#463 The Argument That Led Me Out of Mormonism - Jeremy Christiansen
Dec 14, 2022
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Jeremy Christiansen, author of From the Susquehanna to the Tiber, discusses his journey from Mormonism to Catholicism, exploring the challenges and impact on his faith. He shares insights on leaving Mormonism, exploring beliefs, and his family's transition to Catholicism. The podcast also touches on contrasts between Catholicism and Mormonism, emphasizing the importance of reason in the Catholic faith.
Mormonism prioritizes emotional experience, while Catholicism values faith and reason in intellectual exploration.
Navigating family relationships and respecting differing beliefs are crucial themes in transitioning from Mormonism to Catholicism.
Deep dives
Jeremy Christiansen's Mormon Background and Transition to Catholicism
Jeremy Christiansen reflects on his deep Mormon upbringing, discussing how his faith was an integral part of his life from childhood, including missionary work in Argentina. His journey towards Catholicism began during law school, where he critically examined the historical claims and early history of the Mormon Church. He experienced a disconcerting unraveling of his faith, leading to a moment of realization that prompted his conversion.
Exploring Reasoning in Mormonism vs. Catholicism
Christiansen highlights the contrasting foundations of Mormonism and Catholicism. He emphasizes that Mormonism relies on emotional experience over reason, often encouraging adherents to prioritize feelings over rational considerations. In contrast, Catholicism upholds a rich intellectual tradition that values faith and reason in harmonious exploration, aligning with Christiansen's intellectual journey towards Catholicism.
Navigating Family Dynamics and Faith Transition
Christiansen candidly delves into the complexities of navigating family relationships during his transition from Mormonism to Catholicism. He shares how his wife and children were gradually drawn towards Catholicism, leading to their eventual baptism and shared faith journey. The delicate balance of respecting differing beliefs within the family unit emerges as a significant theme in his story.
Approaching Interfaith Dialogue with Mormons
Drawing from his missionary background and conversion experience, Christiansen offers insightful advice on engaging in interfaith dialogue with Mormons. He encourages a focus on truth-seeking and openness to considering the possibility that deeply held beliefs may not align with ultimate truth. By inviting sincere reflection on the authenticity of one's faith, Christiansen advocates for respectful and meaningful conversations between Catholic and Mormon individuals.
Jeremy Christiansen, author of From the Susquehanna to the Tiber: A Memoir of Conversion from Mormonism to the Roman Catholic Church, joins us for a conversation about arguments against Mormonism. Which will work and why?
Cy Kellett:
Hello, and welcome to Focus, the Catholic Answers podcast for living, understanding and defending your Catholic faith. I’m Cy Kellett, your host. We’ll talk a bit about defending your Catholic faith this time, because among those who are interested in defending the Catholic faith there’s probably three people they’d most like to try out th…
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