The future

"...a God based on willful acceptance of unsubstantiated ideas is indistinguishable from a god which exists only in fantasy."

Most religious folks would insist that a divine being is using all his awesome power to remain undetected. Factor in a bit of psychological deception, and presto, we understand why so many people believe in false religious ideas. The question becomes, why do they assume that they are NOT under any psychological deception with regards to their religious views?


For Mormons to consider:
Theres no evidence that God exists, and there IS evidence that religious adherents are employing documented psychological biases! If you are open to this possiblity, watch AntiCitizenX's videos on "Psychology of Belief" on his youtube channel. Very eye opening.


Many people have retained their beliefs by looking for evidence to support it. Creationists believe the world is under 10,000 years old and have found what they believe is evidence to support this idea. What they have really found though, is not evidence at all, but have found ways to IGNORE evidence by focusing on certain aspects of the evidence (or even focusing on complete falsehoods) in order to retain their belief. When in pursuit of knowledge, the scientific method was a way in which we could be rid of our ignorance and bias, and get at what is ACTUALLY true. The more details (his teachings, his plan, his form etc) someone claims to know about God, the more unlikely and irrational this unprovable divine being becomes, simply because there is no basis for which to make these detailed claims aside from spiritual experiences, which are known to give opposing truth claims and therefore unreliable.

For every Mormon that gains strength and happiness through their beliefs, there are hundreds of equally happy Catholics or Muslims. For every Latter-day Saint that feels the presence of God, there are hundreds of others with equally valid and powerful spiritual experiences that confirm opposing truths. I wonder if you doubt that this is true.


For mormons to consider:
I'm sure you don't believe that Mormons have a monopoly on spiritually constructed truth claims. Do you simply believe that any truth claim in opposition to your own was the result of an invisible evil being? Have you thoroughly considered that it could just be a natural psychological phenomenon?


Take evolution as an illustration of how humanity used to believe that "God did it" to explain the variety of life on earth simply because they did not know the natural process by which life evolved. The notion that God must exist because we have certain evidences or feelings, negates the perfectly plausible explanation that we are here by simply natural means, as yet unexplainable by the scientific method. We already have evolution as an example of how we need to be humble when approaching truth claims attributed to God. There is no need for divine power to be involved with evolution. We have not proven or dis proven God's existence based on evidence, but we cannot simply rely on faulty methods to give us an answer that generally make us feel good and quenches our desire for answers. It is honorable to admit "I don't know".

People have debated this topic for centuries. The difference is that now, in the age of reason and science, one side is beginning to lose.


For Mormons to consider:
You may think that the church is growing rapidly, but ask yourlself where? Is it growing in the developed and educated world? The mental gymnastics that come naturally to those who trust their feelings above science, are carefully being stripped away by the advance of the information age.


Mormon missionaries can now knock on someones door, and after 30 seconds the potential convert can search online and find information that the church only recently allowed black members to hold certain priveleges. These and other red flags allow the rational person of today who is not deeply indoctrinated with documented psychological manipulation techniques and biases (that the church blatantly employs), to say to themselves in all honesty, "this simply doesn't add up."


It matters what we believe. If everyone in the world believes there is a divine plan in place, then how could we possibly thwart God's plan? We could not. Therefore, if we destroy our environment, then in the end we can all be rest assured that this was God's plan all along. Or we might believe that the earth will be renewed as the LDS church teaches, and this places less significance on the environment.


For Mormons to consider:
Sometimes people will say "the church is still a good way to live even if it isn't true". I ask you which is most important to a member of the church: the environment, or missionary work? Then ask yourself if your beliefs have an impact on everyone's future if the church is not true.


We can ignore certain aspects of scientific discovery, rationalizing away our pursuit of longer life spans for example, because it is not God's plan for us humans to live forever. What a shame that would be! These important questions all have significant repercussions when we believe that God is in control of our destiny, or that we humans alone are in control. Without a divine plan, it can be our plan. We can have hope that we can reduce suffering, end war, be rid of disease and increase happiness here in this life, all without feeling like we are going against God's plan. I am grateful that I do not live in anticipation of the next life, which helps me to emphasize the importance of this life.


For Mormons to consider:
As a believer in many things, I will change my beliefs anytime I am given sufficient evidence to support new ideas. I hope you can resolve to do the same, and remove the special protected status of your testimony that acts as a wall in the mind that usually sits between ones religious views and reality. I am being blunt because I believe in the importance of truth, and the impact it has on everyones future.


“I say quite deliberately that the Christian religion, as organized in its Churches, has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world.”
-Bertrand Russell