The Mormon Checkmate

This posting definitely applies to Mormonism and I think it applies to other faiths, too. It helps to explain the profound unease religion makes me feel at times. On the one hand, my faith tells me that I'm in control: I have the capacity (intellectual, spiritual) to make choices from day to day...choices that will effect my eternal progression. On the other hand, the Mormon faith tells me that if I arrive at any conclusion different from the Church's on points of importance, then it's because I've been tempted or led astray. So they have me in checkmate. They say one thing that sounds democratic, but ultimately police my activity by making me feel afraid of my own convictions.

Mormonism maintains that you make righteous choices when you have the "spirit," or the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Then they tell you that there's only one way to have the companionship: by being loyal to the Church and its teaching. Basically, what they're saying is that you only have control and presence of mind--the power to make the right choice--when you submit yourself to the control of the Church. You don't have the power to make the right choice independent of the institution.