Is it right to try to influence others in the Church?

This is an interesting debate I continually have with myself.

As a relatively new ‘non-believer’ I am still struggling with the aftermath of the painful realisation. From adjustments to relationships with TBM family and friends etc, to trying to come to understand my own thought processes.

I saw/see myself as a campaigner for truth, & have wanted, in fact still want, those I love to understand why I no longer believe, & if possible to open their eyes to the truth as well.

I shudder to think of how some people, particularly young gays in the Church are suffering & in some cases dying as a result of their faith in the Church.

I try to consider all the different aspects of what faith means to people & look at the different ways to approach the post-Mormon part of my life & how to interact with TBMs.

I’m still debating in my own head the best approach to achieve a positive outcome for all.

I desperately wish the best for all those I love, & in fact I desire all humans should have the best opportunity to flourish & be given the chance to achieve their potentials.

But I’m not sure how. I also don’t claim to know everything about achieving that goal myself, but strongly believe that the Church, in fact any superstitious belief system, but particularly authoritarian orthodoxy, is not the best way to achieve human physical & psychological wellbeing.

Maybe it’s better to ‘live & let live’ & respect other people’s rights to continue to believe what they believe without my interference. Let them discover things by themselves? Or should I try to influence that process?

Should I try to raise awareness of the potential problems with their belief system?

Does my attempt at raising awareness actually achieve anything? Or does it create a feeling of being threatened & create fear in my TBM friends and family? In the end is my attempt futile or counter-productive?

Does my attitude towards others increase their likelihood of discovering truth which for them is beneficial, or does it push them further into the Mormon delusion?

Am I being arrogant in even thinking about this?

Does my approach to this increase my own happiness & wellbeing, or does it cause me angst & emotional fatigue?

I do strongly believe that rational reasoning rather than irrational superstitious beliefs is in the longterm interest of mankind.

That basing our lives on scientific naturalism will be more useful than any supernatural religious beliefs.

But I want my efforts to be effective in this objective rather than driving people further into their superstitious bubbles.

I love the fiery enthusiasm of some post-Mormons, but I also appreciate other ex-members concerns for the best approach to living harmoniously with our TBM friends and family.

I don’t think I should pre-judge how another person will react to the truth about the Church. But I want my message, or it’s means of transmission, to be as effective as possible.

A compassionate ex-Mormon friend introduced me to this recently, ‘Karpman Drama Triangle’.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karpman_drama_triangle#section_1

It made me think about my involvement in the triangle & whether my approach produces more victims or persecutors?

I would love to hear your opinions.

I sometimes think trying to use reason with religious people is like talking a different language.

Like trying to teach the congenitally blind what colour is! (No offense intended)

But I don’t want to give up trying to wake them up & give them a chance to discover the truth.

No-one would have ever thought I would become a non-believer. Not even myself.

My point is, we just never know who & when they’ll realise the truth & break out of the Mormon Matrix or bubble!

As my brother David says, “Information is the key! The brain needs information to process. With certain information the brain can only come to certain decisions, but give the brain more & different information and our brains can come to different decisions.”

As a certain desert preacher once said, “Truth will set you free!”