Mormonism is Irrational and Flawed

Hello all. In this debate, I will show that Mormonism is an irrational and flawed religion, and is not based in logic or reason. I will argue as per the definitions put forth by my opponent in R1. Here are my main arguments.C1: Mormonism Promotes Blind FaithFrom analysis of Mormon scripture, it is evident that Mormonism promotes blind faith in "God's word" with implied discouragement of intellectual questioning, quelling curiosity and rational inquiry. The following are excerpts from texts of the Mormon faith.“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” (Proverbs 20: 5-6)“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 15:14)Mormonism evidently promotes the sole belief in the Prophet, and the perfection of their own religion. This is to the point where Mormons are blindly believing in their doctrine, without consideration for clear logical faults and inaccuracies in the texts which I will mention below. This is clearly irrational.C2: The Mormon Exaltation Process is Logically ImpossibleA key element of Mormon faith is the idea of exaltation, or one becoming a god through the following of doctrine and the various religious ordinances. Mormon doctrine dictates that a god exalts another god, which occurs ad infinitum; in other words, there is an infinite progression of exalted beings that extends back in time. However, this is logically impossible.P1: Mormonism dictates an infinite progression of causes (exaltation).P2: Therefore, each god was made by a previous god.P3: One cannot cross an infinity.P4: Mormonism doctrine presented in P1 and P2 contradicts the logic given in P3.P5: Mormonism must be false.An explanation of the transversing of an infinity:"Another way of looking at this is to ask what is the first cause of exaltation to godhead? To be exalted means (a god) would have to perform the action of exaltation (as Mormonism teaches). But, if there is an infinite number of exaltations (an infinite number of causes of exaltation), then we could never find the first cause because there wouldn't be one. If there is no first cause, then there can be no second, no third, etc., and there could never be a sequence of these events to occur."By the law of non-contradiction, it is evident that the Mormon principle of exaltation, and the progression of godhood presented in Mormon text, is logically impossible and is irrational to believe in.C3: There Are Logical Improbabilities Within Mormon DoctrineWithin Mormon texts, there are various other improbabilities, and events which logically do not make sense. In this contention, I will focus specifically on the first book of Nephi (1 Nephi). Here are some of them, with responses after each:"And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water." (1 Nephi 2:6)Explanation: This text outlines the travels of Lehi, specifically his journey from Jerusalem to the Red Sea. According to this excerpt, Lehi managed to hike this journey of more than 400 km in just three days."And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof." (1 Nephi 2:8)Explanation: Just after the last excerpt comes this passage, which claims that Lehi names a river flowing into the Red Sea after his son, in hope of inspiring him to do be "more dependable", like a continually running river. But there are no permanent rivers flowing into the Red Sea, and the River Laman does not seem to physically exist."And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him" (1 Nephi 1:6)Explanation: According to this excerpt, a pillar of fire appeared on top of a rock without explanation. This is clearly without logical or rational support.Evidently, there are fallacies of logic and heaps of irrationality within the Book of Mormon, specifically the first book of Nephi, and it is supportive of the notion that Mormonism is irrational and flawed.C4: Mormon Doctrine Contradicts Scientific FindingsMormon doctrine dictates that the origin of Native Americans is the Lamanites, an Israelite tribe. However, this claim has been tested through DNA sequencing and genomic research, and is scientifically disproven. On the contrary, it is widely accepted within both the fields of science and history that Asia is the origin of Native American tribes, and that Native Americans crossed the Bering Strait into North America at the end of the last ice age.Mormonism therefore contradicts science, and is irrational and untruthful.--------------------------Sources(1) http://www.godandscience.org...(2) http://skepticsannotatedbible.com...(3) https://carm.org...(4) http://www.godandscience.org...