#005: Leaving Mormonism

A Leap of Doubt

“Why would Coca-Cola have a better marketing strategy than God?” ~ Ami

In this episode I am joined by Ami, one of the hosts of the Secular Soup podcast, as she shares her story of growing up in the Mormon church and what eventually prompted her to question Mormonism and religion in general and quietly take leave of that faith tradition.

We talked about how Mormonism views women in the church, the racist beliefs written into Mormon doctrine, the pseudoscientific and magical worldview of Mormonism’s founder Joseph Smith, the bizarre cosmology of the religion, family life and civic habits of Mormonism’s members, the secret “sacred temple” initiation rites, and the submarines featured in the Book of Mormon (yes, you read that right), and why Coca-Cola has a better marketing strategy than God.

Relevant links:

Secular Soup podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/secular-soup

Recommended reading

Paul Kurtz, The Transcendental Temptation (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2013; first published in 1986), chapter 10. [https://tinyurl.com/y7koo435]

Ernest Taves, Trouble Enough: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1984). [https://tinyurl.com/y9gns7s8]

Join the official discussion group of this podcast at https://www.facebook.com/groups/alopdiscussion/

Consider supporting me Patreon if you enjoy the show: www.patreon.com/aleapofdoubt. Thanks to Jeff Prebeg and Jeanne Ikerd for being my first two patrons!

Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TheNatheist

The opening clip is an excerpt from the audiobook “God is Not Great” by Christopher Hitchens, courtesy of Hachette Audio. Text Copyright 2007 by Christopher Hitchens. Audio production copyright 2007, Hachette Audio. Used with permission.

The opening and ending music is “Jade” by Esther Nicholson and is used under license. Audio edited by Callie Wright of The Gaytheist Manifesto podcast and Answer Media LLC.