Study and Faith cover image

Study and Faith

Part one: Were These Ever The Questions of a Sincere Truth Seeker with Michael Peterson

Aug 20, 2024
Michael Peterson, a scholar focused on religious studies, delves into the origins and implications of the CES Letter. He critiques the motivations behind its author’s inquiries, questioning their sincerity. The discussion highlights personal faith crises and the challenges presented by misinformation in digital discourse. Peterson also examines the influence of presentation on narrative engagement and the implications of faith and doubt within the Latter-day Saint community. The exploration raises important questions about mentorship and the nuances of church criticism.
01:30:57

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The CES Letter was created by an author with a history of antagonism towards the Church, raising questions about its sincerity.
  • The personal narrative presented by the author in the CES Letter significantly shaped public perception and potentially obscured its aggressive intent.

Deep dives

Introduction to the CES Letter Analysis

The exploration begins with a critical evaluation of the CES Letter and the motivations behind its creation. The authors of an investigative article argue that the letter was not a sincere inquiry but rather a crafted piece with a specific agenda. Their research highlights a series of pre-existing antagonistic sentiments expressed by the author well before the letter's publication in 2013. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding the context and motivations of the CES Letter in light of previous writings and public actions of the author.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode