Mormon Discussion Podcast

Today we start a series of six short episodes on the Historical Jesus.  These are just a prepper for Latter-day Saints as there is enough info in this field to talk for hundreds of hours on dissecting various perspectives on various data.  Today we began with an intro and talk on the Gospel of Mark which is believed to be the earliest gospel when originally written.  Below each episode will be a ton of resources to go off and learn more on your own. Online Documents on the Historical Jesus: Comaprative Chart of the 4 Gospels Historical Jesus: Christology Historical Jesus & Mythical Christ Historical Jesus: 5 views Albert Schweitzer on the Historical Jesus Synoptic Problem Biblical Criticism: Higher & Lower Q-Source may look like this Closer look at the Q-Source Internet Christian Library (includes many early christian documents not in our scriptures) Q Gospel quick run through of evidence BYU Article by Robert Millet Paula Fredriksen’s Quest for the Historical Jesus Quest for the Historical Jesus Resurrection Faith & The Historical Jesus Origins of Christianity and the Quest for the Historical Jesus Why the Quest for the Historical Jesus Matters Non Christian Evidence for the Historical Christ Progress in the Quest for the Historical Jesus Podcasts on the Historical Jesus: Historical Jesus by Stanford Continuing Studies Program Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean Podcast Yale Open Courses The Partially Examined Life (select episodes) Progressive Spirit (select episodes) Mormon Matters Podcast on the Historical Jesus Mormon Discussion Podcast on the Historical Jesus Mormon Sunday School episode FairMormon on the Historical Jesus Books on the Historical Jesus: The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide The Quest of the Historical Jesus The Historical Jesus of the Gospels The Historical Jesus: An Essential Guide The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods The Historical Reliability of the Gospels The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes The Historical Jesus and Mythical Christ The Historical Jesus For Dummies The post 245: Historical Jesus pt. 1- Gospel of Mark appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

In this episode we discuss the ‘NONES’.  What are the reasons people are leaving the institutional Church in droves and how does this fit in with Mormonism.  We use a podcast episode from Progressive Spirit, titled “David Kinnaman, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church…and Rethinking Faith”.  In the episode the results of a massive study are shared regarding why people leave the institutional Church.  This reasons seem connected to me and we explore that connection. The Church is at a Precipice moment…… What shall they do?  The Truth is the information age is upon us and the narrative we hold to simply isn’t true. The post 244: Why They Leave appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today’s episode is my Gospel Essentials lesson on Obedience (Chapter 35 in the Gospel Principles Book).  We talk about Obedience as the First Law of Heaven, Fowler’s Stages of Faith, Exceptions to the Rule, and most importantly our Inner Authority and that authority as the ultimate source of truth.  I offer these as examples of how to bring an out-of-the-box, nuanced Mormonism into your three hour block experience.  I hope you enjoy!!!! Due to the lack of professional recording equipment the audio contains some background noise for which I apologize. The post 243: Lesson On Obedience appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today Suzette Smith shares the talk she gave at a recent Exponent II retreat.  Exponent II is a Mormon Feminist Magazine that give voice to the Female Perspective.  Suzette Shares her spiritual journey and touches on the feminine divine.  Resources: “Telling the Story of Grief” by Julie Lefgren Exponent II Blog, May 5, 2016 “Claiming Space” by Margaret Olsen Hemming Exponent II Magazine, Fall 2015 “My Faith’s Journey” by Suzette Smith Exponent II Magazine, Fall 2010 Women and Mormonism, Bowman & Holbrook, Editors Aimee Evans Hickman, Author, Chapter 19 “At Journey’s End” by Elaine Wright Christensen Ensign, July 2002 The post 242: Suzette Smith – A Spiritual Journey appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we sit down with LDS biblical scholar, Julie Smith.  We discuss her book “As Iron Sharpens Iron”.  We talk about dealing with contradictions in scripture, how to interpret biblical stories that seem to be something less than literal, and we talk about how we as a faith need to mature in how we include better biblical scholarship into our faith. Purchase Julie’s Book HERE     The post 241: Julie Smith – As Iron Sharpens Iron appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

We are 1 year removed from “the Policy”.  What does the Data tell us?  How has it affected my family?  What has been the aftermath?  And most importantly Where do we have yet to go?  On the 1 year anniversary…. we explore this and more. The post 240: November 5th 2016 – 1 Year From The Policy appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today I sit down with Richard Ostler.  Just released as the Bishop of a Young Single Adult Ward, Richard sits down with us to share what it means to be inclusive and to love without limits.  He recently was featured in Jana Riess’ column titled “What one bishop offers Mormons who don’t ‘know’ the church is true”.  Richard unabashedly is a LGBT ally and an advocate for better understanding those with doubts.  We talk of his hope for the future of Mormonism and what we can each do in the meantime to nudge ourselves to where we need to get to. This episode goes public on November 5th –  1 year after the “policy” leak. The post 239: Richard Ostler – Ministry of Love appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The question is have we defined a theology that can be defended in terms of those who have the gift of the Holy Ghost having an increased access to spiritual connection over the rest of the world?  Is the Gift of the Holy ghost discernibly something more than the experience that non-mormons are having within their various faith traditions?  We try to tackle that on today’s episode. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwkh_aliF3E The post 238: The Holy Ghost Conundrum appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

A shift in my public tone has occurred.  That tone has been below the surface for some time.  I worry that listeners may be turned off by what they perceive as my having gone off the reservation in terms of faithfulness.  I fear people in such a perception may feel one less place of sanctuary to explore their faith journey while still looking to feed their faith.  Today is about “Why I stay”.  Today is about the beauty that is Mormonism.  Today is about the positive that exists in the tension we all carry.  Today is about showing those on the fence ready to leave that there is sufficient reason for some of us to stay.  Today is about about what Mormonism offers that can not be found elsewhere in such abundance.   Today I tell you “Why I Stay” The post 237: The Beauty That Is Mormonism appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we sit down McArthur Krishna, one of the authors of Our “Heavenly Family, Our earthly Families”.  We talk about Heavenly Mother, the role of women in scripture, the importance of gender equality in the stories we tell, and a inclusive definition of family.  We also talk about her adventure of a life and the curveballs that life throws. Get the Books: Our Heavenly Family, Our Earthly Families Girls Who Choose God: Stories of Courageous Women from the Bible Girls Who Choose God: Stories of Strong Women from the Book of Mormon   The post 236: Heavenly Family Earthly Families appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.