Today is Labor Day and it has been two weeks since my mom's death.
I'm still really sad that my mom past away. This past week has been eerily strange to come home in the evenings and no one is at home. My dad works nights now. Even when my mom was in bed most of the time, I came to her side and talk about my day.
I'm not sure if you have witness someone dying before. I saw three love ones die in my life and each time I experience something different. When my grandmother (dad's mom) past away in 1995, I wasn't a Christian then. I had sort of a Buddhist view on the afterlife, of reincarnation, imagining that she is in another body. I guess her death hasn't greatly affected me because I wasn't extremely close to her. She was also pretty old and she had poor health and a frail body. So, I knew it was probably time for her to go.
When my uncle died of lung cancer 3 years ago, I can't help to think that he is in hell. I knew some people have reached out to him. But my aunt has a strong personality in that it's her way or no way. Her way is that no one should interfer with her and her loves ones about Christianity.
Mom and her death was different. These past 3 years, I had hoped and prayed for her. I knew many people have come by to talk to her... and to talk to her about Jesus and God. Each time, in her own way, she will say, "I'll think about it." Even when she was in Hong Kong, one of her cousins, who is a layperson at a church, came to talk to her and pray for her.
Her death has given me mixed emotions about my faith. I don't doubt Jesus that this should happen but I guess I doubt my abilities as a Christian. I haven't talked to my mom that deeply about Christ. I haven't asked her if she has accepted Jesus. There is a sense of guilt and shame about not communicating the message to my mom. But all I could tell her the week prior to her death that I love her and she understood. I do feel fortunate that other Christians were around to share Jesus to my mom. Maybe someday, I'll know if she has accepted Christ.
God has reminded me of His tough love in Luke 9:57-62, about the people who say they'll follow Jesus. I'm not sure how this story links to my situation... But I feel first that God is there to let me know that everything is alright. Although, I haven't done much in regards to fellowship for the past 3 years, I felt this message is telling me move on, to continue to pray and search for a fellowship and proclaim his truth. Although, I felt like a failure in sharing with my family, there is also some comfort from God that He knew I've done my best.
It's hard to move on after a death of a love one. But I know my mom would want me to move on... I know God would want me to move on too.
I watched my mom's final hours. It's hard to see her suffer and I haven't gotten over the image out of my mind. At the same time, I have been thinking about my younger days with my mom and my family. Like, I remember a time when I was probably 3 or 4, where I had touched broken glass while playing outside. My whole hand was bleeding and my mom freaked out. She took me inside, wash my hands and sucked my bleeding fingers to get the germs out. Then she put like tons of bandaids on my fingers. I don't know why I remembered that so well.
Maybe it was a message that God will heal my bloody hands (and brokenheart), just has He did to Jesus.
***Sunday Sermon***
Sunday, I went to church for the first time in 3 weeks. I've been visiting a church called Steele Creek Church of Charlotte. It's a contemporary church where their focus is on relationships with God through Jesus and with people in home fellowships. The Sunday service is usually 1.5 hours long. For the format of Sunday there's normally a call to worship, then announcements, and then a time of prayer and offering, then the sermon, then the closing songs and benediction.
Sunday was a different type of service though. There wasn't a message today but a time of mostly prayer and ministering to others. The theme and message was that the house of the Lord is a house of prayer and that God heals the brokenhearted. There were several times where specific groups will go to the front of the church: missionaries, widows, single moms, and the people for the traditional alter call.
I have been feeling brokenhearted for the past few weeks. I can't explain this mixture of emotions and my logical mind wants to sort it all out. It's sometimes a surge of emotions that I can't control, sometimes a sense of emptiness, and sometimes a sense of anxiousness. But many times through my mind, God tells me that everything is under His control and that everything is alright.
Matthew 11: 28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
One Tuesday afternoon
Today has been a sleepy Tuesday.
Not much is going on at work.
As I listen to my English co-worker talk about English sausage to my Southern co-worker, who proclaims in dislikes of any sausage (rather strange coming from a Southern co-worker), I wonder what I will do after work.
Then all of a sudden...
I get an email of panic.
Not really.
But it's nice to add some drama to this one Tuesday afternoon.
Not much is going on at work.
As I listen to my English co-worker talk about English sausage to my Southern co-worker, who proclaims in dislikes of any sausage (rather strange coming from a Southern co-worker), I wonder what I will do after work.
Then all of a sudden...
I get an email of panic.
Not really.
But it's nice to add some drama to this one Tuesday afternoon.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Religion... in general
I've taken sort of a one month sabbatical from going to church. I wouldn't say that I fell off the face of Christianity or became unreligious in anyway. I would say that this was a much needed break.I originally started this in Facebook around June 17th and I vaguely remember why I want to write this. It was about religion in general, mainly what I have learned (or have not learned) in this one month break.
I sort of have this view how humans made their appearance around the world after Babel. I believe God created the world, all the natural resources, and life (animals and people). I believe He did it in 6 days (where he rest on the 7th). Then, as you may read through the first book of the Bible, Genesis, God scattered the people of the world after the Tower of Babel was built because the people tried to get as close to God as they can...
So, these people are scattered about earth. And they carried with them a little bit of the DNA of the belief of one God. As time pass, I believe people lost sight of the one God and created other things to believe in... or nothing at all. But I believe that these people to this day carry this little piece of DNA and that someday, possibly, they will hear the Truth again.
Sounds kind of bizarre, right? I mean, this is all me thinking outloud, so this by no means is taken from any other text or religious work. Do people really carry this little piece of "God" within, hoping that it will bud into the belief that there is the Almighty One?
A quote from Romans 2:
"14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life."
Briefly, Paul is teaching the Romans that they themselves are subject to the judgement of God when they mistreat others because they (Romans) think they (other Gentiles) are doing wrong. And how would anybody else around such Gentiles know that these Gentiles are obeying God when even the authorities may not know God's law?
I have a point here but I want to read a few more religious pieces of work before I say anything.
Speaking of reading, I have checked out a Catholic Bible and started to read The Book of Tobit. Fascinating, in an objective way. I'm determining whether it flows through the rest of the Bible and make an opinion about its placement in the Catholic Bible. Tobit is quite a good book, and I've only read 4 chapters so far.
Reading the "missing books" in the Catholic Bible is only one part of my religious studies. My next book will be the Book of Mormons, maybe follow by reading a few bits of the Qu'ran... I'm not sure what other religious books are out there.
I guess I'm trying to achieve a few things.
1. I want to broaden my spiritual view. Don't worry, I won't fall away from God. But this is actually an example I'm taking from work. Lately, I have been doing market research, why did we win, and why did we lose. Well, in doing this research, I need to find out our competitor's information before I make a case about it. I believe some people in the Christian world are equip to do so, learn about other religions to build a case for Christ. I mean, why would a standardize protocol for bioassay applying to discharge WW be better than our competitor's so-called "fecal" bioassay, where God knows what they really did? Why is being a Christian better than being a Muslim? Simply saying, "The Bible told me so..." for a while, hasn't even cut it for me! It's a good start, to read the Bible, but I want more education on the other religions before proclaiming something I'm believing, you know? It's not wrong to read other religions as long as you know what you personally believe (and maybe you don't really believe and you are just curious) and that you read into other religious books objectively.
2. What the heck is the Book of Mormon (which was "the point" I want to make later but I'll say something about it now). Well, from the little I know, it is the account of the people from the Old World coming to the New World and after a while, Jesus came to visit them before the ascension. That, to me, simply doesn't address the rest of the world, like Asia or Africa. Would Jesus do the same thing and visit them as well? Or wouldn't God send prophets to take care of these people before the visitation of Jesus. I dunno. I have heard that Lao Tze was actually a so-called prophet and have told the Chinese of a Savior, but I would have to look into that too. I would need to read the Book of Mormon to get a better opinion.
3. I'm bored. :) No, really, I don't have much going on when I go home. I mean, I have to cook and clean around, but there's some free time for me to either surf the internet or read a book.
4. I think with all these religions, it all has to point and tie into God. The people of this earth have came from people of Babel and there has to be some evidence that we all carry a little part of God's love and law in our mind and hearts. And through our activities, rules, laws, books, school, there's got to be some evidence that God plays a role in all of these, even if the "Gentiles" do not realize it.
Well, I'm off my soapbox. Peace!
I sort of have this view how humans made their appearance around the world after Babel. I believe God created the world, all the natural resources, and life (animals and people). I believe He did it in 6 days (where he rest on the 7th). Then, as you may read through the first book of the Bible, Genesis, God scattered the people of the world after the Tower of Babel was built because the people tried to get as close to God as they can...
So, these people are scattered about earth. And they carried with them a little bit of the DNA of the belief of one God. As time pass, I believe people lost sight of the one God and created other things to believe in... or nothing at all. But I believe that these people to this day carry this little piece of DNA and that someday, possibly, they will hear the Truth again.
Sounds kind of bizarre, right? I mean, this is all me thinking outloud, so this by no means is taken from any other text or religious work. Do people really carry this little piece of "God" within, hoping that it will bud into the belief that there is the Almighty One?
A quote from Romans 2:
"14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life."
Briefly, Paul is teaching the Romans that they themselves are subject to the judgement of God when they mistreat others because they (Romans) think they (other Gentiles) are doing wrong. And how would anybody else around such Gentiles know that these Gentiles are obeying God when even the authorities may not know God's law?
I have a point here but I want to read a few more religious pieces of work before I say anything.
Speaking of reading, I have checked out a Catholic Bible and started to read The Book of Tobit. Fascinating, in an objective way. I'm determining whether it flows through the rest of the Bible and make an opinion about its placement in the Catholic Bible. Tobit is quite a good book, and I've only read 4 chapters so far.
Reading the "missing books" in the Catholic Bible is only one part of my religious studies. My next book will be the Book of Mormons, maybe follow by reading a few bits of the Qu'ran... I'm not sure what other religious books are out there.
I guess I'm trying to achieve a few things.
1. I want to broaden my spiritual view. Don't worry, I won't fall away from God. But this is actually an example I'm taking from work. Lately, I have been doing market research, why did we win, and why did we lose. Well, in doing this research, I need to find out our competitor's information before I make a case about it. I believe some people in the Christian world are equip to do so, learn about other religions to build a case for Christ. I mean, why would a standardize protocol for bioassay applying to discharge WW be better than our competitor's so-called "fecal" bioassay, where God knows what they really did? Why is being a Christian better than being a Muslim? Simply saying, "The Bible told me so..." for a while, hasn't even cut it for me! It's a good start, to read the Bible, but I want more education on the other religions before proclaiming something I'm believing, you know? It's not wrong to read other religions as long as you know what you personally believe (and maybe you don't really believe and you are just curious) and that you read into other religious books objectively.
2. What the heck is the Book of Mormon (which was "the point" I want to make later but I'll say something about it now). Well, from the little I know, it is the account of the people from the Old World coming to the New World and after a while, Jesus came to visit them before the ascension. That, to me, simply doesn't address the rest of the world, like Asia or Africa. Would Jesus do the same thing and visit them as well? Or wouldn't God send prophets to take care of these people before the visitation of Jesus. I dunno. I have heard that Lao Tze was actually a so-called prophet and have told the Chinese of a Savior, but I would have to look into that too. I would need to read the Book of Mormon to get a better opinion.
3. I'm bored. :) No, really, I don't have much going on when I go home. I mean, I have to cook and clean around, but there's some free time for me to either surf the internet or read a book.
4. I think with all these religions, it all has to point and tie into God. The people of this earth have came from people of Babel and there has to be some evidence that we all carry a little part of God's love and law in our mind and hearts. And through our activities, rules, laws, books, school, there's got to be some evidence that God plays a role in all of these, even if the "Gentiles" do not realize it.
Well, I'm off my soapbox. Peace!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Musical Inspirations
I was reading back on my blog from yesterday and realize how that article didn't flow. But I hope you can catch my drift. :)
Lately, I have been in a musical mode. I need a piano. I had to give up my very first piano when moving to Huntersville (then to Charlotte). It's my very first instrument, my very first musical love. I wouldn't say that without it, I'm nothing. But it is a source of creativeness for me. You know, sometimes when I'm in this mode, I randomly start singing. I guess some people can relate. And there's my guitar. I don't always like to play it because my fingers get calloused. But it sometimes motivates me to try bar chords and to do rifts and strumming patterns.
I rented "High School Musical" and watched it for the very first time. It... was cute. I wouldn't say it's my favorite but I could see how teens and tweens can really like this movie. But they got some good numbers and moves and for a Disney (somewhat) original, it's pretty darn good. Some folks compare it to another modern-day Romeo and Juliet. I would say it's closed to Grease but even Grease is compared to Romeo and Juliet. Or West Side Story. (What is that Santana song with that one R&B guy? Maria Maria! with Wyclef Jean, whoever he is...) :) By theway, does anybody know what musical they were trying out for?
I realize how much I missed musicals and being in one. My high school did a whole bunch, about two a year. One for the big school play and usually a Sr. play. I kept all the programs. I think I was only in two of them: The Music Man (I played flute in "The Pit") and I was an Oompa Loompa in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I wish I was more energenic because I realize how much I need to express myself and dance and sing. Maybe those days are gone...
I used to sing alto in a church choir for a little while. It actually gets a little old singing the same stuff over and over. Don't get me wrong, I do like Amazing Grace and Come Thou Fount, and some arrangements of other Christian songs. But I guess I'm used to high school choir where we sang like super hard stuff. (I was in a Women's Chorale for a semester. The chorus director said I sang louder than those who have been in chorus for a long time. Good old marching band. Taught me how to suck it up and use my wind!) I mean, the high school chorus wasn't the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but we sang some hard stuff.
I was telling my dad that he and mom should have enrolled me into voice and singing lessons. This is something you may not know... In the first grade, I used to sing in the bathroom. My teacher had to call me down a few times. During parent/teacher conference, my teacher told my parents that I was a happy child. I'm still a happy child, for the most part. And I was always singing in the house. Or singing a tune I learned from piano lessons. Ahhh, those were the good old days. :)
Well, enough about my musical rantings. I won't be famous but at least I have an outlet for creativity.
Lately, I have been in a musical mode. I need a piano. I had to give up my very first piano when moving to Huntersville (then to Charlotte). It's my very first instrument, my very first musical love. I wouldn't say that without it, I'm nothing. But it is a source of creativeness for me. You know, sometimes when I'm in this mode, I randomly start singing. I guess some people can relate. And there's my guitar. I don't always like to play it because my fingers get calloused. But it sometimes motivates me to try bar chords and to do rifts and strumming patterns.
I rented "High School Musical" and watched it for the very first time. It... was cute. I wouldn't say it's my favorite but I could see how teens and tweens can really like this movie. But they got some good numbers and moves and for a Disney (somewhat) original, it's pretty darn good. Some folks compare it to another modern-day Romeo and Juliet. I would say it's closed to Grease but even Grease is compared to Romeo and Juliet. Or West Side Story. (What is that Santana song with that one R&B guy? Maria Maria! with Wyclef Jean, whoever he is...) :) By theway, does anybody know what musical they were trying out for?
I realize how much I missed musicals and being in one. My high school did a whole bunch, about two a year. One for the big school play and usually a Sr. play. I kept all the programs. I think I was only in two of them: The Music Man (I played flute in "The Pit") and I was an Oompa Loompa in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I wish I was more energenic because I realize how much I need to express myself and dance and sing. Maybe those days are gone...
I used to sing alto in a church choir for a little while. It actually gets a little old singing the same stuff over and over. Don't get me wrong, I do like Amazing Grace and Come Thou Fount, and some arrangements of other Christian songs. But I guess I'm used to high school choir where we sang like super hard stuff. (I was in a Women's Chorale for a semester. The chorus director said I sang louder than those who have been in chorus for a long time. Good old marching band. Taught me how to suck it up and use my wind!) I mean, the high school chorus wasn't the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but we sang some hard stuff.
I was telling my dad that he and mom should have enrolled me into voice and singing lessons. This is something you may not know... In the first grade, I used to sing in the bathroom. My teacher had to call me down a few times. During parent/teacher conference, my teacher told my parents that I was a happy child. I'm still a happy child, for the most part. And I was always singing in the house. Or singing a tune I learned from piano lessons. Ahhh, those were the good old days. :)
Well, enough about my musical rantings. I won't be famous but at least I have an outlet for creativity.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Spiritual thoughts... (or lack there of...)
Spiritually, I wouldn't say it's good or bad. I must confess, I haven't been to church in over a month. I've been really tired on the weekends, and normally sleep over on both Saturdays and Sundays. I wouldn't say that I'm running away from God either; I mean, I haven't been mad at Him, or felt that things in my life were unfair.
This past month has been a time of inner soul searching. I'm not sure if it's an experience I had in Hong Kong. My mom's family are mostly Christians and to experience Christ in another culture has been very encouraging to me. I also wonder if God is calling me to a place that is totally different from Charlotte or NC. This area (The Bible Belt) is mostly made up of people who have gone to Protestants churches or people who are surrounded by Protestants. (I do realize, a lot of people of my generation have never been to church, but still, they are surrounded by us.) Hong Kong is very secular but I found Christians, without really trying. Or maybe God has set it up that way.
I wonder what could be my next move. I realize I can't stay in one location forever. Then again, it's better to stay somewhere for a good 5 years to build relationships in the area and build experience at work. So, it could be a while before I really decide on moving to a new place and have a new job. I should check out a few cities in the meantime, during a vacation.
In my spiritual journey, I usually have curiosities of other religions. I go through these phases where I want to learn about other religions and at the end, I will be enlightened. I think it goes back to my childhood where my parents weren't really religious, so I wasn't grounded on any religion. But I was always curious about why people go to church or temple and about Muslims or the Indians who seem to worship all kinds of things. Even now, even though I'm a Christian, I still tend to go off the beaten path to explore other things.
For example, and you might think I'm so juvenile, this is the very first season, ever, that I really paid attention to American Idol. (Yeah, I mean, I'm sort of behind the times. At least I know that first season, Kelly Clarkson won, 2nd season, Clay Aiken was second... I'm not sure what follows, and last year was Jordin Sparks.) As you may know, David Cook won the thing, while David Archuleta was second place. So, David Cook, I thought he was nice looking but after a while, he didn't really appeal to me all that much.
Then, I look at little David Archuleta. And doing some research on him, I come to find out he's LDS (Latter-day Saint; this link goes to a PDF excerpt of the 1st chapter of "Mormons for Dummies" on the Dummies website. It explains the main basics of the LDS. So how credible is it, I'm not sure but if "Dummies" wrote it, the people there should have done a pretty good job at the research in order for the stuff to be in the book). And then, doing some more research on "Mormons", I come to find this sect of Christianity is pretty interesting. (Well, I guess there is an argument whether they are true Christians, but that could be another topic and discussion later.) To be honest, some of it is good for deep thoughts, some of it is pretty goofy and some of it I flat-out don't agree with, but I do want to give kudos to their ethics, them helping the needy and poor (not just give them stuff, but to actually teach them life skills and to pick their feet off the ground), and their amazing abstinence from coffee, tea, alcohol, and recreational drugs (later, some added colas but it's not written in stone, as I've been told).
So, at the end of this little study on the Latter-day Saints, it just brings more questions than any answers I'm looking for. Well, for starters, if there is this book called The Book of Mormons written about the Native Americans, then it wouldn't be quite fair to not have a book on the Chinese after Babel or Africans that somehow relates back to God's plan of Salvation. I think the story about the Tower of Babel takes care of the other cultures around the world. So, why have such a book called The Book of Mormons? I dunno.
I'm also not quite sold on their pre-mortal views, where the LDS believe that people's spirit have existed before the beginning of earth and that at a given time, their spirit enters a physical body at birth. After birth, humans can't remember what their spirit's did before, so God puts them through trials to bring them back to God. It's an interesting thing to think about. It kind of goes back to another philosophy of question and that is if God has existed before the beginning of time. (I think I wrote a paper on that in my Philosophy of Science class. I need to dig it up.) The idea of humans having a pre-mortal spirit kind of suggest about reincarnation, which is something most Protestant Christians don't agree with. Well, not exactly, since I think LDS didn't say that these spirits were in another being before they entered humans.
There's more... three heavens? Us being Heavenly Parents like God? The LDS have a view on the Trinity too, that I think they regard God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit somewhat different, in that they are 3 distinct and separate beings with the same purpose, unlike Protestants who believe they are all one and the same, but have 3 different roles and all have the same purpose (like the ice, water, and steam analysis. Sames structure, different states). I don't know, there is a lot of stuff about LDS that differs greatly from the mainstream Protestant churches.
I think some of this stuff is pretty good to think about. Some of it, as I've said, I don't agree with. However, I do know quite a few LDS. They are some of the nicest people on earth. Seriously. I don't see anything strange or weird about them at all. They act like humans just like the rest of us.
I guess that leads to my other one-thing-that-leads-to-another thought... I never really liked cold weather. I always enjoyed the weather down south except for August. But I guess my next curiosity is, "What is Utah like?" About 40% of the people there are Mormons (or is it "others"). It's one thing to see LDS here in the Carolinas but to be out in Utah must be really different because a religion can influence the culture. Like, do they serve coffee at restaurants? Where in the South, at the drink fountain, there's sometimes 2 spouts for Coke, are their two spouts for Sprite?
I guess in one sense, I'm tired of the South and want to go West. Utah is probably the most interesting place I could think of right now because it's not in the Bible Belt and it's not quite the Wild West (where most of California, Oregon and Washington state do not really seem all the religious) and the LDS are a Christian group but not quite like the Protestant churches, and not Catholic. I heard Colorado is nice too but it might be too much snow for me. :)
But first... I have to stay here a few more years... then possibly investigate my options out there in the mean time.
This past month has been a time of inner soul searching. I'm not sure if it's an experience I had in Hong Kong. My mom's family are mostly Christians and to experience Christ in another culture has been very encouraging to me. I also wonder if God is calling me to a place that is totally different from Charlotte or NC. This area (The Bible Belt) is mostly made up of people who have gone to Protestants churches or people who are surrounded by Protestants. (I do realize, a lot of people of my generation have never been to church, but still, they are surrounded by us.) Hong Kong is very secular but I found Christians, without really trying. Or maybe God has set it up that way.
I wonder what could be my next move. I realize I can't stay in one location forever. Then again, it's better to stay somewhere for a good 5 years to build relationships in the area and build experience at work. So, it could be a while before I really decide on moving to a new place and have a new job. I should check out a few cities in the meantime, during a vacation.
In my spiritual journey, I usually have curiosities of other religions. I go through these phases where I want to learn about other religions and at the end, I will be enlightened. I think it goes back to my childhood where my parents weren't really religious, so I wasn't grounded on any religion. But I was always curious about why people go to church or temple and about Muslims or the Indians who seem to worship all kinds of things. Even now, even though I'm a Christian, I still tend to go off the beaten path to explore other things.
For example, and you might think I'm so juvenile, this is the very first season, ever, that I really paid attention to American Idol. (Yeah, I mean, I'm sort of behind the times. At least I know that first season, Kelly Clarkson won, 2nd season, Clay Aiken was second... I'm not sure what follows, and last year was Jordin Sparks.) As you may know, David Cook won the thing, while David Archuleta was second place. So, David Cook, I thought he was nice looking but after a while, he didn't really appeal to me all that much.
Then, I look at little David Archuleta. And doing some research on him, I come to find out he's LDS (Latter-day Saint; this link goes to a PDF excerpt of the 1st chapter of "Mormons for Dummies" on the Dummies website. It explains the main basics of the LDS. So how credible is it, I'm not sure but if "Dummies" wrote it, the people there should have done a pretty good job at the research in order for the stuff to be in the book). And then, doing some more research on "Mormons", I come to find this sect of Christianity is pretty interesting. (Well, I guess there is an argument whether they are true Christians, but that could be another topic and discussion later.) To be honest, some of it is good for deep thoughts, some of it is pretty goofy and some of it I flat-out don't agree with, but I do want to give kudos to their ethics, them helping the needy and poor (not just give them stuff, but to actually teach them life skills and to pick their feet off the ground), and their amazing abstinence from coffee, tea, alcohol, and recreational drugs (later, some added colas but it's not written in stone, as I've been told).
So, at the end of this little study on the Latter-day Saints, it just brings more questions than any answers I'm looking for. Well, for starters, if there is this book called The Book of Mormons written about the Native Americans, then it wouldn't be quite fair to not have a book on the Chinese after Babel or Africans that somehow relates back to God's plan of Salvation. I think the story about the Tower of Babel takes care of the other cultures around the world. So, why have such a book called The Book of Mormons? I dunno.
I'm also not quite sold on their pre-mortal views, where the LDS believe that people's spirit have existed before the beginning of earth and that at a given time, their spirit enters a physical body at birth. After birth, humans can't remember what their spirit's did before, so God puts them through trials to bring them back to God. It's an interesting thing to think about. It kind of goes back to another philosophy of question and that is if God has existed before the beginning of time. (I think I wrote a paper on that in my Philosophy of Science class. I need to dig it up.) The idea of humans having a pre-mortal spirit kind of suggest about reincarnation, which is something most Protestant Christians don't agree with. Well, not exactly, since I think LDS didn't say that these spirits were in another being before they entered humans.
There's more... three heavens? Us being Heavenly Parents like God? The LDS have a view on the Trinity too, that I think they regard God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit somewhat different, in that they are 3 distinct and separate beings with the same purpose, unlike Protestants who believe they are all one and the same, but have 3 different roles and all have the same purpose (like the ice, water, and steam analysis. Sames structure, different states). I don't know, there is a lot of stuff about LDS that differs greatly from the mainstream Protestant churches.
I think some of this stuff is pretty good to think about. Some of it, as I've said, I don't agree with. However, I do know quite a few LDS. They are some of the nicest people on earth. Seriously. I don't see anything strange or weird about them at all. They act like humans just like the rest of us.
I guess that leads to my other one-thing-that-leads-to-another thought... I never really liked cold weather. I always enjoyed the weather down south except for August. But I guess my next curiosity is, "What is Utah like?" About 40% of the people there are Mormons (or is it "others"). It's one thing to see LDS here in the Carolinas but to be out in Utah must be really different because a religion can influence the culture. Like, do they serve coffee at restaurants? Where in the South, at the drink fountain, there's sometimes 2 spouts for Coke, are their two spouts for Sprite?
I guess in one sense, I'm tired of the South and want to go West. Utah is probably the most interesting place I could think of right now because it's not in the Bible Belt and it's not quite the Wild West (where most of California, Oregon and Washington state do not really seem all the religious) and the LDS are a Christian group but not quite like the Protestant churches, and not Catholic. I heard Colorado is nice too but it might be too much snow for me. :)
But first... I have to stay here a few more years... then possibly investigate my options out there in the mean time.
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