Feb 21, 2012
If you think you've learned all you need to know about Mormonism
from South Park episodes and the broadway musical, Book of Mormon,
you must join us this Sunday! Atheists Talk will be interviewing
author, lecturer, and secular humanist, Thomas Riskas about his
book Deconstructing Mormonism: An Analysis and Assessment of the
Mormon Faith, which is introduced in the forward by philosopher and
professor Kai Nelson. Thomas Riskas converted to Mormonism as a
young man and spent 20 years in the Church. He rose up through the
ranks of leadership, acting an Elder, Seventy and High Priest. He
was a missionary, a mission leader and mission president for seven
years. He had a family and raised his children in the Church. Years
later he came to believe that the claims made by Mormonism - and by
all religions with similar belief systems - are not only untrue,
but an empty nonreality. In Deconstructing Mormonism, Mr. Riskas
examines in detail the Mormon concepts of God, the "Plan of
Salvation", and faith in God and Christ, and then breaks down these
ideas by illuminating the contradictions in Mormon faith and
examining the psychosocial effects of the faith on its
believers.