Atheists vs. LDS.

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U58wgn-9Y3c&feature=related[/youtube]

Its a funny video, but someone already posted it here on PPR a few weeks ago.

I dunno...

I'm not LDS (Mormon). Any religion that claims to have the safety of one's soul in view is duty-bound to evangelize, I think. It's a moral obligation. It's like CPR. You aren't OBLIGATED to perform CRP per se. Even if you do, you shoulder the risk that you might break the sternum or ribs, for which the would-be victim whose life you saved could reasonably sue you for damages. No good deed goes unpunished. But then again, I suppose it's better to be out the money for damages and preserve a life than to just let someone die.

Same goes for missionary work. You believe THIS to be necessary. You believe souls are in danger. You MUST at least try to rescue those who have gone astray.

I'm not fond of the door-to-door style. It really is invasive and annoying. Nevertheless, it could very well be that those who are going door-to-door are themselves misled, in which case it gives you the opportunity as the "non-believer" or "true believer," whichever the case may be, to teach these people and challenge their assertions. You may not "win," but the least you can do is "plant the seed." It is, after all, what they themselves are trying to do.

I think a better approach is take your beliefs to the people in such a way that 1) you satisfy a genuine need of the community and 2) the people of their own free will come to you. Generally speaking that's what a lot of Christian churches do. The door-to-door thing is fine, but look what happened when the atheist turned the experiment on Mormons in SLC! And it's hypocrisy. Why turn away someone following your own example? Geez, if your faith really is superior, and you really know that to be so, wouldn't you WANT to invite the atheists in and try to teach them why it is you see their beliefs as being in error?

It's also indicative of that, just as with "good Christians," there really aren't that many truly "good Mormons," either. Apparently being a "good atheist" isn't quite as difficult.

I don't agree with atheists, obviously, but thanks for sharing the video!

Actually, if you watch the whole "John Safran vs. God" series, AngelRho and others will probably be delighted to find that he seems to be convinced by Christianity in the final episode.

I've seen it. As a former Mormon, I got a good chuckle from it.

It's the oldest from of salesmanship and it still works. I find it invasive because I feel someone is stepping on my beliefs when they offer a new or alternative one, but it is fine so long as they don't return after you told them that you are not interested, and that you don't want them to come back. Be frank about it (not in a rude way) but tell them(right off the back before you've allowed them to make their sell or pitch) that Mormonism isn't right for you, and that you don't want them coming back. They are young boys or girls, and they are out there "growing up" on their missions, and rejection is part of their growth and maturity. They won't mind someone who politely tells them off the back what I said above. They may wish that you felt differently but it is far better then having a door slammed on you, or being lead on only to be told later that you have no interest in joining.

Most of these young men or women spend their summers during high school working to save up for their mission, especially if they come from a lower-income background. I don't have a number but someone once told me that it's upwards of $10,000 for 2 years of rent, transportation, 2-month training before their mission, food, etc(and the church helps foot the bill). On their mission, they wake up at 6 in the mourning and exercise, do prayer, and organize their day and check the routes that they'll take and who they'll see that day. That is in addition to bible study, meeting regularly with church leaders and members, attending functions, serving the community, and being in bed by 9PM. You will find them on the mean streets of Oakland and the posh streets of Beverly Hills, as well as overseas in the UK, NZ, South America, Europe, etc. Beyond the religious aspect of ones mission, you also grow up very quickly, master time management, gain excellent people and leadership skills, learn the art of social dynamics, learn to take initiative, learn the altruism, how to structure and organize yourself, your schedule, and your life, learn to be open to all cultures and learn the customs of others, learn new languages and interact with people who you are not accustomed to(it's no wonder that mormons are most liberal major religious group on the topic of Immigration) and go through experiences and meet people that change your life forever. They leave their mission with a PHD in life, maturity beyond their age, and are leagues ahead of most kids their age who decided to spend it going to college (overwhelming majority of people who leave for their mission return and attend college anyways).

I don't believe in their religion but one doesn't need to belong to a religion to appreciate, admire, and identify with the human element involved. This is someone's kid, and this is more then just bringing people to their faith. Please don't give these young boys and girls a hard time. Just be frank and let them know off the back that you won't join their religion ever and ask them politely to never come back.