I've been thinking about trying the following experiment on some TBM relatives/friends. What you you think?

I take two similar transparent glasses. I put them on a table about two feet apart. In one glass, I put a $1 bill--easily visible through the clear glass. Next to the other glass I put a sign that reads "There is $1 inside this glass"...but that glass is empty.

Then I ask, say, my TBM son-in-law, "Where's the $1?" Assuming he's rational at the time, he'll point to the glass with the $1 (but without the "scripture").

Then, perhaps, I raise the stakes. Say, the empty glass' sign says "Joseph Smith was a good man, part 1" and inside the other glass is documentation about his exploitation of women. Or the empty glass quotes the BoM on "horses" while the other glass contains current archeological consensus that no horses existed in the Americas when the BoM said they did.

I wouldn't expect to have light bulbs of enlightenment suddenly switched on in the faces of my TBM folks. But maybe I introduce the idea of rational thought as something *they* agree to (based on the $1 bill). Baby steps.

edit added: I get them to acknowledge that evidence is more important than belief.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2016 09:41AM by getbusylivin.

I'd do it a little different.

I'd put 2 glasses on the table, about 12" apart.

I'd fill them both with top shelf whiskey.

I'd drink one, then the other.

Then I'd forget about doing thought experiments with TBM's. If rational discussion doesn't work, thought experiments won't either.

I'm gonna try this experiment later tonight.

This is a True Messenger. I exhort you to give strict heed to his counsel.

Well played, Mike T.

Two glasses. Inside each one is a little king with no clothes on.

Say to the mormon: You want to go to the CK. One of these Kings has on beautiful clothing. If you pick the right one, You will go to the CK when you die.

getbusylivin Wrote:
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> edit added: I get them to acknowledge that
> evidence is more important than belief.

If this were ever true in Mormonism it would be dying faster than it is.

The assumption that Mormons think might be a bit of a stretch.

I thought Mormons could only understand visual lessons if a flannel board was involved.