

43: Spiritual Witnesses
4 snips Jul 20, 2023
Join hosts Mike, Nemo, and John Dehlin as they explore spiritual witnesses within Mormonism, delving into the reliability of emotions as evidence for beliefs. They discuss indoctrination, repetition, and psychological mechanisms like confirmation bias and the backfire effect. The podcast examines the challenges of trusting LDS church leaders and the manipulative power of music and false stories in shaping beliefs. They also cover topics such as confirmation bias, fact-checking, and the impact of collective behavior. This episode provides insights into understanding spiritual experiences and recognizing attempts to manufacture them.
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Moroni's Promise Failure
- John Dehlin never received a confirmation from Moroni's promise when he read the Book of Mormon.
- He felt strong emotions during other Mormon meetings and experiences, which became his testimony's foundation.
Mike's Conversion Experience
- Mike received a spiritual witness after weeks of reading and praying, prompted by missionaries' inquiries about his feelings.
- He notes the subjective nature of these experiences, varying from warm feelings to voices.
Universality of Spiritual Witnesses
- Spiritual witnesses are not unique to Mormonism, appearing in various religions and cults.
- This challenges the idea of their exclusive truth-discerning power.