Do you believe the book of mormon?

Can any Mormon help me understand how he or she can accept or believe a religion with so many internal contradictions and so much external evidence against it? I do not want to Mormon bash, but would like to understand how someone who considers himself...

or herself intelligent can continue in a belief system which seems to have been created without any basis in fact.

Many questions on that subject have been asked/answered here, try:

funadvice.com/search?q=mormon

or upper right, search 'mormon'...Take care !!

Simple...brain washing...you star 'em young and they're hooked. There are plenty of good reason to NOT be a mormon, jehova's witness, latter day saint...etc etc...search the web for problems with mormonism...you'll find several.

The founder of mormonism was a self-proclaimed con-man...as were his witnesses so just do a good search.

And the answer to your last question...simple...you can't. You have to go off the fuzzy gut feeling...that's how they do it...they make themselves believe it. Cause if they don't then their family will disown them and they will be outcast.

I'd begin by examining your assumption that there are so many internal contradictions or that it was created without any basis in fact. Your first a priori assumption takes entirely too much for granted and your second surely needs some explanation. No basis in fact? Are you approaching this from an atheist's or a Christian's perspective? My answers to you would be significantly different depending on your own paradigm.

same reason you believe in the bible

There aren't ANY religions founded on a factual basis... its a faith basis...

As Captain stated, one forms a belief based on faith. That being said, if you are a Morman, do you believe or have faith in the fact that Native Americans used to be white, but they sinned and God punished them by making their skin red? Now if you believe this, then I have faith that this religion is for you.

Does this question really need to be asked. I thought it was general knowledge that the Book of Mormon is a comedy, sort of in Mel Brooks fashion.

Instead of mocking the Mormon religion, I would suggest reading The Book of Mormon, the whole thing, to learn something about it. There are MANY false rumors out there that most base their ideas on, generally coming from those who are very antagonistic against the Church. You wouldn't go to the Pharisees to learn about Jesus would you?

I've read it... its crap...

I just refuse to believe in a religious work of fiction that was written during that era. That being said, there are plenty of contradictions in the Bible. Do Mormans really believe that there is a herom waiting for them in Heaven?

Sounds a little like Islam. Next thing you know when the Jehova's Witnesses come to your door, they'll be packed with explosives in case you close the door on them.

I waiting for 'aggresive scientologists' ...who criticize other religions and condemn their believers to the fiery core of Gamma Sector Sirius-XVIV

You are entitled to your opinion.
God bless!