Mormon Discussion Podcast

Today We sit down with Bishop John Shelby Spong.  Jack is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. From 1979 to 2000 he was Bishop of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey). He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author. He calls for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines.  We talk to Bishop Spong about his life, his own faith journey, and what he sees as the problems with Christian fundamentalism.  We talk about how dynamic growth is not the measuring stick for is a Christian Church is healthy.  We talk about the deconstruction of one’s faith and how one can stay in the spiritual wrestle and not throw in the towel even as one’s religious framing falls apart.  If you have not ever heard of Bishop Spong can we suggest several enlightening venues to get to know him better? Resources: Bishop Spong’s views on Jesus, the gosepl, and the New Testament Bishop Spong’s Criticism of Biblical Literalness Bishop Spong’s recasting the story of Jesus Debate between Bishop Spong and James White.  This debate is a great model of of two intelligent and informed people coming to a discussion holding different developmental ground.  One is a very Binary/outer authority/literal believer and the other anon-literal, nuanced/with Inner authority. Books by Bishop John Shelby Spong: Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy: A Journey into a New Christianity Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile Jesus for the Non-Religious Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World The post Mythical Jesus: 023: John Shelby Spong – Value Beyond Biblical Literalness appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we have author and former Mormon Spencer Wright back on the program to dive into the weeds.  Last time we talked with Spencer about his book “How to think” and we explored what it means to be a rational thinker.  ( 309: Spencer Wright – Rational Thought and Bat Shit Crazy ) Today we dive into 5 or so issues directly within Mormonism and explore the the orthodox view of those issues and then share why that piece of the dominant narrative does not hold up and follow it up with the apologetic response and then Spencer helps us see why any view other than the critical framing is irrational. RESOURCES: https://www.facebook.com/HowToThinkBook/ Free E-copy of the Book “How To Think” Book on Amazon Kerry Muhlstein admitting starting with the conclusion – https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2014/book-abraham-unnoticed-assumptions Book of Abraham explained simply   The post Mormon Discussion: 319: Spencer Wright – The Rationality of Mormonism appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

At the 2018 Sandy Utah Sunstone Symposium I sat in a session about the genetics of Sex and Gender.  The presenter was Crystal Scott,  a is a embryologist.   Crystal got her start at the University of Virginia.  She works in the industry creating high-value babies and teaching genetics at Boise State University.    Today we spend time diving into these complexities and how understanding that Sex and Gender are not understood in Binary ways requires us to hold space for the possibility that Truth may not be congruent with our Theology and Doctrine.  If we find that to be true should we impose our Theology and Doctrine anyway or are we required to make space for additional truth.  Especially if said false Theology and Doctrine hurts and harms others.  Can you listen today with a soft heart.  Can you hold space for those who are different.  Can make room to be wrong.  All that and more on today’s episode of Mormon Discussion. Her Sunstone Powerpoint Presentation – CLICK HERE RESOURCES: Sex, Gender and Genetics Sexual… dimorphism?? https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/(SICI)1520- 6300(200003/04)12:2%3C151::AID-AJHB1%3E3.0.CO;2-F Genetic components of Sex and Gender: This is an exhaustive compliation by the World Health Organization http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html Genetics, Sexual Orientation and Behavioral genetics: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index2.html The Transgender Brain, Jan 1, 2016 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-there-something-unique-about-the- transgender-brain/ More bran imaging for cis-v-transgender brains https://www.the-scientist.com/features/are-the-brains-of-transgender-people-different-from-those-of-cisgender-people-30027 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25392513 No longer considered a mental health issue: https://www.glaad.org/blog/apa-removes-gender-identity-disorder-updated-mental-health-guide Brain connections and cis –v- trans: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4585501/ Homsexual Men with differences between homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual brains: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5286516/ https://www.psypost.org/2017/04/neuroimaging-study-shows-brain-activity-corresponds-mens-self-stated-sexual-orientations-48620 Homsexual Men with differences between homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual brains: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29330483 About finger length: https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/why-finger-size-matters-19691231/ differences in identical twins with opposing sexuality: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10508-018-1262- The post Mormon Discussion: 318: Crystal Scott – Genetics of Sex and Gender appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

It has finally happened.  I received a disciplinary notice from my stake president.  Would those who feel any attachment to this podcast or to me, would you please send positive thoughts into the universe for my family and friends.  I always knew that full honesty and transparency and shining a light on unhealthiness and deception would eventually end with me being severed from my tribe.  But many around me expected better from the Church and are feeling hurt by this latest detail to transpire.  If you have a desire to contact me please email me at ReelMormon AT gmail DOT com. The post Bill Reel – Disciplinary Court Is Imminent appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we tell a story.  This story involves the Seer Stone used for the translation of the Book of Mormon but a story you likely have never heard.  We set all the messiness of Mormonism aside and instead focus deeply on the Seer Stone itself.  This small rock has a history of its own and that history runs billions of years into the past.  Find out today on Mormon Discussion how Dowsing Rods, Banded Iron Jasper, and Gizzard Stones all play a major role in Joseph Smith finding perhaps the most unique stone on planet Earth! Resources: Dan Vogel – Chapter 4 Slippery Treasures The Surprising Geology of Joseph Smith’s Brown Seer Stone The post Mormon Discussion: 317: Dowsing Rods, Banded Jasper, and Gizzard Stones appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we explore Elder Holland.  First I discuss the personal relationship Elder Holland and I have/had.  The trouble is once the biased lens of Mormonism was shed from my eyes I began to realize something else about Elder Holland which is that he seems to be deceptive and flat out lying on multiple occasions.  And often about small things that seemed to indicate a person who easily decides and chooses to exaggerate and deceive.  We review five examples in this episode and some of this are absolutely demonstrable. 1.) Elder Holland claims to hold the very copy of the book of Mormon that bethsheba, Hyrum Smith wife, had in her possession from which Hyrum Smith the prophets brother read to her and had turned the corner of the page down from where he read.  The problem is that the copy Elder Holland holds up in his hand at General conference is distinctly different from the copy in the Church History department claimed to be the same book. RESOURCES: – https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickleus/sets/72157623567278714/ – Safety for the Soul conference Talk – http://www.salamandersociety.com/foyer/prophets/jeffreyrholland/ 2.) Elder Holland when asked about the Church’s contribution to Prop 8 says that the Church did not give “One Red Cent” to the fight against Same Sex Marriage in California.  Problem is it gave a reported amount of almost $200,000.  Some want to debate over whether it was cash or in kind donations but to battle over rhetoric seems to be a sly way to find a loophole. RESOURCES: – https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/same-sex-marriage-and-proposition-8 – https://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-karger/mormongate—-the-churchs_b_163016.html – http://www.missedinsunday.com/memes/lgbtq/proposition-8/ – https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/us/politics/15marriage.html – https://www.dailydot.com/irl/mormon-church-gay-marriage-prop-8/ 3.) Elder Holland tells a faith promoting story about a missionary who out on his mission is led by the spirit to his older brother who had severed his relationship with his family years earlier.   Elder Holland had told this story for years and other General Authorities before him had shared it.    The problem is the story was a false faith promoting narrative.  Each telling contained different contradicting details and too far fetched too believe of a story-line.  Soon after the Deseret News picked up on the story, the far fetched details began to be questioned by critical thinking Mormons and Elder Holland through the Deseret News and Church PR quickly distanced himself from the story.  But even his side of how he came to learn the story was inaccurate is problematic. RESOURCES: –  Cache of Original Story – https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865685840/Elder-Holland-withdraws-Church-News-missionary-story.html – Radio Free Mormon Episode detailing the deception – http://kuer.org/post/mormon-apostle-withdraws-embellished-story#stream/0 – Bill Reel’s questioning the validity before Elder Holland’s retraction 4.) Elder Holland when asked directly whether Mitt Romney would have made penalty oaths in the temple answers NO.  Problem, such is a flat out lie. RESOURCES: – Youtube Clip showing the lie – https://www.cityweekly.net/BuzzBlog/archives/2012/06/05/bbc-interview-with-lds-leader-earns-controversy – https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/7c2tuq/did_holland_lie_semantic_analysis_of_jeffrey_r/ – Jonathon Streeter’s dissection of this event 5.) Elder Holland in a Regional meeting claims that the Church is growing in such a rate that it is creating Double Digit NEW Stake creation “every week of our lives”.  The Problem is that the Church every year tells us the number of stakes in the Church at year end of the previous year.  Elder Holland made this claim in early 2015 And from 2015 through 2017 the church consistently averaged 1.6 new stakes per week.  This makes a fifth lie with this one being deeply demonstrable. RESOURCES: – The Youtube video of his claim – Apologetic response – The owner of this blog is trying to reconcile the claim and as you will see relies on anectdotal data as he struggles to have any real source for the claim further showing how much of a stretch the claim is – Conversation by Bill Reel searching for a way to reconcile this issue – Data exploration on this issue – Bill Reel Facebook post on such In conclusion one is left with their jaw on the floor trying to figure out why Elder Jeffrey R Holland is an habitual liar. The post Mormon Discussion: 316: Elder Holland – Liar Liar Pants on Fire appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

On today’s episode we explore the mechanisms within Mormonism that deter you from speaking your truth.  We talk about the pressure to either soften your rhetoric or be silent all-together.  Once you grasp how pervasive such is, you may want to reconsider falling for it. The post Mormon Discussion: 313: Unhealthy Mechanisms That Deter You From Speaking Out appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

On today’s episode we explore the mechanisms within Mormonism that deter you from speaking your truth.  We talk about the pressure to either soften your rhetoric or be silent all-together.  Once you grasp how pervasive such is, you may want to reconsider falling for it. The post Mechanisms Of Silence And Changed Rhetoric appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we get in a metaphorical hot air balloon and rise up to look at the 20,000 foot view of the culture of abuse within Mormonism at the present moment.  We use three issues to demonstrate that the Mormon Church has exercised unrighteous dominion in three areas.  We look at Sam Young’s effort to eliminate One on One interviews and questions of a sexual nature to the youth of the Church to show that the Church desires to protect its ability to shame and distort healthy boundaries of members of the Church as young as seven years old.  We also utilize McKenna Denson’s case against the Church to show the lengths the Church will go to protect its own and to cover up the abuse and trauma of others.  Lastly we look at the Church’s political influence over law enforcement, legislators, and the judicial system inside Utah.  Once you take the 20,000 ft view of these issues you begin to sense the deep unhealthiness that exists with the LDS Church in its abuse over members and its ability to utilize Utah government to cover up and shield itself from accountability from said abuse you begin to see the urgency of why things have to change. The post Mormon Discussion: 314: Culture of Unhealthiness appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

So many of the public voices have their sources for inside info.  I like them have mine.  Recently I was made aware of several potential announcements coming out from General Conference about about a week ago.  Today’s Episode dives into the Rumors that are out there, the Inside info I have, and the reasons why these changes would happen.  I am more certain about some of these, less certain about others, but for the nuanced, liberal, or non-believing Mormon such things make tolerating conference more bearable and almost interesting!!! 1.) Males and Females can go on Missions at 18 and serve 24 months: these combats the severe decline in the # of Missionaries serving. 2.) The One year waiting period across the board if one has a civil marriage first. – The removes the tension this is causing many and relieves one item on the shelf of some who step back due to Mormonism’s abusive mechanisms. 3.) Going to a 2 hour block as the standard.  This relieves those who are overly burdened in callings and it allows a ward to get by with less people due to the exodus of members.  It also allows those who don’t feel uplifted to more easily justify continued attendance. 4.) Missionaries to serve only in the country they live. 5.) for those going through the endowment for the dead, reducing the endowment session to 1 hour.  Again reducing the burden and boredom of younger members who lack the same blind commitment to the Church that their parents and grandparents had. 6.) This one seems mundane but is at the heart of the rumors.  The SLC Temple will close for a 5 year renovation.  If this one comes to pass, I trust the other 5 even if not implemented are being discussed in depth in top Church circles 7.) The temple interview made less rigid and less about keeping belief standards to accommodate a younger generation walking away from activity and adherence to Church standards. The post Mormon Discussion: 312: 2018 General Conference Rumors, Predictions, and Why!!! appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.