I has to a particularly painful kind of denial to be confronted with straightforward evidence that your founding father is fraud. Standing publicly and saying I still believe that that which is proven to be a lie is true has a couple of benefits I suppose, but I think the main reason is that it is too difficult to face the alternative — that everything you have believed in is a lie.
***... I think the main reason is that it is too difficult to face the alternative — that everything you have believed in is a lie.****
Many years ago in the early 1990’s Madaline Murray O’Hair was on Larry King Live. She made the statement that the best atheists were former Mormons and Catholics.
I have been called to task several times about this but I remember seeing the show and remember what was discussed.
I think that it is important to remember that Mormons are not the enemy, Mormonism is the enemy of the Gospel. As Paul tells us, we are contending against powers and principalities. Individual Mormons are the victims of the system of Mormonism which blinds them to the true Gospel.
I feel compassion for all Mormons but particularly those who come to the realization of the falsity of Mormonism. Their entire world view comes crashing down and they often lose their support structure as their Mormon friends and family often abandon them. It has to be painful and I wouldn't deliberately inflict that kind of pain on anyone if it weren't for the fact that something far worse awaits those who stay in Mormonism.
I have a number of Mormon friends, all of whom are aware of my views on Mormonism. They realize that my hostility is directed at Mormonism, not at Mormons. I have been introduced a few times as an "anti but a really good guy." I have never met a Mormon who I disliked (although I'm sure there are some out there whose personality would rub me the wrong way).