[quote]Powerpuff wrote:
[quote]dmaddox wrote:
Lol. I forgot about that. I hold you Puff in the highest regards. I would love to discuss the Mormon/non-denominational Christian hybrid further because that just blows my mind. Same morally, but theologically on different planets. I understand if you do not want to discuss though.
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Thank you. I would shoot you a PM or two, but I believe the system is disabled.
I’d be happy to talk about faith with you, but it’s probably not a really quick discussion. You can ask me questions and I’ll do my best as long as we aren’t going to pull out our Bibles and debate. 
In a nutshell - People here in the West tend to at least have some experience with LDS friends or coworkers. In other parts of the country, there is often no point of reference.
I mentioned before that I was raised by an LDS mom, and Non-denominational Christian dad. My mom took us to church and I identified with her, and got most of my early religious ideas from her. LDS kids are taught all about Jesus Christ and learn Bible stories (along with stories from the Book of Mormon), so there may be fewer differences raising kids than you imagine. I have a lot of cousins on the other side of the family who are Baptist and Methodist, and I often attended a Baptist congregation with my paternal grandma as a kid. My dad and brother are Christian but not church attenders. That gives you an idea of my background.
Still, I think faith should be less about your culture and family traditions, or what your parents or other ancestors believe. It’s should be more of a personal thing. What do YOU believe? That’s the real question. I went through sort of a faith crisis a few years ago. I was in my 30’s. I began to feel like a bit of a fish out of water. I did not have a big ax to grind, but I began to search and question. It was a very personal thing. I studied some religious history. I wondered if I was going to end up agnostic. If you are familiar with Fowler’s Stages of Faith, you’d say I was moving through Stage 4. http://www.usefulcharts.com/psychology/james-fowler-stages-of-faith.html
Anyway, I began to strip away, and simplify my beliefs. And I landed with a very basic Christianity, for which I was really grateful. I’m fundamentally someone with faith. I came to accept that about myself. And I’ve gradually come to accept that I fit best in the LDS church, even if I’ve put some ideas in the “I don’t know, and may never know” category. I’m OK with that. Those things didn’t mean I had to reject everything. There are a lot of ideas that I really love. Families are forever, and many others aspects of my faith. Does that make sense? It didn’t have to be all or nothing. I could be at peace with not knowing all the answers. We’re all a bunch of very flawed humans down here anyway. 
On most Sundays, you will find my butt in a church pew for an hour - not three!! - yes, that’s typical in an LDS congregation - but I usually go to church, and I’m usually uplifted by spending some time focusing on spiritual things. I pray. I try to forgive and ask God for forgiveness. I see the good in people. I believe Christ is the Savior. These things are fundamental.
We are surrounded by the secular. If you are more familiar with LDS people, you’d know that I’m not a temple attending LDS person, but I am a church goer. Strictly speaking, my LDS friends would probably tell me that I should work on growing a more traditional LDS faith. And Christian friends of other faiths would probably tell me I’m just plain doing it wrong. LOL! Some of the exclusionary claims made by churches is what got me here in the first place. I’ve made peace with it. My faith will likely continue to change as I mature. I’d hope so at least.
I realize this may not make much sense to people who are unfamiliar, or who are not religious.
Pardon the religion threadjack.
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I admire that and agree with a lot of what you said. I have also heard similar experiences from a couple members of the LDS church who pulled away from certain aspects (my old tennis partner) but retained others because at the end of the day that was the faith they still identified the most with.
I had someone tell me once that they didn’t believe that any one denomination had it all right, and those that did, probably were not studying enough for themselves. So I can definitely sympathize with that. Do I think Baptists are the right about every theological issue, not really. However, the majority of their teachings line up with the majority of what I believe more so than other groups.
I too think my faith will mature and my stances will change on certain things as I become more mature as a Christian. You is good people Puff lol.