Timelies all!

Happy Birthday JZ!

Still raining here. I'm worried that the impatiens we put in the planters outside the house are going to float away.

BUT ... this morning the bus I was on got hit by a tour bus when its driver decided to try to go around the (stopped for a red light on a narrow section of stree) bus I was on, hit it, then tried to keep going. Ended with major damage to the Metro bus, the two buses jammed together, and Connecticut Avenue at Dupont Circle totally blocked. No one was hurt ... but the sheer stupidity of the tour bus driver appalls me. bah!

You know, I'm thinking that was a bad driving move regardless of the weather.

I just called back "Robert F" at Capital One, who says he works 9-8, M-R, and left a message. He says he'll get back to me within "24 to 48 business hours." I'm thinking he meant 1-2 business days.

X-posted from lj:

Ok, hivemind, I need you. My little brother (HS Sophomore) is dating a Mormon (he, himself is toward the Left end of UCC. Basically, last door on the Left of Christianity). He really likes her, but is getting irritated with her habit of trying to convert him (she does not realize or does not acknowledge that she is doing so).

I suggested arguing theology with her. He cited her use of my fav. line ever: "pray on it and it will be revealed to you". Oy.

I suggested trying to convert her back (to Wicca, if I'm being snarky), so that it's forced to consciousness. He said that was mean.

I pointed out my lack of boyfriend, and that perhaps I should ask the 'istas. He agreed, so I'm asking.

Please remember that she's young and he actually wants to continue this relationship (although he has expressed reservations in the past wrt LDS's stance on homosexuality. Go Team Tolerance). Any ideas?

having dated a mormon, I unfortunately say Run, run far away! Um, that was not the needed advice, was it?

The thing is, I have found that Mormons tend to truly believe that you are going to hell. So if they love you, they want you to be Mormon, so you won't It springs from a generous impulse, but there isn't much getting around it.

My experience was sa an adult with an adult male, however, so maybe just encouraging her to explore different religions that he is interested in, too? Or just asking her to please stop.

Yeah, I don't think there's really much you can do about a Mormon prostheletizing (is that really how that's spelled?). Also, that seems like the kind of age where you really dig in with what you believe -- either "anything but what my parents do!" or "this is ME!!" or whatever. Everyone but you is an idiot at 15.

He cited her use of my fav. line ever: "pray on it and it will be revealed to you". Oy.

It's always fun to say, "Yes, I did pray on it, and Eris laughed and laughed." They simply cannot believe that you could have seriously considered matters and come up with a decision of "No, thanks." I've been told, "Are you sure you did it right?"

If she's devout and he doesn't convert, I doubt the relationship will last. I'm sure she's said to her family, "Oh, he's wonderful, I'm sure he'll convert." She probably honestly and sweetly believes it, too.

Yeah, you guys are coming up with the same thought that I have, which is that this will become a Big Thing in the relationship, likely directly leading to its demise, but I'm being Support-O-Sister.

In college, I tried to help a friend prepare for an argument with a friend of hers who was in a cult, with rebuttal bible verses and stuff, but it didn't do any good.

NOT that the LDS is a cult.

I'm just saying, you can't argue people out of their religious beliefs, and getting other people to sign on is a pretty big part of Mormonism.

I just cannot explain how much it is NOT like a catholic dating a protestant in this day and age. It is like old school religious conflict. Of course this deist/big into sentiment and feeling/despressive disordered person dating a mormon/stoic/obsessive compulsive disordered person leads me to believe that three were more problems than just the religion. At his age, I almost think that if he really likes her, he can keep up a relationship for about a year without it being an issue, which may be OK at 15.

So I'm guessing a movie night double bill of Bash and Latter Days wouldn't be helpful?