Mormon Discussion Podcast: Leading With Faith podcast

#Religion #Cognitive Dissidents #Reel

1:15:36

In this episode, we welcome back David French, columnist for The New York Times , former constitutional attorney, and author of Divided We Fall . We discuss the current state of American democracy, the challenges of political division, and how we can engage in civil discourse despite deep ideological differences. David also shares a personal update on his family and reflects on the profound trials and growth that come with adversity. 📌 What We Discuss: ✔️ How David and his family navigated the challenges of a serious health crisis. ✔️ The rise of political polarization and the factors driving it. ✔️ Why distinguishing between “unwise, unethical, and unlawful” is crucial in analyzing political actions. ✔️ How consuming different perspectives (even opposing ones) helps in understanding political dynamics. ✔️ The role of Christian values in politics and how they are being redefined. ⏳ Episode Highlights 📍 [00:01:00] – David French’s background and his journey from litigation to journalism. 📍 [00:02:30] – Personal update: David shares his wife Nancy’s battle with cancer and their journey as a family. 📍 [00:06:00] – How to navigate personal trials while maintaining faith and resilience. 📍 [00:10:00] – The danger of political paranoia and the pitfalls of extreme polarization. 📍 [00:18:00] – The "friend-enemy" paradigm in American politics and its influence in Christian fundamentalism. 📍 [00:24:00] – Revisiting Divided We Fall : How America’s divisions have devolved since 2020. 📍 [00:40:00] – The categories and differences of unwise, unethical, and unlawful political actions. 📍 [00:55:00] – The balance between justice, kindness, and humility in political engagement. 📍 [01:00:00] – The After Party initiative: A Christian approach to politics focused on values rather than policy. 💬 Featured Quotes 🔹 "You don't know who you truly are until your values are tested." – David French 🔹 "If we focus on the relational, we can have better conversations even across deep differences." – Corey Nathan 🔹 "Justice, kindness, and humility—if you're missing one, you're doing it wrong." – David French 🔹 "The United States has a history of shifting without repenting. We just move on." – David French 📚 Resources Mentioned David French’s Writing: New York Times David’s Book: Divided We Fall The After Party Initiative – More Info Advisory Opinions Podcast (with Sarah Isgur & David French) – Listen Here 📣 Call to Action If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion 🔗 Connect With Us on Social Media @coreysnathan: Bluesky LinkedIn Instagram Threads Facebook Substack David French: 🔗 Twitter | BlueSky | New York Times Our Sponsors Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com Prolux Autogroup: www.proluxautogroup.com or www.granadahillsairporttransportation.com Let’s keep talking politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡…

Mormon Discussion Podcast: Leading With Faith

Series home•Feed

A Faith Deconstruction & Reconstruction Podcast

13 episodes

Mormon Discussion Podcast: Leading With Faith

updated 6 years ago

Series home•Feed

A Faith Deconstruction & Reconstruction Podcast

13 episodes

#Religion #Cognitive Dissidents #Reel

All episodes

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 013: Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and the Damage of Dogma 1:39:16

6 years ago1:39:16

1:39:16

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast we dive into what is Dogma and why Dogma is bad? and specifically how unhealthy systems distance their dogma from criticism and how the mechanisms play out. HEqFG3xEDNrB5xCk6j0N Resources: Youtube Video of Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson Part 1 Youtube Video of Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson Part 2 Quotes from LDS History declaring Temple ordinances unchangeable From August 2001 Ensign (page 22), in big bold print above a large colorful portrait of Joseph Smith: “The Prophet Jospeph Smith taught, ‘Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed.'” “No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God.” Apostle James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, 1968, p. 84 He set the temple ordinances to be the same forever and ever and set Adam to watch over them, to reveal them from heaven to man, or to send angels to reveal them.” Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol.4, p. 208 some members wonder if the ordinances can be changed or adjusted. These ordinances have been provided by revelation, and are in the hands of the First Presidency. Thus, the temple is protected from tampering.” W. Grant Bangerter, executive director of the Temple Department and a member of the First Quorum of Seventy, Deseret News, Church Section, January 16, 1982 the endowments have never changed and can never change; as I understand it; it has been so testified, and that Joseph Smith Jr., himself was the founder of the endowments.” Senator Reed Smoot, Reed Smoot Case, vol. 3, p. 185 And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built.” Jesus Christ Himself, Doctrine and Covenants 124:27-28, 40-42 “The Gospel can not possibly be changed…. the saving principles must ever be the same. They can never change…. the Gospel must always be the same in all of its parts…. no one can change the Gospel… if they attempt to do so, they only set up a man-made system which is not the Gospel, but is merely a reflection of their own views…. if we substitute ‘any other Gospel,’ there is no salvation in it…. the Lord and His Gospel remain the same–always.” Prophet’s Message, Church News, June 5, 1965 The post Cognitive Dissidents: 013: Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and the Damage of Dogma appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

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Cognitive Dissidents: 012: Elevation Emotion 52:48

7 years ago52:48

52:48

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast we discuss Elevation Emotion which is the idea that Elevation is an emotion elicited by witnessing virtuous acts of remarkable moral goodness. It is experienced as a distinct feeling of warmth and expansion that is accompanied by appreciation and affection for the individual whose exceptional conduct is being observed. Elevation motivates those who experience it to open up to, affiliate with, and assist others. Elevation makes an individual feel lifted up and optimistic about humanity. – Wikipedia We discuss today how religion take this normal human emotional reaction and co-op and hijack it to be understood by adherents as a evidence that their faith system is the one true faith. The studies on Elevation Emotion found that participants in the elevation conditions reported different patterns of physical feelings and motivations when compared to participants in the control conditions. Elevated participants were more likely to report physical feelings in their chests—especially warm, pleasant, or “tingling” feelings—and they were more likely to report wanting to help others, become better people themselves, and afﬁliate with others. In both studies, reported feelings of happiness energized people to engage in private or self-interested pursuits, while feelings of elevation seemed to open people up and turn their attention outwards, toward other people. Religions utilize this as a sign of their truthfulness or their being directed by God. We use several audio example to show how they do such and when we are finished one is left to re-evaluate how they interpret their “warm fuzzy feelings” outside a religious paradigm. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevation_(emotion) https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/wired_to_be_inspired http://www.elevationresearch.org/content/jonathan-haidt http://people.stern.nyu.edu/jhaidt/articles/haidt.2003.elevation-and-positive-psychology.pub026.html http://faculty.virginia.edu/haidtlab/articles/haidt.2000.the-positive-emotion-of-elevation.pub020.pdf The post Cognitive Dissidents: 012: Elevation Emotion appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

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Cognitive Dissidents: 011: Gaslighting 39:22

7 years ago39:22

39:22

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast we discuss Gaslighting . What it is, where it originates and how it is a deeply unethical mechanism that institutions use to shield themselves from accountability. We then use Mormonism as an example and run through 4 major issues wherein Mormonism uses Gaslighting. We use the article “Mormons, you aren’t going crazy — it’s called gaslighting” as the foundation for this episode Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201701/11-warning-signs-gaslighting https://lonerwolf.com/gaslighting/ The post Cognitive Dissidents: 011: Gaslighting appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 010: Tattle Tellers, Narcs, and Snitches 31:31

7 years ago31:31

31:31

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, We explore the Institutional mechanism of “Tattle Telling”. We explore both the Formal mechanisms as well as the informal. How High Demand Fundamentalist Religions incorporate ideas such as the internet being bad, that questions are good but doubts are bad, and how cultures of reporting people for discrediting the religious narrative are implemented. As usual we use Mormonism as the main example but also tough on Jehovah’s witness and Scientology as well. In this episode we speak at length about FairMormon an organization that claims to answer the critics questions but in reality has acknowledged its main goal is to protect and defend the Mormon Church. We show how its own Board member, John Lynch, admits that it is willing to collect and share information with the LDS Church, info that it has unique access to. The post Cognitive Dissidents: 010: Tattle Tellers, Narcs, and Snitches appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 009: Doubt and the Internet 31:44

7 years ago31:44

31:44

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, Host Bill Reel tackles the religious mechanism of faith leaders discouraging research into their faiths claims and history from outside sources. Whether that is asking a church member to not trust the internet, not trust unauthorized sources, or even asking them to disassociate from friends and family who ask hurtful questions. We also hit on how religious institutions always blame those who lose trust and belief regardless of which religious institution we are looking at. The post Cognitive Dissidents: 009: Doubt and the Internet appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

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Cognitive Dissidents: 008: Testimony Gained In The Bearing Of It 15:04

7 years ago15:04

15:04

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast we dive into the idea of the “Illusory Effect” which is the idea that the more we repeat, hear, or recall information the more we believe what it is that is being taught. We show how this psychological phenomenon is a tool that religions utilize in getting people to believe something they did not believe to begin with. We use the example in Mormonism of “A Testimony is gained in the bearing of it” to show how this works within religion. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_truth_effect https://www.wired.com/2017/02/dont-believe-lies-just-people-repeat/ http://metro.co.uk/2015/12/01/if-you-repeat-a-lie-enough-people-think-its-true-5536488/ http://library.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/ft/rh/rh_reiteration_1997.pdf http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20161026-how-liars-create-the-illusion-of-truth https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fighting-fear/201405/telling-yourself-something www.spring.org.uk/2010/12/the-illusion-of-truth.php https://www.lds.org/ensign/1983/01/the-candle-of-the-lord?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/youth/article/questions-about-bearing-your-testimony?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/pure-testimony?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/testimony?lang=eng The post Cognitive Dissidents: 008: Testimony Gained In The Bearing Of It appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

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Cognitive Dissidents: 007: Religious Schizophrenia 30:55

7 years ago30:55

30:55

Today we talk about the religious mechanism of doublespeak. The idea that a religious institution benefits from seeming holding multiple contradictory perspectives at the same time. That by having multiple contradictory messages simultaneously you maintain deniable plausibility on the problematic nature of any one issue perspective. Elder Christofferson’s talk that included Amish and Mormon Shunning The post Cognitive Dissidents: 007: Religious Schizophrenia appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 006: Getting Out of The Boat and Walking On Water 29:15

7 years ago29:15

29:15

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast we talk about when it is a good time to get out of the boat. Using Mathew chapter 14 from the new testament as our backdrop we talk about why churches or religious institutions are useful and what purpose they serve and then turn our time to understanding that sometimes those institutions having served their purpose no longer are the most useful. That at times we are invited by Christ to leave the boat in the midst of some new tension in our lives. Stay in the boat? Get out of the boat? It all depends on the tension in your life, the invitation from the Master, and whether you are ready. All that today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast The post Cognitive Dissidents: 006: Getting Out of The Boat and Walking On Water appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 005: The Backfire Effect 13:26

7 years ago13:26

13:26

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast we talk about the backfire effect. The backfire effect is a cognitive bias that causes people who encounter evidence that challenges their beliefs to reject that evidence, and to strengthen their support of their original stance. Essentially, the backfire effect means that showing people evidence which proves that they are wrong is often ineffective, and can actually end up backfiring, by causing them to support their original stance more strongly than they previously did. As such, the backfire effect is a subtype of the confirmation bias, which is a cognitive bias that can cause people to reject information which contradicts their beliefs, or to interpret information in a way that confirms those beliefs. The Backfire Effect: Why Facts Don’t Always Change Minds The Backfire Effect The post Cognitive Dissidents: 005: The Backfire Effect appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 004: Sower And His Soil 13:29

8 years ago13:29

13:29

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, we discuss Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed and the various types of soil. The idea that each ground represents the context in which we are developing and have the space and resources to accept new truth and to develop and grow. The post Cognitive Dissidents: 004: Sower And His Soil appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 003: Belief Persistence 16:30

8 years ago16:30

16:30

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, we discuss “belief Persistence”. The idea that each of us even when confronted with contradictory evidence continue to hold our current beliefs making a real changing of the mind difficult. The post Cognitive Dissidents: 003: Belief Persistence appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .…

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 002: Confirmation Bias 25:58

8 years ago25:58

25:58

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, we discuss “Confirmation Bias”. The idea that each of us is out looking for data and evidence that confirms our present beliefs. The post Cognitive Dissidents: 002: Confirmation Bias appeared first on Cognitive Dissidents .

1
Cognitive Dissidents: 001: Introduction 11:21

8 years ago11:21