Marty Romero

Things I believe (and two that I don't)

I have spent a lot of my time trying to describe—to myself mostly—what this last year has done to me. I came up with a list. The list represents major paradigm shifts for me. A crisis, a journey, or perhaps the first time that I document (with some thought) feelings that I’ve long had.

Anyhow, the Mormon missionaries have been coming by recently and their visit has caused me to think more about a “faith crisis” I find myself in since about a year ago. These are some of the things that I know I believe for certain. I also list a couple of things that I don’t believe. This feels like a fitting topic for a first blog post.

  1. I DO NOT believe that it is OK for non-LDS Christians to write lists of items that disqualify Mormons from being Christians.
  2. I DO NOT believe that it is OK for LDS to claim that non-LDS Christians do not have the “Fullness of the Gospel” on account of not accepting the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, Polygamy et. al.
  3. I believe that the Church (LDS and non) creates an unhealthy and even dangerous attitude towards intimacy and sex.
  4. I believe that all scripture (LDS and non) is fallible.
  5. I believe that all scripture is good.
  6. I believe that a genuine relationship with oneself is more important than an artificial relationship with “God.”
  7. I believe that the best thing that I can do with my time in this beautiful planet, is be the best human being that I can be. Especially to the people who are closest to me.
  8. I believe that I have always misunderstood the concept of “God”, and that is OK.
  9. I believe that “being true to oneself” is selfish.
  10. I believe that we should be true to our word no matter the cost. This lesson has come at a steep price.
  11. I believe in the power of music to heal, more than in the “power of prayer.”
  12. I believe that religion has become an obstacle to #7.
  13. I believe that some people are evil.
  14. I believe that most people are kind.
  15. I believe the following more now than at any other time in my life:

The real violence, the violence that I realized was unforgivable, is the violence that we do to ourselves when we’re too afraid to be who we really are.” - Nomi (Sense8, Season 1, Episode 2).