sentinel00

I left the Mormon Church because they told me masterbation was bad! I was, like, WTF? Are you telling me Jesus didn't punch the clown?

AggressiveProgressiv

You are correct, it was an emotional choice for him. The promise, as usual, is going to heaven.

He is no longer a believer anymore, after seeing all the plagarism and contradictions. I think it was mostly the plagarism part that got to him. It was surprising to me as well that entire chapters were plagarized, and I already had a low opinion of religion.

Viti

It only took 2 days for him to go from believer to non

You should try to discuss his emotions regarding the afterlife and see if you can assuage his fears.

ariex

Something that really made me think about the "Testimony", the burning in the bosom thing, is that many offshoot polygamous groups use the same technique on their followers to convince them that their own little prophet is God's chosen and the President of the LDS Church is a fake. The experience is described in very similar terms as those described by LDS members, with the only difference being that the LDS are taught that the feeling is confirmation of the Book of Mormon, while the offshoot members are taught that the feeling they get is confirmation of their prophet's authority. The same feelings of "contact with God" can be produced in volunteer subjects participating in neuroscience experiments in the lab.

AggressiveProgressiv

Not only is he not fearful, he is relieved. He is a homosexual, and he is happy that he does not have to repress it anymore.

butswana

That's what I'm talking about! They would tell us not to take long showers or hot showers or lounge around in bed in the morning or sit on the toilet too long or spend too much time alone or in the dark. If you did those things you might end up inadvertantly pounding the bishop. They seemed to know a lot about it. I copped that tid bit about the hot shower. Man, what a way to start the day. Thanks, Brother Barnes!

unicornianist

Ever seen the "little factory" speech by Boyd K. Packer? This is an excerpt from a pamphlet that they handed out to all the boys 12 and up in church starting in 1976. I believe they stopped handing it out in the 90's, but I know my brothers got them too. LOL!

"I wish to explain something that will help you understand your young manhood and help you develop self-control. When this power begins to form, it might be likened to having a little factory in your body, one designed to produce the product that can generate life.

This little factory moves quietly into operation as a normal and expected pattern of growth and begins to produce the lifegiving substance. It will do so perhaps as long as you live. It works very slowly. That is the way it should be. For the most part, unless you tamper with it, you will hardly be aware that it is working at all.

As you move closer to manhood, this little factory will sometimes produce an oversupply of this substance. The Lord has provided a way for that to be released. It will happen without any help or without any resistance from you. Perhaps, one night you will have a dream. In the course of it the release valve that controls the factory will open and release all that is excess.

The factory and automatic release work on their own schedule. The Lord intended it to be that way. It is to regulate itself. This will not happen very often. You may go a longer period of time, and there will be no need for this to occur. When it does, you should not feel guilty. It is the nature of young manhood and is part of becoming a man.

There is; however, something you should not do. Sometimes a young man does not understand. Perhaps he is encouraged by unwise or unworthy companions to tamper with that factory. He might fondle himself and open that release valve. This you shouldn't do, for if you do that, the little factory willlf and open that release valve. This you shouldn't do, for if you do that, the little factory will speed up. You will then be tempted again and again to release it. You can quickly be subjected to a habit, one that is not worthy, one that will leave you feeling depressed and feeling guilty. Resist that temptation. Do not be guilty of tampering or playing with this sacred power of creation. Keep it in reserve for the time when it can be righteously employed. "


:rolling:

Here's another, more recent publication.

http://nowscape.com/mormon/mormast.htm

Converse02

I remember watching a show on South Park that made fun on Mormonism. But the main point of that show was about tolerance.

“Look, maybe us Mormons do believe in crazy stories that make absolutely no sense, and maybe Joseph Smith did make it all up. But I have a great life, and a great family, and I have the Book of Mormon to thank for that. The truth is, I don’t care if Joseph Smith made it all up, because what the church teaches now is loving your family, being nice and helping people. All I ever did was try to be your friend, Stan, but you’re so high and mighty you couldn’t look past my religion and just be my friend back. You’ve got a lot of growing up to do, buddy. Suck my balls.�

Show him all the inconsistencies and what you think about the religion once and once only. If he still wants to be a Mormon and give up 10% of his salary, let him.

SUTG

There is a good chance that he will convert even if he is shown the inconsistencies in the Book of Mormon, etc. If someone is dead set on converting, they are already in the grip of something and it can be tough to reason with them.

Another interesting and excellent read is "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakauer. It deals more with the fundamental church of latter day saints, but has alot of good history about the whole Joseph Smith debacle.

I think Mormonism is one of the more instersting religions to study, since its bizare origins happened so recently and aremuch better documented thatn Christianity, for example.

SLD

The promise is usually great sex. Join the church, get a wife and get busy fucking. I don't really have much experience with mormonism. But once I met two absolutely beautiful women who invited me for a supper at their church. They were charming and sexy and both single without boyfriends (or at least that was my impression). I got the impression that if I went, joined their church, they'd give me something special to remember them by. But I couldn't. It just wasn't right, and I wasn't willing to convert just to get laid. But that would have the only reason for me.

SLD