Help Debating Mormons

[Themightytom]

Some handy facts:

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, was convicted of fraud in 1826, between his first alleged vision and the first publication of the Book of Mormon.

During the "translation" process of the Book of Mormon, the first 116 pages of the "translated" manuscript were stolen by the wife of Smith's neighbour and first dupe. Smith was challenged to reproduce the content of those pages, a trivial act if he were, indeed, translating. He could not do so, and claimed that he was vouchsafed six new, smaller tablets to replace the scripture sullied by the unbeliever.

Linguistic analysis of the Book of Mormon shows great similarity to other manuscripts originally authored by Joseph Smith, especially in the placement of the words "and" "for", or "but" at the beginning of sentences, a perculiar quirk of Smith's writing which should not be present if he were translating another work.

I would focus on Joseph Smith as well, and the inconsistencies specifically within the mormon faith. Focus on the things that make mormons Mormons and not Catholics or Islamic or Protestant, they often claim they want people to embrace Christ, they in truth want people to embrace Joseph Smith.

Focus on core beliefs or practices that mormons used to embrace but do not embrace now, such as polygamy.

You could TRY to debate history, and they will challenge your apparent faith in what people tell you, its a common argument that science has all the characteristics of religion. Don't debate a religion, debate Theirs

[Admiral Drason]

Thanks guys for all of the advice. I'm going to try and stay out of the actual details of the BOM since yeah although I've read many parts of the book there's no way I'm going to beat them with their own scripture. I'll try to stick to the facts of Joseph Smith, and the lack of evidence for any of his preachings to be true.

I will be polite with them as I think that if I lost composure then I would be playing into their hands. The missionary's are nice kids and honestly are doing something very ballsy to leave home and try and preach their little hearts out to the god less hordes. Even though they are wrong I still give them credit where its due.

I'll let you guys know how it goes tonight or tomorrow depending on if I can get to a computer.