Face in Hat

Aaron Brewster & Eric Jepson•faceinhat.podbean.com

Religion & Spirituality

LDS Miscellany through a Berkeley Lens

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Episodes

1.8 Polygamy’s Ghost

Our hosts discuss the book “The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy,” by Carol Lynn Pearson. The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy: Haunting the Hearts and Heaven of Mormon Women and Men, by Carol Lynn Pearson: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Eternal-Polygamy-Haunting-Hearts/dp/0997458208 Eric’s literary works: The Widower: https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V42N02_137.pdf The Prophetess of Mars: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NSJMQBV Book review by Rebecca J https://bycommonconse...

Apr 20, 2019•1 hr 2 min

1.7 Mormon literature and the AML

The 2019 Association for Mormon Letters conference was excellent. Our hosts use some of the panels as a means to discuss Mormon literature in general, focusing on the work of Carol Lynn Pearson, and on the new church history book, Saints. Authors mentioned: Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, and DJ Butler. Favorite books by them: Mistborn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistborn Ender’s Game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game Witchy Eye: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30753675-w...

Apr 06, 2019•39 min

1.6 I've a Mother there

Heavenly Mother is one of the most interesting Latter-Day Saint doctrines! We don't know a lot, but what we do know is awesome. Enjoy! Oh My Father https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/o-my-father LDS topics, Mother in Heaven https://www.lds.org/topics/mother-in-heaven "A Mother There": A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven, by Author David L. Paulsen, Author Martin Pulido https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/mother-there-survey-historical-teachings-about-mother-heaven How to ...

Mar 16, 2019•33 min

1.5 Agency and Determinism

Do we have free will? Is your neighbor a philosophical zombie? Are we living in a simulation? Our hosts hit scriptures, sci fi, and neurobiology to discuss agency and determinism in religion and science. References https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-4-freedom-to-choose Arcadia from Tom Stoppard (mentioned in passing) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcadia_(play) JST as an anti-determinist text. Compare https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ex/10 and http://classic.scriptures.lds.org...

Mar 02, 2019•41 min

1.4 Unutterables

Secret or sacred? Taboo or simply uncomfortable? Important or trivial? With the temple ceremony changes in the news lately, our hosts discuss why Mormons don’t go into the ceremony specifics, what kinds of venues are appropriate for difficult subjects, and when it’s appropriate to espouse the virtue of silence. Also, awesome 80’s comics apparently helped change the church? First Presidency Statement on Temples https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/temple-worship Temple firesides in prep for the...

Feb 02, 2019•44 min

1.3 Debts and outlays

Our hosts look at how money moves through the church and some of the fascinating history behind its finances. Church’s statement on its finances from 2018: https://www.lds.org/church/news/read-a-summary-of-the-financial-information-released-by-the-church Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finances_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints LDS Inc article from By Common Consent: https://bycommonconsent.com/2016/06/02/lds-inc/ Mentioned by Eric but not really on topic ;) A House ...

Jan 21, 2019•39 min

0.1 Cold Open

Aaron and Eric introduce the podcast! Our hosts discuss critical thinking and its application to LDS miscellany and they describe their Berkeley influences. Also a magic card comes up, but it feels natural. Magic card! http://www.magicspoiler.com/mtg-spoiler/skewer-the-critics Wikipedia on critical thinking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking Eric’s reviews of the two books mentioned, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover and The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna...

Jan 13, 2019•39 min

1.2 Theodicy and the Red Ball

In which Aaron and Eric grapple with theodicy, aka the problem of evil given a benevolent God, as presented by Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. After going over some feedback from our pilot episode, we tackle theodicy and how it relates to DNA replication, Euclidean geometry and evolution. SMBC comic on which the episode is based, by Zach Weinersmith: https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2011-06-30 Theodicy! By wikipedia! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodicy Geometry! "It is not possible to pro...

Dec 14, 2018•45 min

1.1 The man with his face in his hat

In which Aaron talks with Eric about Joseph Smith's seer stone. References: Seer stone and additional photos from 2015 Ensign article Main FairMormon article Brant A Gardner, FairMormon conference, 2009 About FairMormon Religion of a different color by W. Paul Reeve Pictures: Joseph and his hat Joseph Smith Translating Emma and Joseph...

Nov 19, 2018•42 min

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