The Intention Experiment: Science is literally proving the power of faith/prayer/thought. Which is all the same, despite your religion! And: an update on where I'm at with my personal spiritual growth.
Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 12:20AM Dan Brown wrote about The Intention Experiment in his book, The Lost Symbol. Naturally, the website has grown exponentially.
In real life,
"Lynne McTaggart, architect of the experiments, is working with leading physicists and psychologists from the University of Arizona, Princeton University, the International Institute of Biophysics, Cambridge University and the Institute of Noetic Sciences.These experiments are being run at McTaggart’s seminars and conferences and on the web, and have produced extraordinary results.
This is not about sending intentions to make a million dollars.
The targets are only philanthropic: healing wounds, helping children with attention deficit or patients with Alzheimer’s, counteracting pollution and global warming."
GUESS WHAT? THE EXPERIMENTS USING THOUGHT ON TARGET SUBJECTS ARE WORKING.
It is now scientific FACT that our thoughts can affect plant growth, water composition, healing and more. And guess what? All outside of organized religion!
Imagine the implications! People coming together through their intended thoughts for a good purpose.
This brings me to the power of prayer, blessings and where I'm at with my personal spiritual growth:
First of all, I found MormonStories.org to be a life saver. The pain of breaking apart from the LDS church is traumatic. It hurts and often and most importantly: it's unnecessary. It didn't have to be so painful. People in our Ward avoid us now. They fear us. And none of them have even read my blog.
In actuality, we WANT to be CLOSER to Christ, to come to know Christ. Leaving was, for us, the way to achieve this. Neither of us had grown much spiritually in the last 6 years through similarly generic lessons. I'd been through Gospel Principles several times already or missed lessons altogether being in my Primary callings.
We WANT to have an unobstructed path to our creator. And you know? I think many Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Catholics do too. "Christ" to them may be a different name or form but it's all the same in the end. I believe then that it's detrimental that the Mormon church claims to be the only way. What this does is create a sure path towards Atheism upon leaving. I struggled for a month with thoughts of Atheism. I can absolutely understand how many who leave the church feel hopeless and simply stop looking and stop trying, yet they must leave, for whatever reason: homosexuality, etc. I'm sad for these people because it doesn't have to be this way. And we don't stand for our Government being screwed up, so why our church? What I don't understand is how so many can sit back and put a pair of blinders on when so many within the church are hurting this way: leaving or "going inactive". In my opinion, the leaders can and should do something to combat this. That they turn a blind eye to say, Glenn Beck for example, is beyond me.
I believe organized religion is what creates obstacles that stand between humans and Christ/God/Buddha - or whatever you worship.
There is meaning to life, there is meaning to the universe, we were created. But when you've got judgment, rules, rituals, regulations, tithing, temple rituals, meetings, more rules, more meetings, kids, families, etc; it is DAMN HARD to see through all those obstacles! There is a lot of guilt, pressure, and culture that don't lead us to Christ. Instead, those things keep us busy, without time to think straight or the money to pay our bills.
Because of the guilt, pressure, and culture, I feel Christ gets put on the backburner and you start feeling a little more elite - it's as though you're part of a country club which, so long as you follow ALL the rules, you're accepted.
The problem here is that people start becoming arrogant and judgmental, feeling they are entitled to be because they know their club is the only true one. I even did it myself for a while. I felt like part of an elite club, and even more so, because I was both liberal and Mormon. Special, I was. Better, even, I believed.
Not so. And, shame on me for ever falling into this trap.
MormonStories.org has helped me understand that I am far from the only person who understands this. I am far from the only person who has left for the same reasons. I AM okay. The devil DOES NOT have me in his grasp (in fact, I feel more in tune with my spirituality than ever before in my life).
But it will be a constant struggle around people I know who still believe I've lost it. Who think I've "gone astray". Who think the devil is guiding me down the wrong path. I liken this to the time I KNEW I did not love my abusive ex-boyfriend. I knew I needed to leave him and then, upon doing so, having him and his family and a HUGE group of people turn on me and never talk to me again. It's hard. It's a difficult place to be in. And I'm sorry if I've come across as an angry bitch, but you know? This is important stuff. It's life altering. Many people fall into depression. There is guilt and sadness. Families are torn apart. There are hundreds of thousands of people like me, feeling this way. And it doesn't need to be this way. But change must come from within the walls of the church, through it's members and most importantly: their leaders.
I like MormonStories.org because it brings me to terms with the hurt and anger I feel over this happening in our lives. We don't look at our temple photos hanging on the wall with happiness any longer. Instead, we feel hurt. Betrayal. Sadness.
My point is this: it doesn't have to be this way. Mormons feel too threatened by what is a normal process of a member searching for true knowledge of their churches history. They want to turn away and not look and see the facts. They dub it "anti". Well, it's not. What exactly IS anti? Negative, maybe, but "anti"? So labeling ANYTHING non-positive as "anti" when it's a historical fact is judgmental, too.
So anything negative is "anti"? But what if it's also fact? Is it an anti-fact? But the positive facts get to be true facts? I honestly don't understand it. I'm coming to terms with it all, though.
Anyway, the reason The Intention Experiments work is through the power of thought or faith. The Intention Experiments (Noetic Science) is proving that faith and/or the power of thought can be backed up by science AND that it exists outside of any specific church. Scientific proof!
It proves, quite literally, that the LDS church is NOT the ONLY way. It may be a good way, but it's not the ONLY way. And I don't write that to be haughty or rude. I write it to reaffirm that I and others who leave aren't always leaving to sin. We are leaving to be closer to Christ.
Some choose to stay. I have chosen to leave. Since we've stopped going to church our visiting teachers have sent letters saying we've only learned half truths and that the adversary has gotten to us.
This couldn't be further from the truth. When I have more energy, I'll write them a kind letter. For now, all I can say is that I, personally, had to leave to find Christ. Some, who fit into the culture better than I did, may find Christ while in the LDS church. Some who have never even heard the name Christ, in another distant country may find him just as well. And you know? Their prayers and blessings are answered all the same. I'm confident ours will be as well.
Reader Comments (13)
Years ago, a Bishop asked me to speak in Sacrament meeting about the years I was "inactive," why I was, what made me come back, and most importantly, what members needed to know about those who become "inactive" or leave the church. More than a few eyebrows were raised when I said, "the biggest myth in the church is that if you don't come to church, you have lost your testimony." The Bishop understood, and those in the ward who had been inactive at some point understood, but those who had not experienced it were looking at the Bishop like he should pull me away from the podium and tell me to sit down. The 20 years I was not attending church, I was very close to the Lord. I got married and had four children. How can you experience the miracle of birth four times, and watch sick babies come out of the Nursery Intensive Care Unit, without having a close connection with God (or a higher power)? There are lots of reasons people don't go to church, or leave the church entirely. I think that we all want so much to "do the right thing," that sometimes when someone in our ward "family" is drowning, instead of throwing them a rope, we hang them with it. I find that incredibly sad.
On a personal note, I'm glad you are finding yourself. I'm sure that you will find what makes you happy. I'm sure you will find that connection with God (or that higher power) if you continue to search your heart, and to pray. I'll be watching.
LaurieBee
Thank you, Laurie. I agree, giving birth is amazing. It's a whole new level of spirituality, love and compassion. I think, too, each Ward is a little different, based on their leaders, member make up, etc. So I find it great that your Bishop had you speak on that topic!
And I just read Catching Fire... You may have a higher reading level than me. LOL
You are always about to find the most interesting connections in what you read and the world.
Congratulations on your own spiritual growth! The problem with these organized religions is that the people who are trying to make you feel guilty for leaving are really just doing this out of fear. They probably don't even believe half of what the church preaches but they are fearful of what others may think. It makes them uncomfortable to know that you are living your life as you think best and you do not need their approval. Just remember, misery always loves company. I have always heard that once we reach a point in our lives where we do not let other people's opinions affect us emotionally or bring us down, then that is when we truly can make a difference in this world. We will then be able to truly live how God wants us to, without fearing the judgment of others. It's crazy that we are all so brainwashed as children to follow all of these rules. Please know that you are the one growing more spiritually than these silly people in the church. If you can let go and not write a letter back to the church, while not feeling guilty about justifying your actions, you will feel so much freedom. I think it is all manipulation and by writing back they will still think they have some kind of hold on you emotionally because they are getting you to react. Of course, it is always easier to say this from the outside than being in the situation. I am working on this myself and think it is probably the most important issue to overcome in life. Recently I began to practice this everyday: When I find a thought that crosses my mind no matter how small like, "does this outfit look okay," or "I wonder if so and so took my email the wrong way and that is why she didn't respond yet," or "I hope the waitress isn't bothered because we asked for separate checks," or whatever. No matter how small the thought it is, I then convince myself that I really need not care at all. I know I'm starting with baby steps but eventually they will get me to a place where no one's opinion will ever matter. Fear will no longer hold me back from doing great things in this world before I die. Keep up your persistence Gabrielle.
The problem with some of your premise, Gabby, is that it's not based on truth. The LDS church DOES NOT claim to be the only way to Christ, goodness, spirituality. It actively says that it's not. In General Conference, in Sunday School lessons. There are too many converts that would never let the church get away with that kind of absurdity. It only claims to be the only way to get to the highest level of glory. Joseph Smith said that if you were to see the telestial kingdom right now, you'd want to go there, it's so beautiful. The Terrestrial kingdom will absolutely be a heaven and Christ will be there. So, all these Christians who expect to get a heaven with Christ where they will just be happy forever, will get exactly that! So, where has the LDS church proclaimed that we're the only way to Christ? It's the most merciful religion around.
I do understand how you could feel gypped for all the time you spent in the church. But would it be wrong to say that you joined because you chose to because it was what you needed at the time? That it saved you? From alcoholism, etc? Just like people talk about how their religion prepared them for the LDS church, you could similarly take the viewpoint that the LDS church led you to where you are now. There is so much good that can be found in your experience. You are a richer person for it.
I agree with Laurie that people leave for all kinds of reasons and I get angry when people (like my neighbor) say that it's all the same reason. After one argument she finally said, as though it was the only point that mattered, "People leave the church because they want to." Well, yes. But they might barely want to. And since when do we not care about the reasons behind the acts? You can't fix the problem if you don't understand the heart that's having the problem.
So many Mormons are so arrogantly narrow-minded. It makes me want to scream.
Anyway, the science bit is really interesting. So, Gabby, want to join me in visualising my hair growing back?! I really need to make it a priority to stop worrying about it and start being confident about it.
Are you not signed up for emails from The Universe, yet? TUT.com Given your new path, you'll like them even more than I do. And I love them.
Just wanted to add, that when I have thought about leaving the church, when I have wondered about how true it is, when I have questioned my reasons for joining, the bare minimum conclusion I've come to is that I needed the church. Those rules and regulations were something I needed at the time because I didn't have any. From reading so much of your story, it sounds like the same is true. I no longer feel like I need them that much. I don't fret about keeping all the commandments. I still care about keeping them but I realise now that salvation is not through perfection and tasks. I have grown much closer to God in the past couple of years. Some of the reason for that has been a couple of church talks and some has been non-Mormon books. And in coming closer to God, I have more faith in him and his love.
I am not all worried about your salvation, Gabby. Judgment is not as simple as being a Mormon or not, or even being an exMormon or not.
I think there are many ways to get to heaven, but the Mormon church works for me. It is easier fo rme to make decisions,knowing and believing in some set guidelines. Do I agree with everything? Not always, but I like the guide it is giving me for my family. I know it makes me a better person -- and that's what I think God is looking at. For some it doesn't - unfortunately, I think you've seen some of the ugliness that it can create.
Also, some people don't even care about the next life. And I think that's the same attitude they'll have in the next life. Our attitudes and such don't change.
Natasha,
Thank you for the website - I'll check it out. Also, the intention experiments within Noetic Science are interesting - I think more and more will be coming out about the power of thought.
Sure the rules helped me, they also hurt me. I fell into a deep depression after going through the temple, just as you are in a deep depression with your current blog post. I slit my wrists and overdosed on medication - I almost died, I was that depressed. The ambulance came and I almost didn't make it. (I am grateful I did make it, though.) I gained a lot of weight because I no longer felt feminine due to the garment, the list goes on. The guilt I had for not feeling "the feeling" I should have felt, the special feeling that was promised over and over within sunday school upon going through the temple - the guilt I had for not liking the garments. It was overwhelming. The depression caused me to miss church, I felt pressure for not going. It was very difficult. So while the church did change me, these are things I was in denial about. Those feelings were there and yet I shut them out over and over believing I must uphold this church at all costs, even to the point of being so depressed I nearly took my own life because I did not feel like I fit in well enough. I see this now. To fit into the cultural package, though, I did my duty. I tried to share the news, to be a good active mormon, even while feeling this way deep inside.
Nadine: thank you! Maybe I will not write that letter after all.....
Natalie: I know many who stay and love it. If that works for them, great. Your experiences you've shared tell me you understand where I'm coming from, which is nice.
There is a medium ground between smothering and denying your feelings, and having to reject the things you don't like altogether. I know, you didn't leave the church because of garments. My point is just that I don't like garments either. Lots of people don't. And I don't feel guilty about not liking them. That's just how I feel. What's more important is that I still wear them, so why should I feel bad about not liking them? It's just like how I DON'T ACT ON my gay feelings, so why should I feel guilt for having them? Just as the church can't take full credit for how we respond to certain commandments for the worse, it can't take full credit for how we respond for the best. I hope I didn't imply that the church was responsible for all the good things you've done in your life. You are hugely responsible and amazing for the things you've done and are trying to do. I've always thought that and I always will.
Hi Gabrielle,
I have never commented on a complete stranger's personal blog before, but I am feeling so compelled to write you a message and let you know that I LOVE your stories and I LOVE that you are sharing yourself and your life. I think I read the first post when you decided to leave the Mormon Church a few months ago. Your style is so direct and honest, it is absolutely refreshing.
I can also relate all too well with your current transition. I am a life-long Mormon who has been “inactive” for almost a year…. Actually my husband and 4 kids are “inactive” too. We left for many of the same reasons who went through on your old blog… but today’s post really hit home in your current journey for peace in Christ. After visiting a number of other local churches, we found a pretty liberal Christian church nearby that has been a great experience. We attend there 2-3 times a month, but we also do “The Church of the Big Blue Sky”… where we actually plan a daytrip and hang out with God together. We actually do a lot more talking with our kids about our true feelings about God and religion than we ever did as Mormons. 3 out of 4 of our kids are teenagers, so we can really discuss things. So that is cool, but I also have some regret for all the years of teaching them Mormonism as the complete truth.
My personal religious beliefs at this point are Christian Universalist. I just can’t feel good about a literal hell or outer darkness or whatever that is supposed to be. I believe that God is love. At first, I was worried that our family would not be accepted in the other Christian churches we visited due to our scandalous Mormon history. That NEVER happened once at any of the churches we attended. Not one weird look, not one obnoxious comment. I was also worried that if I couldn’t really understand/believe all the details of traditional Christianity (as I understood it at the time… meaning literal hell for the unsaved, the Trinity) that we would not be accepted or marginalized. Both of these fears were completely unfounded. Since you are a convert, you may not have these fears. But they were very real for me at the beginning of the journey out.
For our family, it’s been an absolutely transformative year. Of course, it has been soooo hard too. But I can honestly say my marriage has never been better. We’ve consciously left all the gender roles in the dust and try to relate just as partners with our own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Ok this is getting way long. Sorry – I am a first timer! But I just wanted to give you a shout-out of love and appreciation and encouragement. You sound like a wonderful person. Good luck on your new adventure in religion and spirituality!
Thank you so much, Di. That was a very sweet comment. =) I have wondered how we would be accepted as we move forward. We are going to try out a new church, I'd even thought about trying a Universalist church. I'm glad you like the blog! I hope you have a great day!