Talking to Mormons (week 5) - final for now
Well last Sunday, I met with the Mormons for the fifth time. It was also the last time. They seemed to think that all we were really doing was “butting heads”. If it was that, it was the politest gentlest head butt that I’ve ever caused. I think they just gave up because I wasn’t such an easy mark.
At some point, I admitted that I was coming along only to try to convince them that they are wrong.
There are times in your life that you know you are never going to speak to people again but it’s only afterwards that you think of intelligent things to say. They accused me of being like a Pharisee for not having an open heart to the Book of Mormon; I would have accused them of the same thing for Mormon legalism.
They said I’d be able to return for discussion if I read the Book of Mormon with an open and sincere heart. I said that it’s a greater priority for me to finish reading the Old Testament.
It was particularly strange when I asked them why they ask people to read the Book of Mormon before The Bible. They said that was what made them distinct from other religions that are based upon the Bible… then they went onto describe how the Book of Mormon is their capstone built on top of Christ. I guess Christ is not at the peak of their faith.
I’m really disappointed that things ended this way. I wasn’t doing this just to waste their time. Personally, I gained a lot out of this. I would have thought they would have the time to support such a robust faith if the faith is indeed true.
Anyway, my Friday nights are back to being empty.
Lasting thoughts:
- Mormons love to talk about revelation from God and a warm feeling from in the bosom. They will never check whether that affirms what the Bible tells. Even worse, they will always dodge your questions on its reliability, particularly when so many other religions have founders who profess personal revelation from God and members who also have a feeling that it’s true.
- If you know much about the history of Joseph Smith, you know there’s a lot of dodgy stuff such as polygamy claims that normal human beings can become gods of their own planet and their past hatred of Negros. They are good topics but you don’t need to go for them straight away. They may just make Mormons defensive and feed their persecution complex.
- It’s hard when you talk with more than one Mormon at a time. Sometimes one of them will throw you a question but another will throw another at you without giving you a chance to answer the first. Also, if you go in alone, you don’t have the time to look up Bible passages to support yourself whereas they do.
- Watch out when they pull out the old “Flirt-to-Convert” technique. It’s just dirty and sin-causing.
Christians often talk ask friends how their spiritual health is - it’s a fancy way of saying is there anything relating to your faith that is troubling you. Many religions believe that the people who do not share the same beliefs will suffer a spiritual death, namely eternity in Hell.
Is there such a thing as spiritual triage? If there is, is it appropriate? Anyway, I was thinking about medical triage. From watching television, I thought there were just four categories:
- Dead: There is nothing that can be done.
- Absolutely urgent: If nothing is done soon, the person will die.
- Relatively urgent: For the time being the person will not die but will if ignored.
- Walking wounded: The peson is not going to die but still needs medical attention.
You’re probably wondering if I have a point to make! What sort of response is it when a doctor knows someone is going to die but tells them to go home and do something before they can save you? Thus, what sort of response do you think it is when someone tells another to go home and just read their spiritual book of choice first?
