recognize that.
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Here are a few of my favorite recipes from food bloggers. Just lick the photos for the link to the recipe! I'll even include some chicken recipes for you meat eaters out there...
Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) said Sunday that the expansion of state laws allowing gay marriage could lead to people marrying horses.
"You see, the Massachusetts Supreme Court, when it started this move toward same-sex marriage, actually defined marriage - now get this - it defined marriage as simply, 'the establishment of intimacy.'"
"Now how dangerous is that?" asked Hayworth, who is challenging Sen. John McCain from the right in Arizona's GOP Senate primary.
"I mean, I don't mean to be absurd about it, but I guess I can make the point of absurdity with an absurd point," he continued. "I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse."
Yeah, marrying an animal who has no ability to give consent to a marriage is the exact same thing as two adults joining in a union together.
Yep.
Exactly the same.
What the Hell is wrong with these people?
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I am so glad that the other parents in the school stood up for the lesbian couple and did the right thing. The world is slowly waking up to equality... slowly, but surely.
I applaud those who did the right thing, and mentally kick those who didn't.
Let me be honest, the Official Street Preacher website could easily be satire, and my exhausted human brain is unable to pick up on the sarcasm (I'm 90% sure it's sarcasm, but we all know there are people who are mentally ill enough to mean everything this guy says on the page... It's kind of like someone watching or reading the Onion News Network for the first time thinking, "Wait... that ain't right!"). Hopefully one of my wonderful, smart, beautiful readers will know more about this website and fill me in on the over-the-top insaneness that is Official Street Preacher.
That being said, it's funny to me how easy it is for religions to poke at each other...
"Mormonism is ridiculous for this reason!"
Um... yeah, but your religion is just as fucking ridiculous, you just fail to look at your faith with the same skeptical eyes you view others.
Don't get me wrong. Mormonism *is* bat-shit crazy. I would know. I just find this amusing.
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Just letting you all know that I am back online. It's been a while... sorry!
I published all the backlogged comments, but haven't read them yet. I am on my brother's laptop, and just hanging out right now. Hopefully I will be hooked up myself soon and I will have the opportunity to really make a long post.
Love you all!
Not forgetting you or abandoning the website, you have my word!
