Did you ever have a conversation with a mormon missionary?

It is impossible to have a conversation with a zealot. They just want to preach at you.

Try living in Salt Lake. I was just minding my own business, and got over taken trying to go to the mall. That was when I didn’t know they had a convention going on, and I didn’t know the temple was right there. But yes I when you prove them wrong, they do go and pray, for you.

what was interesting was that at the end of the conversation I realised another counterargument.
The say that you have to have faith and to pray to “know” that Mormonism is correct. But since this approach had many people end up in a different religion and that any supernatural experience can be easily explained by science, makes any result from faith or prayer ambigious, uncertain to the highest degree and this can not result in any “knowledge” or even perceived knowledge of the correctness of what you tried to verify.

Wait, you can go to some website and talk to Mormon missionaries?

!!!!!

Linku, please.

@Qingu
http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/ask-a-question/chat-live?src=mediaChat

Well, I know what I’m doing tonight. Gyahahahaha….

I had a good friend who was LDS. His family was hosting two LDS missionaries. I went to his house just to ask them questions about their faith as I am fascinated with different religions. I found them to be very friendly and not preachy at all. I didn’t find them to be zealots in any way. They knew where I was coming from and that I wasn’t about to become Christian. I felt different about them from that point on. And although I don’t appreciate anyone coming to my door to “share” their faith with me I must say the Mormon missionaries have always politely left when I told them I’m not interested. I wish I could say the same about Jehovah’s Witnesses.

I generally offer them some water, as it is hot down here in Texas and they’ve been riding their bicycles around. When they start in on Mormonism I sometimes simply ask them how many black, female elders are there in the church, or I tell them the story of my husband’s birth* and they generally decide I am a nut and politely take their leave.

*His mother was heavy with child when the government came and told her she and her husband must go to a particular place with others of their kin, to be counted. When she arrived there was no inn at all, so they housed her in the stable, where she gave birth to a son. However, he has made it a point to never visit Jerusalem at Easter.

The short version: he is the first baby born at the Santa Anita Relocation Center during the rounding up of Japanese Americans in 1942. This is better known today as Santa Anita Racetrack. They used the stables to house the people, and used the tack room as the maternity ward.

I had a fantastic experience. My own spiritual beliefs fall outside the typical so when we were approached by two older teen boys in black suits on a hot summer afternoon we weren’t too pleased. We were in the midst of gardening. I quickly told them that I was not interested in being converted. They were so polite. They responded by telling me that they were not intending to convert me but rather to spread the love of God. That felt nice and warm. They then asked if we needed help with anything, our gardening perhaps? We asked if they were serious and they indeed were. We then declined politely offering the reason that they were in suits and we would feel horrible about it. Then then thanked us for our attention and gave us their card saying that if we ever needed anything to give them a call. I was so pleased by how warm and undemanding they were that I hung onto those cards for quite awhile. They really changed my opinion about people who come door to door.

Most of the people on my dad’s side of the family are very Mormon. Growing up, I heard from my cousins that I wasn’t as good of a person as them, because I wasn’t Mormon. I heard that unless I converted to Mormonism I would most likely go to hell. I was not allowed to attend a cousin’s wedding ceremony because I wasn’t “pure enough” to enter the temple. During that same wedding ceremony, they forced my grandmother to wait outside, in the pouring rain, because she also wasn’t pure enough to enter the temple. All of my male cousins went to different countries as missionaries, in order to become men. Before doing so, they wouldn’t ever be considered true men.

I used to go to church with them whenever I was visiting and I couldn’t tell you how many times that was. They’re all very nice and polite on the outside, but you won’t see their true nature until you really start to ask some serious questions. Regardless of how nice they seem, they look down on you if you aren’t Mormon. They request to help, in many areas of life, as a way to suck you in and warm up to them. I know how it works all too well. And no, when you ask questions, they can’t give you any answers besides, “That’s just how it is” or something just as ridiculously stupid.

Yes, notably my boss. Who surprisingly is fairly straightforward and has excellent arguments – though he will admit it does come down to belief. Just as you believe there is no God, they believe there is.

@DrasticDreamer: I’ve known many Mormons, and from what I’ve seen there are lovely Mormons in the world – but a few people with misinformation can fuck anything good up.

All that being said, on a personal level… My boss is an asshole.

@DrasticDreamer- Its funny that your Mormon cousin. Told you you would likely go to Hell. From my understanding the LDS teaches that most everyone goes to Heaven, although only LDS go to the “highest” Heaven (they believe in three and different levels within the highest one) and only a very small percentage go to Hell.

I think the biggest thing that annoys me about Mormons are those hokey “Foundation for a Better Life” commercials they run ad nauseum on TV.

^What he said. If a Mormon is telling you you’re going to hell… they’re a terribly misinformed Mormon.

I don’t know many LDS people, but I have been freidns with 2 of them in the past. One of them asked if she could come to synagogue with me. I invited her and she was incredibly respectful (and participated!) throughout the service. When missionaries (of any faith) approach me, I usually tell them that I already have a religion, thanks. The LDS missionaries have been pleasant, in my limited experience.

No, but I’ve seen them on their bikes. Their shirts are always nicely pressed =)

I had a boss that wasn’t, but his wife and kids were. He was not allowed to attend his own daughters wedding ceremony. That’s pretty sad. See ya….Gary/wtf

@ragingloli Regarding your first response to this question, I think you’ve hit on a very important feature of religious/philosophical thought. This feature tells us something very fundamental about being human, and possibly about the existence of God. Rather than attempt to explain it directly, I’ll suggest an analogy.

A fish tells another fish that the only true water is the water near the reef. The second fish disagrees and claims that the only true water is in the trench. A third fish claims that water near the surface is the only true water. Which fish is correct?

@DrasticDreamer Astrochuck is right. It’s almost impossible to go to hell whether you are Mormon or not. You basically have to look God in the face and say “I would rather go to hell.” As far as Mormons looking down on you this is hardly anything new. Lots of people look down on lots of other people. It’s not because they’re Mormon. It’s because they are assholes. If you think you’ve never looked down on anyone else you’re probably so full of yourself you never noticed (not meant as a personal attack, but rather an admission that everyone treats others poorly sometimes). I’m not defending your Mormon relatives. They sound like assholes. But, in my opinion, the subset of a population rarely represents the entire population well.

I used to be a Mormon missionary. I wasn’t a zealot. I was there because I believed that God wanted me to teach other people about him. I didn’t force my beliefs on anybody but I offered to teach people who were interested in learning more. We spent most of our time delivering Bibles, Books of Mormon, and videos (all for free) to people who had requested them.

This was one of the best experiences of my life. I recommend that young men take up some kind of service for others (religious or otherwise) to help find their place in the world.

I’m no longer Mormon but I continue to respect their church organization and their family values. They are good people who are skilled at performing service for those in need.

Cheers.

I’ve never talked to any missionaries, but here in Colorado, there are a few here and there, especially at school when their ‘stake’ is next door, and I live next to a mormon family. They all tend to be interesting, nice people, but they all have some quirks. I’ve never gotten into a religious discussion with them, but I’m sure it wouldn’t turn out well and the odder parts of their religion would stand out.

Many! I have been in remote places of the world and who do you meet there? Mormon missionaries! and, whilst living in Indonesia, I met some that made me so homesick, we would talk of home. I have read the history of the development of the Mormon religion, and Sam Harris’ book, and I’ve always wondered how intelligent, erudite and hardworking people could have these beliefs- but even now when they come to the door I have a good yarn with them, I went to college with many and we became good friends. I have also met many that have had really varied and interesting lives and great jobs because of their ability with languages. I love talking to them, about their lives, they are always so polite, and always seem to have a great attitude.

I love it when they knock on the door – messing with their heads is a fun pastime. When my wife sees them coming she disappears and leaves me to it. They keep coming back and bringing elders with more grunt – they seem fascinated with someone who knows the Bible better than they do, but who is an atheist. (They don’t know the Bible very well – there are many areas that they don’t focus on.)

A couple of them who were not so easily dissuaded have become good social friends, we go to dinner quite regularly.

I am sorry, but I have difficulty keeping a straight face whenever they talk about Moroni.

I have yet to have the experience of having a Mormon on my doorstep. JWs, and those people from the Pentacostal church across the street have been here, as well as a Mexican Catholic proselytizer once (which is just odd). As for the JWs, I am on their permanent do not call list. It’s easy to get on their temporary DNC list; it takes some gumption to get on the permanent list. =)

I just want to say that they believe some TWISTED stuff. I live where most of them do (everyone probably knows where that is) & I was really interested in their religion. After a TON of research, sermons, and other searches for info you come to the conclusion that it’s based of BS. Fact- When the religion started, it was called a cult & ALL of them were masons. Masonry & Christianity contridict way too much.
-As far as the missionaries, I feel bad for them because it’s like they’re brainwashed. You can’t get them to answer any questions straight up. They go around the questions just the way they’re taught to.
& I’m not just here dissing on them, but facts are facts, they don’t know what the hell they’re talking about.
but hey, at least they are really nice & polite (=

@seventeen123, Christianity also started as a cult.

I mean, the son of a virgin is about as believable as golden plates guy.

Well it is quite possible for a virgin to give birth nowadays – maybe Jesus was just a guy born out of time. God got the dates wrong.

This is not as fun as I had hoped. They have this one guy manning the chat. And he’s super slow to respond.

@Qingu They have this one guy manning the chat. And he’s super slow to respond.

That’s because he is talking to me as well. Is it Jaimie?

No, it’s Tai. He’s said like 4 things in 20 minutes! BORING!

What are you talking about with yours?

He just claimed that when the Bible orders you to enslave people of the cities you conquer, it actually means “free them from slavery.”

@Qingu What are you talking about with yours?

Multiple wives of course. Asked if he gets discounts on little blue pills. He has a problem and explains that they don’t do that nowadays but still wants all other aspects of their “faith” to be taken seriously.

@timothykinney Of course I look down on other people, obviously. But I’m not going to look down on other people because my religion actually encourages me to do so.

@DrasticDreamer Of course I look down on other people, obviously

I look down on people all the time. I have an office on the sixth floor.

@DarkScribe Cracked me up, indeed. :D

I dunno… I just think the world would be an even worse place if people didn’t look down on others for certain things. I mean… If that wasn’t the case, jails and prisons wouldn’t exist. So yeah, @timothykinney I don’t claim to not judge certain people, because I do.

@DrasticDreamer Then it’s silly to complain when others do it to you.

I have difficulty imagining the circumstances under which a person would never judge others? We all have ethical standards and if we are able to rank the consequences of our own actions in terms of better or worse, then surely we can’t help but notice when another person does something that we would hope not to do, and by default judge the action and the motivations of the individual(s).

So the issue to me isn’t whether or not we assess the ethical or reasoning standards of others (we do), but whether we can justify the basis from which from which we make such judgements, and how we express such judgement.

@ragingloli All my interactions with mormons have been short and sweet and so entirely consistent as to be a little disquieting. I think I have met the same two clean cut, piously smiling, suit wearing clones in La Paz Bolivia, Townsville, Australia, and Stockholm Sweden.

I just politely say no thanks, while in my head the “dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb” song automatically kicks in.

http://www.videosift.com/video/History-of-Mormonism-by-South-Park

@timothykinney Exactly what Critter38 said. I’m judging them because they’ve judged me – for completely idiotic reasons. So no, it’s not “silly” to complain when others do it to me.

@timothykinney, you’re judging DrasticDreamer for judging others.

Welcome to the spiral of judgment!

I’ve had Mormons talk to me on the street and knock on my door. The actual missionaries are always unfailingly polite and friendly. Unfortunately, my views and their views are not compatible, and so I make that clear as soon as possible, as politely as possible, and that usually ends the interaction.

“not meant as a personal attack, but rather an admission that everyone treats others poorly sometimes”

I found out later in life that my maternal grandparents “tried on” Mormonism for a brief period seems they were shopping around for the “right” religion…?

Anyhow, it didn’t last – something about the key tenets being a little too far “out there.”

I just requested a free “Book of Mormon” to see for myself, but when I hit submit it said “Thanks – a missionary will be contacting you within a few days.” Blah! I just want the book!

Yes, but in all those conversations I have never once been tempted to try to talk them out of their religion, nor have I felt like they were unable to offer a single good argument. Their argument IS faith and prayer and it’s as valid an argument as any other when you are talking about God. I can’t prove my theories and I don’t expect anyone else to be able to prove theirs when talking about God.

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. You can only change yours. You can’t have a logical argument that goes anywhere with someone who doesn’t think logically.

I have a good friend that is Mormon; I am far from it. I would never challenge him on his beliefs because I think that would be futile. I know nothing I can say will change his mind, and vice versa. What I prefer to do is be respectful and tolerant of our differences, and he has perhaps been even more so. I think our differences in beliefs may limit our relationship in some ways, but it doesn’t prevent us from being friends and it has been a really good learning and growing experience for me. He has never been preachy to me. When I express interest in something about his religion he is happy to answer my questions, but if I don’t we don’t talk about it.