I have come to learn for myself that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but rather the opposite of faith is certainty! Having doubt is to be fundamentally human & asking questions is the first step to finding answers and clarity. Let’s shed the shadow of shame cast on doubt and instead seek and find clarity that only comes with asking questions.
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episode 107: Episode 107: Jesus didn't care about offending the Pharisees, with David of @_mindful_faith
David is a critical care physician, outdoor enthusiast and amateur scenic photographer who was born into the church and was a devout member for decades until his children became teenagers and experienced harm from the church institution.
Trying to see the church through their eyes expanded his view to the diverse ways it hurts many saints. He became particularly alarmed by seeing the ways that queer saints have been harmed by evolving doctrine and policy, and in 2022 began sharing his thoughts through an anonymous Instagram account (@_mindful_faith_) on how to redirect the body of Christ toward the ideal of Zion, where all feel equally cherished and supported.
The account was discovered by family members and shared with church authorities because of its critiques of current doctrines and policies that cause harm, which resulted in excommunication for apostasy.
He decided that would not derail his efforts to help church members, former members, and those straddling the boundary in between, to process the dissonance between their own spiritual compass and the religion that has had such a profound influence on their lives.
He has chosen to keep his surname private because of the traumatic invasion of privacy he experienced in the process of his account being used to expel him from the church and estrange him from family and friends.
Connect with David on Instagram @_mindful_faith
Quote from J. Rueben Clark mentioned in the episode:
“If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed.”
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