NAKED MORMONISM - TRENT NOTES

20160618

Podcast host Bryce Blankenagel talks to a person named Trent

Left LDS church at 18, in Michigan

Asked himself "What do I believe?"

At 20, read "Conversations with God" - which told him that Mormonism happened; described it as "free writing" and a transcription.  (I attempted to read "Conversations with God" several years ago, but it didn't take hold, I never finished it.)

Later, read "A Course in Miracles" - makes your brain work to try to understand it, and if you do, you'll likely believe it; 1st step is to accept that everything around you is not real;  he never finished the course.

Bryce mentions *****"God's Debris" (2001) - a book; a fictional philosophical work by Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert cartoons)

Settled on Buddhism b/c it asked the least of a person; simply 3 jewels/levels.

*****"Ancient Aliens Debunked" - documentary by a believer

*****"What the Bleep do we know?" - quantum theory - e.g., crime rate supposedly dropped by mass prayer - NOT TRUE.

*****"An Honest Liar" on Netflix by James Randi.

*****Psychic debunking videos / Youtube

Books:  *****Faith Healers - Peter Poppoff

NOW:  Critical of Buddhism, but it's hard b/c they say "if you don't believe it, don't believe it."

e.g., The 4 Noble Truths:  1)  Suffering always exists, 2)  There is a cause for suffering; karma.     3)  There is a path out of suffering      4)  There is peace; freedom from suffering.  You understand suffering (nirvana, enlightment).

Got Buddhist new name:  did stuff to become member of temple (Buddhist Society for Compassionate Wisdom); it was "ha-u" meaning "I am a fool" - took it as a "badge of honor."  New name has 3 meanings:  outward, inward, _______.

James Randi - magic - CRITICAL THINKING - SKEPTICISM (YouTube debunker)

Randi was debunking pseudo-magic & mentalism of the 18/19 centuries (Joseph Smith included)

*****Derren Brown - expert mentalist (Arizona) - there's a video - teaches all the tricks (British):  does one on faith healing, one on marketing logo creation - had already drawn the logo.

Harm resulting from Woo:  Exploitation - give money.

e.g. faith healers who have no power; person loses money & dies anyway.
e.g. good honest people who have beliefs can still be harmed by negative repercussions of believing

Epistemic responsibility = *****Crash Course (on Youtube - their Philosophy Channel)
--> People are responsible for the  actions of the people who believe the same way that they do. <--

e.g., merchant has trading ship needs repairs:  a)  sent out anyway, sank, merchant is RESPONSIBLE for the loss of cargo & lives or b) ship made it in spite of needed repairs.

Epistemic responsibility says the merchant is RESPONSIBLE for the POSSIBLE DEATHS & LOSS of the people who sailed with him (even if it didn't actually happen).

e.g., holy books contain very clear hate & bigotry & violence, and holy people tell you "we do NOT hate, we LOVE our brothers" etc.

Epistemic responsibility says the holy people are RESPONSIBLE for the actions of the people who believe them (e.g., someone who might kill a homosexual).

(Debunks chiropractors, acupuncturists who make medical diagnoses)

Holistic medicine - NOT mystical.

***** Sawbones - podcast

Dr. Oz -
***** David Avacado Wolf

Family History:  John Lyttle (Little?)  body guard to Joseph Smith
James Godson Blake had 3rd wife.....

Says the people who migrated from UK to UT had a different perspective on death:  no complaining, no emotion about deaths, short entries in journals about life, but LONG entries about spiritual things.

This non-emotional response to deaths has carried over to modern-day Mormons (in some cases).

Boat --> train --> hand carts.

(This is a personal account of the hardships endured by Trent's ancestors.  But, necessarily, he must point out that they were pointless, since the beliefs of his ancestors are/were based on Woo - as is/was the entire message of Joseph Smith.)

What gets you out of bed, what keeps you going, Trent?  (since you're out of TSCC)

*  coffee
*  search for truth

favorite podcasts:
* Oh No Ross & Carrie:   - on scientology (9 part), on mormonism (2 parts, they converted)
* Glass Box:  Bryce B on origins of the Book of Mormon

advice:
Learn philosophy, learn critical thinking

(I really really really got tired of "absolutely" and "amazing" everything)