I came across the poem "The Hollow Men" by T. S. Eliot, and it honestly describes the religious practices of countless people. We are the hollow men we are the stuffed men leaning together headpiece filled with straw. Alas! Our dried voices, when we whisper together are quiet and meaningless as wind in dry grass or rats' feet over broken glass in our dry cellar... Many people claim to believe in God, but their lives tell a different story. They say they have faith, but that faith has little influence on what they do, how they treat others, or what they value. Their heads may as well be stuffed with straw. Its my opinion, that for most people, religion has become more about identity than conviction. Real belief shows up in choices. It changes behavior. It means living as though your faith is true even when it costs you comfort or pride. Comfort plays a huge role in this. Religion can offer security, tradition, and a sense of belonging. There’s nothing wrong wit...
In response to my thoughts regarding the 2013 study on the LDS Faith Crisis , I had someone suggest that I read a talk by Lawrence E Corbridge. After a quick Google search, I found the talk they were referring to and wanted to share some thoughts on it. Here is the relevent exerpt from Corbridge's 2022 BYU devotional: ---------- Primary Questions and Secondary Questions: Begin by answering the primary questions. There are primary questions and there are secondary questions. Answer the primary questions first. Not all questions are equal and not all truths are equal. The primary questions are the most important. Everything else is subordinate. There are only a few primary questions. I will mention four of them. 1. Is there a God who is our Father? 2. Is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Savior of the world? 3. Was Joseph Smith a prophet? 4. Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the kingdom of God on the earth? By contrast, the secondary questions are unending...