Comments on: Executive Summary http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/02/26/executive-summary/ One Mormon boy’s iconoclastic quest to remix and rectify his notions of truth, mind, myth, love, life, and transcendence. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:18:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jonathan Blake http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/02/26/executive-summary/#comment-62 Jonathan Blake Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:01:52 +0000 http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/02/26/executive-summary/#comment-62 Long time no see! Thank you for stopping by and expressing your thoughts and concerns. It's great to hear from you. No need to apologize for taking up time or for saying what you think. Feel free to comment as you wish. I won't be offended or censor sincere thoughts and feelings, even including testimonies. I <em>am</em> interested to hear what others think. It helps me knock the rough edges off and keeps me thinking. Regarding why I left the church, do you want a more detailed answer? If so, I'll <a href="http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/03/21/why-i-left/">explain in another post</a> where I can be more explicit (I'm trying to stay neutral here). Don't be a stranger. Long time no see! Thank you for stopping by and expressing your thoughts and concerns. It’s great to hear from you. No need to apologize for taking up time or for saying what you think. Feel free to comment as you wish. I won’t be offended or censor sincere thoughts and feelings, even including testimonies. I am interested to hear what others think. It helps me knock the rough edges off and keeps me thinking.

Regarding why I left the church, do you want a more detailed answer? If so, I’ll explain in another post where I can be more explicit (I’m trying to stay neutral here).

Don’t be a stranger.

]]> By: Ryan Hales http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/02/26/executive-summary/#comment-60 Ryan Hales Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:43:33 +0000 http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/02/26/executive-summary/#comment-60 Hello Jonathan, I received a phone call today from a good friend of mine informing me of your website. He asked me if I remembered you from the mission and I told him I did. He shared what he had discovered and some of his thoughts on what he had read from your site. I located your website and have been reading for an hour or so. I quickly recognized that I am not as well read as you are; therefore I don't completely understand some of your references to other books, authors, or musicians. But I do have common sense and I did understand most of everything else you've written. Now that I have that out of the way I don't know where to start, maybe with what weighs heaviest in my heart. It is very apparent to me that you are concerned for your loved ones and how they will be taking your news. I can't help but feel sorry and concerned for your wife of whom I have never met and your children who I'll probably never meet. I can appreciate the letter you wrote your parents and I hope they don't take any blame for your being born again. You wrote that they had raised you properly; I also hope they do and always will feel that way. I’ve not wanted to take too much time elaborating on what I think is right or wrong, true or false. I wanted to write in response to your asking if anyone wanted to know the real reason you left the church to ask. I’d like to know. I’m saddened with your decision to leave Mormonism, I’ve had struggles in my own life that have caused me to wonder, study and ponder. But I’ve always come to realize first that there is a loving Heavenly Father that cares for me and from there on things were simple to understand. I feel like my faith in a supreme being has blessed my life and I have come to know in my heart that I’m loved by Him. I know you’re not interested in what I might feel or think and I don’t mean to preach or leave testimony with you and tell you I think you’re wrong for leaving. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family. Ryan Hales Hello Jonathan, I received a phone call today from a good friend of mine informing me of your website. He asked me if I remembered you from the mission and I told him I did. He shared what he had discovered and some of his thoughts on what he had read from your site. I located your website and have been reading for an hour or so. I quickly recognized that I am not as well read as you are; therefore I don’t completely understand some of your references to other books, authors, or musicians. But I do have common sense and I did understand most of everything else you’ve written. Now that I have that out of the way I don’t know where to start, maybe with what weighs heaviest in my heart.
It is very apparent to me that you are concerned for your loved ones and how they will be taking your news. I can’t help but feel sorry and concerned for your wife of whom I have never met and your children who I’ll probably never meet. I can appreciate the letter you wrote your parents and I hope they don’t take any blame for your being born again. You wrote that they had raised you properly; I also hope they do and always will feel that way. I’ve not wanted to take too much time elaborating on what I think is right or wrong, true or false. I wanted to write in response to your asking if anyone wanted to know the real reason you left the church to ask. I’d like to know.
I’m saddened with your decision to leave Mormonism, I’ve had struggles in my own life that have caused me to wonder, study and ponder. But I’ve always come to realize first that there is a loving Heavenly Father that cares for me and from there on things were simple to understand. I feel like my faith in a supreme being has blessed my life and I have come to know in my heart that I’m loved by Him. I know you’re not interested in what I might feel or think and I don’t mean to preach or leave testimony with you and tell you I think you’re wrong for leaving. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.

Ryan Hales

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