I was paid a visit by two young Mormon missionaries this past Friday evening. They asked me if I would be willing to discuss the lord with them, and I told them that I was an atheist but would love to have a discussion with them - just not at that time as I had family in for the holiday and it would be inappropriate. I asked them if they could come back on Thursday of this week and they agreed to come then.
I have every intention of being gracious and hospitable to them when they come on Thursday to talk with me. I have every intention of being an out of the closet gay man who believes that religion is destructive, dangerous, and divisive. I will bring up Prop 8 in California as well as the community I am working on (
engayge_america) and give my reasons why I'm working on this issue.
I know I'm not going to change their minds. I know I'm not going to make them like me. I have no interest in either. I'm doing this because I believe it is important to sit down with people who are your opposites and discuss what is important to you because it matters. I could learn something from these two polite young men, even if what I stand to learn is just more of what I already know to be true. They could learn something from me as well.
I'd like to know from you guys what you think I should discuss with them, but please be serious and only post serious responses in comments.
Good luck though...
I would start with basics not even specific to their religion: why do they think there is a supreme being? How do they respond to the problem of evil? Why do they need a supreme being in their lives? I would point out that you manage to be a good person and content with your life without religion. I might even bring up this quotation:
"With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things."--Steven Weinberg
Because that is just a matter of our natures (that is not to say there aren't a bunch of wishy-washies in the middle).
I think my emphasis would be, "What has religion done for you?" When they respond with confidence in eternal life or other reward, I would simply say that sounds nice for them, but that I don't mind not living forever or getting other rewards, and ask what else they've got. "Are the women at your church hot?" I might ask, for example (in my case). :)
Ultimately, it's hard to "argue" with irrationality. Presenting a good example is really all you can probably do.
James Randi has written a few books on how to debate creationists, well worth the read.
though be gentle, doing battle with a under armed enemy often leads to poor reactions on their part...
be sure to post video ;)
I would question them on separation of church and state. Do they believe civil rights should be denied due to their religious beliefs?
Maybe, and I am serious here, what is it precisely that would lead me to be believe they are in fact a religion and not a cult?
Best I can do today.
And not deterring you, but I always find the discussion of faith a bit... pointless when coming at it from a logic vs. faith position. Probably just because it's futile, since faith at it's very core isn't a logical thing, it's about believing in the non-logical. But, I guess it's always good to be challenged. I hear the arguments all the time and still have my hippy UU faith, and I know people asking about it just makes me more sure when I think it through. Mind expanding is hardly a bad thing, in any case. (:
I'm glad to see someone who's willing to engage with the other side instead of just hating them or screaming at them. I'm too used to seeing that, and it makes me sad. Good luck with them, I hope both parties benefit greatly.
When they come to my door, I rarely get beyond trying to find how Joseph Smith could be trusted when he suddenly had a revelation from god that polygamy was a bad thing. It only occurred after a lot of political types of the time denounced the Mormons for that belief.
It IS interesting talking to them but I find it easier just to toy with them/annoy them.
http://www.gaysandthegospel.org/
Good luck. Just remember, honey, missionaries are mostly young kids (the boys are ages 19-21, generally) who are heavily sheltered. They might not have much more to offer other than the "party line" but those sites might give you some ideas. :)