Brian G. Benington responded to the latest Reform Mormon Gospel Doctrine lesson with the following email:
"Thought I'd share this with you -- the response of an atheist friend of mine (James Kramer, III) to your recent Gospel Doctrine topic:
'It is a short step from this to not needing a God at all. If the responsibility and power is in our hands then why bother with God? If you live 'rightly', i.e. abiding by those 'eternal laws set forth in heaven' then one is already acting like God and would not need God's 'grace' anyway...they would have already 'grown up'.
Note: This does not answer or even evoke the question of whether God exists or not. That is a different matter altogether. Rather, even if God exists then worship of him/her is unnecessary. Rather our homage should be to the 'eternal laws' and 'right' that 'even God cannot revoke' or alter and must obey as well.
This was very interesting to read. I am not sure if the author knows all of the implications of what he/she wrote. I do believe I will share it with the very young lady, if she dares, and see if she is able to understand what I was saying to her about 'all-power' and the consequent of man having none when it comes from some other person rather than from the damnable Atheist who was speaking to her.'"
If you would like to respond to the lesson or to the above email, send your thoughts to us at: reformmormons@aol.com. All view points are welcomed!
About Me
- ROB. LAUER
- Rob. Lauer is an award-winning playwright, theatrical and television director, actor and TV talk show host. Rob’s first play, “Digger,” won BYU's 1982 Mayhew Award; was produced to critical acclaim that same year, was published in 1988, and republished in 2013. In 1990, he became the first playwright to win both awards for drama at the Deep South Writers Conference. His satire “Tom & Penny’s Yard Party” (available from Steel Spring Stage Rights) won the Best Play of the Year Award, while his urban drama, “The Church Street Fantasy,” won the Paul T. Nolan Award. Rob's New York City theatrical credits include three years as an actor with the acclaimed Prince Street Players and four years as Artistic Director of Sail Productions, Inc. From 2002 through 2005, he served as Artistic Director of “Swamp Gravy”—the State of Georgia's Official Folk-Life Play. He has taught playwriting at University of the Pacific and Western Wyoming Community College. Rob currently lives in Virginia where he produces and hosts a local TV talk show. He was Associate Director of the LDS Church's Hill Cumorah Pageant from 1997 through 2003. He has been a Reform Mormon since 2004.