Ex-Mormons/Fundamentalist Christians in the House

[LivingNumbers6.626]

1) How long did it take you to come to peace with leaving admitting disbelief? It took me about 1.5 years, the guilt and denial was on and off.
          I think it was gradual.  A lot of small bits and pieces just didn't make sense.  I remember asking my Mother why there were two different creation stories when I was little, and she had an absolute furious meltdown - I knew never to imply that the Bible wasn't perfect in her presence again.  I pulled away from the Christian Church in my 20's and dabbled in Paganism . . . I wanted something spiritual, but eventually Paganism just didn't make sense either.
          Then one Easter, while playing the organ for church, I just abruptly realized that "I just can't believe any of this crap . . . !"  I live in the Bible Belt, though, and I have to be careful who I tell.



2) How close are you to your family? Is there a feeling that you may never "fit in" again with your family after leaving? I kind of get that feeling...but I'm at peace with that now too.
           My brother and I are both gay, so we were both disowned decades ago.  But to my Mother, "atheist" is about as evil as any human can get - much worse than homosexual.  And she once told my brother and me that all queers should be lined up against a wall and shot, so . . . I'm kind of glad I won't get a chance to tell her.

3) After being accustom to Mormon culture for a long time (perhaps since birth) did you ever find yourself socially awkward at times when exploring places and opportunities you could never had if you were still a TBM?
            Pentecostal Protestant here . . . but no.  I'm socially awkward no matter where I am.  

Wow...I guess I have it considerably lucky with my family. But I suppose that is one of the perks of growing up in a two generational California mormon. Believe me...generations and geological location really effects the culture of the mormon family. haha! But thank you for your input. I am so sorry you had to deal with the pentacosts. I've dealt with her bastard brother of the apostolic type and quite frankly....what became of the Pentacostal movement was nothing but fear and human degradation. If there was a hell, they would definitely be the founders since they know so much about it. haha