Posted by:
baura
(
)
Date: January 29, 2015 09:37PM
Advice:
(1) Don't accept him bearing his testimony. Point out that you
already KNOW that he has a "testimony" and for him to repeat
this only derails the discussion.
(2) Don't accept ANY suggestion that the problem is you. "Be
more humble," . . . "pray more," are ways for them to avoid
facing the actual issues you raise. Worse than that they are
an attack on your character. Don't sit still for it.
(3) Know the standard (F.A.I.R.) arguments ahead of time so
that you aren't blind-sided by them. In fact F.A.I.R. is a
great anti-Mormon resource because they verify that many of the
claims are accurate, and not just "anti-Mormon lies."
(4) Be bold in pointing out the far-fetched rationalizations
they use to try to make foul balls fair. The average Mormon
accepts stuff in the historical record by JS or BY when they
wouldn't dream of accepting it from someone living here and
now. Insane people have impeccable logic. They just start
from absurd premises. Point out the absurdity of premises that
are used to rationalize stuff.
(5) I happen to be a student of Hieroglyphic Egyptian. If it
were me, I could point out things that are clear and obvious to
me, such as . . .
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1356045,1356045#msg-1356045Joseph Smith's paper trail on the BOA is an astoundingly strong
case against him. However the facts are hidden in an ancient
language and writing system that most people have no
acquaintance with. Thus we have the familiar situation (that
happens in major lawsuits) of opposing experts. One side
quotes some Egyptologist and then another side quotes another
Egyptologist. It is made worse by the fact that they have over
3000 years of Pharaonic Egyptian history to fall back on in
muddying the waters. The case itself is clear and simple, but
it takes some (not a lot) expertise to expose the apologetical
replies for the desperate BS that they are.
In short keep the discussion ON TOPIC: THE CLAIMS OF THE
CHURCH. Don't be sidetracked by any discussions of the
Bishop's testimony, your character or behavior, the "good" the
Church does etc. It's about the foundational claims of the
Church. Don't let it get derailed.