I wish I had this portion of Bill’s monologue memorized last week when the mo-missionaries came to stand and preach at our door:
“Faith means making a virtue out of not thinking—it’s nothing to brag about… and those who preach Faith and enable and elevate it are our intellectual slave-holders keeping mankind in a bondage to fantasy and nonsense that has spawned and justified so much lunacy and destruction.”
Instead I merely gave them a cheerful greeting, “Look honey! (referring to my husband behind me) It’s the mormons! Can I get you something two young men something to drink… besides kool-aid, of course?”
I think the “newbie elder” got the veiled ref. (He wanted to talk, but his “partner” wouldn’t let him… I think I spotted some individual thought going on behind his sparkling eyes… he may be able to wake himself up, release himself from the bondage his parents and peers have created for him, in the future.)
We ended up having a brief chat in which I told them of my former upbringing in the LDS church and at one point whispered, dudes, there’s actual evidence out there to show that Joe was a fraud and that he “translated” the book of mo from his own imagination… all you have to do is look. I explained that it was nothing personal against the mormon church, I think the same thing about all religions, that is, that they are all man made. The newbie looked intrigued, asked a question, but the “head” elder cut him off and inquired something along the lines of, “Did you fast and pray after reading the book of mormon?” To wit, I told him yes, more than once and I got nunca, nadda, nothing… guess jesus doesn’t want me for a sunbeam, aye? ” He looked so sad and dejected. I felt bad for him… I patted him on the arm and told him it was alright; that I had no fears concerning “salvation.”
What is it about religion spreaders? They have a condescending manner about them: “We come to bring and bear the truth and salvation from jesus that only we can provide!” but when you politely (and I was quite polite and friendly) challenge them or speak frankly you end up feeling like it was you who was being condescending?
