Devout Mormon

One of my old friends has just told me today that he's decided to become a Mormon. Now I'm not sure how serious he was, but lets assume hes now a fully converted Mormon.

Basically my question is, how do I stop him from being a Mormon? I have no problems with him being a Christian, that's completely fine. Its just something about Mormons, its practically a cult.

The sad thing is, he's actually a very Intelligent guy, got almost top marks in his IB tests, could easily get a place in Oxbridge, but for some reason he's some how been brain washed into believing Christ visited America and decided that the new Jerusalem should be built there. Among other weird ideas.

For one I think its quite tragic, the power of indoctrination has a whole new meaning to me now, I know realise that even very intelligent reasonable people can be convinced of the most absurd and outlandish beliefs.

I guess many mormons think the same of us. :(

Do you really feel it's your duty to stop him o.O?

It's simple. You become a Mormon, shows him all the logical fallacies, he goes back to whatever the hell he was, and so do you.

I have to agree with Kleptin here; do you really feel a need to stop him?

But, in the interest of adding something useful, I would simply talk to him about it seriously - just ask him questions, and point out the fallacies and silliness that the Mormon faith is based on. But you need to do it subtley; for example, you ask how those Golden Plates could really have existed if Joseph Smith (I think thats his name) never showed it to anyone else - ask it like a real question as well, to make him think over his response.

I don't know, that is how I would tackle it.

True, In a way its none of my business what faith he follows. But, he is a very good friend, and as a friend I feel its my duty to try and stop him from wasting his life on mormonisim.

If your friend is experimenting with heroin, you'd feel the need to tell him to stop. Perhaps a more extreme example, but I hope you know what I mean.

At 9/12/2009 5:14:23 PM, Nik wrote:
True, In a way its none of my business what faith he follows. But, he is a very good friend, and as a friend I feel its my duty to try and stop him from wasting his life on mormonisim.

If your friend is experimenting with heroin, you'd feel the need to tell him to stop. Perhaps a more extreme example, but I hope you know what I mean.

It is completely understandable Nik, and I commend you for caring that much about the welfare of your friend - but don't push it too hard. He can make his own choices; I would just offer the chance for him to actually think it through before he commits himself completely.

At 9/12/2009 4:59:41 PM, Volkov wrote:
I have to agree with Kleptin here; do you really feel a need to stop him?

But, in the interest of adding something useful, I would simply talk to him about it seriously - just ask him questions, and point out the fallacies and silliness that the Mormon faith is based on. But you need to do it subtley; for example, you ask how those Golden Plates could really have existed if Joseph Smith (I think thats his name) never showed it to anyone else - ask it like a real question as well, to make him think over his response.

I don't know, that is how I would tackle it.

Thats what I thought, but I have the feeling that Mormonism is one of those religions that encourage blind faith, and for good reason too.

At 9/12/2009 5:22:47 PM, Nik wrote:
Thats what I thought, but I have the feeling that Mormonism is one of those religions that encourage blind faith, and for good reason too.

The way I see it, those that aren't completely rooted in the religion will always have the outsider's perspective; and when they have that, its easy for them to see the inconsistencies.

There is always a good chance your friend won't fall for it.

At 9/12/2009 3:18:58 PM, Nik wrote:
One of my old friends has just told me today that he's decided to become a Mormon. Now I'm not sure how serious he was, but lets assume hes now a fully converted Mormon.

Basically my question is, how do I stop him from being a Mormon? I have no problems with him being a Christian, that's completely fine. Its just something about Mormons, its practically a cult.

The sad thing is, he's actually a very Intelligent guy, got almost top marks in his IB tests, could easily get a place in Oxbridge, but for some reason he's some how been brain washed into believing Christ visited America and decided that the new Jerusalem should be built there. Among other weird ideas.

For one I think its quite tragic, the power of indoctrination has a whole new meaning to me now, I know realise that even very intelligent reasonable people can be convinced of the most absurd and outlandish beliefs.

I guess many mormons think the same of us. :(

your crazy...

leave the guy alone... for all you know ... he is right and your the one that needs to change...
i have met a lot of mormons and christians...
in my opinion, if there is a god...
mormons are closer to him

Basically my question is, how do I stop him from being a Mormon? I have no problems with him being a Christian, that's completely fine. Its just something about Mormons, its practically a cult.

christianity is a cult as well!