5 ms·

Billionaire Jeff Green leaves Mormon church, donates $600K to LGBTQ organization

59 points by DocFeind 5y ago

boeingUH60 5y ago
I was raised as a Christian (Evangelical) but abandoned the religion when I was 16 or so. My reasons for leaving are similar to Green's, save for the LGBT stuff (no, I care about LGBT rights but it just wasn't on my mind at that time). In church, I saw hypocrisy that'll make your blood boil. I attended a Christian College where I saw worse. It's not that the majority of people around me where malicious (most were normal, relatable people) but all it takes is a small minority to spoil the brunch and make the whole experience miserable. I was really bitter about the whole thing, but eventually I let it go. I won't let the actions of others put me down.
- john_moscow 5y ago
  The cynical thing is that every organization that claims to know what's good and what's bad eventually attracts power-hungry people that would abuse it. You can't evade it by jumping ship, since it appears to be a fundamental flaw (or feature) of humanity. The only way out is to look at specific people and specific ideas, rather than accepting dogmas for granted, and judging information based on the affiliation of the person it came from.
  - boeingUH60 5y ago
    You have a very good point, and it's what I think also. Eventually in many, or I dare so most organizations, the power-hungry, self-serving people will somehow arm-wrestle their way to the top. It's just a matter of time, may take decades or even centuries if the organization lasts that long. There's a political theory about this termed the "Iron law of oligarchy". https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_oligarchy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_oligarchy
- enaaem 5y ago
  I used to be Christian. I became an Atheist and since a couple of years I got into Buddhism. I do see how certain aspects of Christianity can help people cope with life the same way Buddhism does. - The idea of unconditional love. Most people feel that being loved has to be earned. Well you don't have to be anything just serve God and/or be kind. - Letting go of control. Life has up and downs. In Buddhism resisting against pain is what causes suffering. In Christianity everything is according to Gods plan. Don't worry. There are also differences though. For example, Christianity gives you a simple answer for the meaning of life, so you can stop looking. Buddhism asks why are you looking in the first place.
- huetius 5y ago
  It’s fascinating that our experiences are so similar, but in opposite directions. I was raised in a secular household with secular values. In college, and afterwords at work, I began to observe that the negative features which I had, in prejudice, attributed to religion and religious people, such as self-righteousness, hypocrisy, prejudice, willful ignorance, reality denial, obstinance, etc., were perfectly abundant in the secular world that I inhabited, and in myself as well. Realizing that maybe these constituted a sort of universal human temptation, I started going to a (Catholic) church. There was plenty of that there, as well, but also something more, which I had never known. Also like you, I was really bitter (and depressed) for a while afterwards. Losing one’s faith in the worldview that had given life meaning does that, I think. It’s still a struggle for me, if I’m honest. Affirming and living that “something more” is difficult and elusive, and it’s vastly easier to intellectualize and wallow in negations. I don’t consistently do the former. Anyway, the point here is that I’m sorry you had to go through that, and I know how painful it is to lose your bearings. If you end up disillusioned out there, hit me up.
fxtentacle 5y ago
"Given you claim to represent the will of God and act as a special witness of Jesus, the Mormon church should be doing more to help the world and its members with its wealth." We should hold all organized religions accountable like that. That would make it a lot more difficult to start a cult or leech money off your followers.
- buscoquadnary 5y ago
  Just as an FYI, almost all leadership of the Church is lay ministry run by volunteers, the top leaders of the Church receive a small living stipend[0] as they do their work full-time, but beyond that the rest is all volunteers. 0. It is between 95-112k a year, which when you consider the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a world-renown cardiologist it is less than peanuts.
  - boeingUH60 5y ago
    From your replies, it seems you may be a Mormon, and I want to ask you a question in good faith. What's the point of keeping all that wealth? From what I can tell, it's not like the leaders are using it as their piggy bank. Is there a plan to run a state welfare, become an independent country, or what?
    - buscoquadnary 5y ago
      So I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that is an excellent question. It is all being stockpiled to build a giant spaceship called the Nauvoo to take us to the stars! I am totally joking of course, there is a really great article about the Church and it's finances that can be found at this link https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-finances-and-a-growing-global-church https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-fina... that explains it a lot better than I can I'd recommend checking it out if you are interested.
      - toomuchtodo 5y ago
buscoquadnary 5y ago
> In the letter dated Thursday and addressed to President Russell Nelson, Green explained that he unofficially left the church about a decade ago and has just recently, "requested the removal" of his records. Seems like someone trying to make some noise and publicity.
- boeingUH60 5y ago
  Ehn, the guy has good point though. For one, I think he strategically made the announcement shortly after pledging 90% of his wealth for charitable purposes [1]. Had he not done it before scolding the church for not helping the poor enough, some folks may have said "ehn you rich billionaire, what are you doing on your part?". Either way, good riddance for him. It's inspiring to the target audience (ex-Mormons and Mormons on the edge, I think). 1 - https://investors.thetradedesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/trade-desk-ceo-jeff-green-signs-giving-pledge https://investors.thetradedesk.com/news-releases/news-releas...
- educaysean 5y ago
  Publicity stunts aren't inherently bad, especially if it's for unselfish reasons. It looks like this person wanted to take this opportunity to make a statement about the Mormon church and its stance on LGBTQ. I say kudos.
  - finite_jest 5y ago
    One could also see this as them using this as an opportunity to advertise their allegiance to the ideology of the ruling class.
- pessimizer 5y ago
  The reason you "leave" religious sects without actually leaving them is because apostates get shunned and you don't feel like losing all of your family and friends along with your religion.
pessimizer 5y ago
Nothing like a country whose politics and media are driven by the whims of billionaires. The fact that the only specific objection cited is gender, and the token donation, make me think that either he, or someone he loves is trans. ----- Solip-erals: Conservative about every issue that doesn't affect them or someone they love, when they suddenly become tolerant. This one can usually be abbreviated as "gay child" or "old wealthy white man becoming trans." [edit: I forgot "black grandchild."] Me-servatives: Advocate for every type of social change and remediation, except the ones that would affect their neighborhood schools, property values, or tax rate. ----- The criticism of a wealthy church for hoarding honestly smells bad coming from someone who has accumulated $5.2 billion in finance.
ykevinator2 5y ago

59 points by DocFeind 5y ago

I was raised as a Christian (Evangelical) but abandoned the religion when I was 16 or so. My reasons for leaving are similar to Green's, save for the LGBT stuff (no, I care about LGBT rights but it just wasn't on my mind at that time). In church, I saw hypocrisy that'll make your blood boil. I attended a Christian College where I saw worse. It's not that the majority of people around me where malicious (most were normal, relatable people) but all it takes is a small minority to spoil the brunch and make the whole experience miserable. I was really bitter about the whole thing, but eventually I let it go. I won't let the actions of others put me down.

john_moscow 5y ago
The cynical thing is that every organization that claims to know what's good and what's bad eventually attracts power-hungry people that would abuse it. You can't evade it by jumping ship, since it appears to be a fundamental flaw (or feature) of humanity. The only way out is to look at specific people and specific ideas, rather than accepting dogmas for granted, and judging information based on the affiliation of the person it came from.
- boeingUH60 5y ago
  You have a very good point, and it's what I think also. Eventually in many, or I dare so most organizations, the power-hungry, self-serving people will somehow arm-wrestle their way to the top. It's just a matter of time, may take decades or even centuries if the organization lasts that long. There's a political theory about this termed the "Iron law of oligarchy". https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_oligarchy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_oligarchy
enaaem 5y ago
I used to be Christian. I became an Atheist and since a couple of years I got into Buddhism. I do see how certain aspects of Christianity can help people cope with life the same way Buddhism does. - The idea of unconditional love. Most people feel that being loved has to be earned. Well you don't have to be anything just serve God and/or be kind. - Letting go of control. Life has up and downs. In Buddhism resisting against pain is what causes suffering. In Christianity everything is according to Gods plan. Don't worry. There are also differences though. For example, Christianity gives you a simple answer for the meaning of life, so you can stop looking. Buddhism asks why are you looking in the first place.
huetius 5y ago
It’s fascinating that our experiences are so similar, but in opposite directions. I was raised in a secular household with secular values. In college, and afterwords at work, I began to observe that the negative features which I had, in prejudice, attributed to religion and religious people, such as self-righteousness, hypocrisy, prejudice, willful ignorance, reality denial, obstinance, etc., were perfectly abundant in the secular world that I inhabited, and in myself as well. Realizing that maybe these constituted a sort of universal human temptation, I started going to a (Catholic) church. There was plenty of that there, as well, but also something more, which I had never known. Also like you, I was really bitter (and depressed) for a while afterwards. Losing one’s faith in the worldview that had given life meaning does that, I think. It’s still a struggle for me, if I’m honest. Affirming and living that “something more” is difficult and elusive, and it’s vastly easier to intellectualize and wallow in negations. I don’t consistently do the former. Anyway, the point here is that I’m sorry you had to go through that, and I know how painful it is to lose your bearings. If you end up disillusioned out there, hit me up.

fxtentacle 5y ago

"Given you claim to represent the will of God and act as a special witness of Jesus, the Mormon church should be doing more to help the world and its members with its wealth." We should hold all organized religions accountable like that. That would make it a lot more difficult to start a cult or leech money off your followers.

buscoquadnary 5y ago
Just as an FYI, almost all leadership of the Church is lay ministry run by volunteers, the top leaders of the Church receive a small living stipend[0] as they do their work full-time, but beyond that the rest is all volunteers. 0. It is between 95-112k a year, which when you consider the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a world-renown cardiologist it is less than peanuts.
- boeingUH60 5y ago
  From your replies, it seems you may be a Mormon, and I want to ask you a question in good faith. What's the point of keeping all that wealth? From what I can tell, it's not like the leaders are using it as their piggy bank. Is there a plan to run a state welfare, become an independent country, or what?
  - buscoquadnary 5y ago
    So I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that is an excellent question. It is all being stockpiled to build a giant spaceship called the Nauvoo to take us to the stars! I am totally joking of course, there is a really great article about the Church and it's finances that can be found at this link https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-finances-and-a-growing-global-church https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-fina... that explains it a lot better than I can I'd recommend checking it out if you are interested.
    - toomuchtodo 5y ago

buscoquadnary 5y ago

> In the letter dated Thursday and addressed to President Russell Nelson, Green explained that he unofficially left the church about a decade ago and has just recently, "requested the removal" of his records. Seems like someone trying to make some noise and publicity.

boeingUH60 5y ago
Ehn, the guy has good point though. For one, I think he strategically made the announcement shortly after pledging 90% of his wealth for charitable purposes [1]. Had he not done it before scolding the church for not helping the poor enough, some folks may have said "ehn you rich billionaire, what are you doing on your part?". Either way, good riddance for him. It's inspiring to the target audience (ex-Mormons and Mormons on the edge, I think). 1 - https://investors.thetradedesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/trade-desk-ceo-jeff-green-signs-giving-pledge https://investors.thetradedesk.com/news-releases/news-releas...
educaysean 5y ago
Publicity stunts aren't inherently bad, especially if it's for unselfish reasons. It looks like this person wanted to take this opportunity to make a statement about the Mormon church and its stance on LGBTQ. I say kudos.
- finite_jest 5y ago
  One could also see this as them using this as an opportunity to advertise their allegiance to the ideology of the ruling class.
pessimizer 5y ago
The reason you "leave" religious sects without actually leaving them is because apostates get shunned and you don't feel like losing all of your family and friends along with your religion.

pessimizer 5y ago

Nothing like a country whose politics and media are driven by the whims of billionaires. The fact that the only specific objection cited is gender, and the token donation, make me think that either he, or someone he loves is trans. ----- Solip-erals: Conservative about every issue that doesn't affect them or someone they love, when they suddenly become tolerant. This one can usually be abbreviated as "gay child" or "old wealthy white man becoming trans." [edit: I forgot "black grandchild."] Me-servatives: Advocate for every type of social change and remediation, except the ones that would affect their neighborhood schools, property values, or tax rate. ----- The criticism of a wealthy church for hoarding honestly smells bad coming from someone who has accumulated $5.2 billion in finance.

ykevinator2 5y ago