Thanks for sharing that, Kevin. Your former pastor, like so many religious leaders and adherents of all faiths, doesn't want to consider any new evidence that may conflict with an already established worldview. I mean, why leave one's comfort zone? :) Why, er, think? Why rock the boat and risk losing one's job? And if one does change one's mind, the penalty in terms of being shunned by one's family and social contacts could be severe. In Islam, apostates are sometimes instructed to be killed.

Thinking back to the last election, I can't help but think that a guy as smart as Mitt Romney has to have more than a few doubts about the LDS church. Given that it's such a newly established religion, and there is so much primary source material surrounding its leader and its history, most thinking folks would quickly conclude that it's a fraud. But the price Mr. Romney would pay for airing any doubts he had would shake his place in his world. I wonder if many adherents simply think that on balance, even if they have doubts, or if they have come to conclude that their faith is a lot of hooey, they calculate that it does more good than bad (I would disagree of course) so they go along to get along. What is the priest who loses the faith he had as a young man going to do? Open a video store? Become a personal trainer? don't think so.

Getting back to your former pastor, Kevin, I think this unquestioning fellow deserves a really special Christmas present, and here it is:

http://www.amazon.com/Misquoting-Jesus-Story-Behind-Changed/dp/0060859512

Granted, he won't have the courage to read it, but it's worth a try.

Thanks again for opening up, Kevin.

Peter T.