My personal experience of evangelism

[Cow Poke]

Mormons and JW's are very low on my list of effective evangelisers. They rely on rote learning and are unprepared for a knowledgeable response. It's easy to throw them for a loop.

I maintain effective evangelism has to be rooted in a mature spirituality with a genuine (and I mean genuine) interest in and compassion for the other person's experience.

Yeah, this is probably a whole 'nuther thread, but the Mormons I have encountered have, as you implied (or I inferred from what you said ), been prepared with a "script", and when you get them off that script, they're totally lost.

[Yttrium]

Yeah, this is probably a whole 'nuther thread, but the Mormons I have encountered have, as you implied (or I inferred from what you said ), been prepared with a "script", and when you get them off that script, they're totally lost.

True, the ones who visited me were always young and idealistic.

[Cow Poke]

True, the ones who visited me were always young and idealistic.

They are required to serve a 2 year "mission", usually right out of high school, and part of that is the door to door canvassing with their prepared script. I don't remember it exactly, but it basically starts with "do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God", then "Do you believe that God spoke through prophets of old", then "do you believe God can speak through prophets today", finally getting to "do you believe that Joseph Smith could be that prophet".

They are not really prepared to answer any of your questions, hoping you stay on script with them. When you get them off script, they ask if they can come back later with somebody else. Mind you, these young men are called "elders", which I always thought ironic.

[Bill the Cat]

Send them to my house. I LOVE talking to Mormons!

Me too. As long as they aren't named seven-anything

[Cow Poke]

Me too. As long as they aren't named seven-anything

[Bill the Cat]

Actually I find this more a problem with your postings then firstfloor.

You mean THAN firstfloor?

[Bill the Cat]

Note how Starlight's Christian parents seek moral approval from their godless dirtbag son, as if Starlight's morality is anything more than degenerate abomination. They should be on their knees begging the rest of us forgiveness for hoisting this jackass on us.

Dang dude. That's a bit much, even for this forum...

[Yttrium]

They are required to serve a 2 year "mission", usually right out of high school, and part of that is the door to door canvassing with their prepared script. I don't remember it exactly, but it basically starts with "do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God", then "Do you believe that God spoke through prophets of old", then "do you believe God can speak through prophets today", finally getting to "do you believe that Joseph Smith could be that prophet".

They are not really prepared to answer any of your questions, hoping you stay on script with them. When you get them off script, they ask if they can come back later with somebody else. Mind you, these young men are called "elders", which I always thought ironic.

Interesting. I've noticed that they have a pretty big overseas missionary program too. Driving through northern Utah, there's always a big sign welcoming members back.

[Cow Poke]

Interesting. I've noticed that they have a pretty big overseas missionary program too. Driving through northern Utah, there's always a big sign welcoming members back.

Yes, that's the "mission" that these young "elders" go on - it could be here in the States, or any foreign country. Some of the Mormons we used to talk to in the Mormon Forum had served in Japan, South Korea, and other places. The sign welcoming members back applies to all of these "elders" coming back from wherever.

[Jedidiah]

What I mean is that although some Christians are attractive exemplars of their faith, I find them to be no more numerous than exemplary Buddhists, atheists, Hindus, and so on. I think it has more to do with spiritual development (see my other thread about this) than it does to the actual content of any particular faith.

For better or for worse Christians are still just human beings with all that entails.

[Jedidiah]

Actually I find this more a problem with your postings then firstfloor.

Sorry you see things that way.

[Bill the Cat]

For better or for worse Christians are still just human beings with all that entails.

T'is why Paul said Imitate me as I imitate Christ.

[pancreasman]

For better or for worse Christians are still just human beings with all that entails.

Fine. Except ... Christians claim a special relationship with the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. There ought to be ivied che of that.

[shunyadragon]

You mean THAN firstfloor?

. . . more a problem THAN the postings of firstfloor

[Juvenal]

Fine. Except ... Christians claim a special relationship with the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. There ought to be ivied che of that.

"ivied che"

Does that have anything to do with cookies?