My conversation last night with a TBM work roommate. exmormon

I'm temporarily working in an area, and my roommate whom I also work with is a TBM. I told myself 3 months ago that I'd start being open with others about my disaffection from tscc. He saw my coffee in the refrigerator, and asked if it was mine. I said that it was, because he assumed I was TBM still. Let me note that it's an incredible feeling to be open, and note have to put on a face. Anyways, he started asking me questions about why I was no longer involved because we had gotten into a deep discussion about a bunch of stuff. Now I've spent a long time (years) trying to figure out the best way to talk to a TBM that would get them more interested in what I'm saying so that we can have an honest discussion about the issues. However, I mine as well have talked to a wall. He couldn't help but bring god and prayer and testimony into the conversation...and even though he repeatedly said he understood where I was coming from and that he "knew" the issues...he just couldn't understand my paradigm. After realizing nothing could get through, I decided to start to analyze the moment and look at his body language, non verbal and para verbal communication. He really thought he knew more about the issues than me even though I've spent years reading them. I would keep a good confident eye contact as I spoke of the issues, and he could only look away as he spoke and bore testimony. In real life, when this happens, it's subconscious, people don't know that they do it, but it happens if they feel like they are lying, or not confident about what they are saying. Yet, he had no idea what I was reading into, and he felt what he was doing was right. It all ended well and we'll probably talk more tonight. He's going through a tough time right now with a few things, and it could be possible that he could be vulnerable to a different point of view or a different perspective. I don't want to change him, I just want to plant a seed, and see where that takes us. Anyone have a perspective or experience that works? Please share :)

Submitted April 07, 2016 at 12:08AM by goldenchild-1 http://ift.tt/1SQq4Z8 exmormon