Kerry Shirts, Top Candidate for Apostasy

[_Kevin Graham]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UU1Ci ... _embedded#!

He speaks for 33 minutes in this podcast.

[_Cylon]

Any synopsis? I can't watch the whole half hour video right now, what's in it that makes you say he's a top candidate for apostasy?

[_Stormy Waters]

In the comments section a poster commented...

Glad to see you exiting Mormonism, Kerry, but sad to see you turning in the direction of atheism.

Kerry responded:

Where in the loving world did you EVER come to that silly conclusion? I can see I really, REALLY have to start making videos on HOW to think.......

He's commenting on some very difficult issues, but I'm not sure he's jumping ship.

[_Stormy Waters]

Any synopsis? I can't watch the whole half hour video right now, what's in it that makes you say he's a top candidate for apostasy?

He talks in length about Dan Barker (A Christian preacher who became an atheist) in a fairly sympathetic manner.

These are some of the things he mentions in the video:
-Many belong to a certain religion just because it's the one their parents were raised in
-Every religion believes that God is communicating with them, but every religion is different.
-As you read through the Bible you encounter the parts that are often ignored
-The more you learn the more you realize how little you know.
-We are often very critical and skeptical of other religions, but not our own.
-"If your faith can't hold up to a serious scrutiny than it's not worth holding on to."
-There are many who believe they have the truth while believing in largely different religions.

I hope I've captured the gist of the video.

[_Cicero]

Great summary Stormy.

I would add that he says very clearly at one point that he still believes in Mormonism, but he also seems to admit that he doesn't actually "know" it is true.

To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of it. I suppose he might have been saying that Mormonism can hold up to scrutiny while other religions can't . . . but I doubt it.

[_RockSlider]

very good listen ... thanks for pointing this out.

Dan Barker has nothing on Kerry ... write your own book Kerry ...

[_Stormy Waters]

To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of it. I suppose he might have been saying that Mormonism can hold up to scrutiny while other religions can't . . . but I doubt it.

I don't either really. It's really open ended. I don't know much about Kerry, but he just seems like someone who is willing to openly discuss difficult issues. I just don't get the impression that he's about to apostatize.

[_Cylon]

Any synopsis? I can't watch the whole half hour video right now, what's in it that makes you say he's a top candidate for apostasy?

He talks in length about Dan Barker (A Christian preacher who became an atheist) in a fairly sympathetic manner.

These are some of the things he mentions in the video:
-Many belong to a certain religion just because it's the one their parents were raised in
-Every religion believes that God is communicating with them, but every religion is different.
-As you read through the Bible you encounter the parts that are often ignored
-The more you learn the more you realize how little you know.
-We are often very critical and skeptical of other religions, but not our own.
-"If your faith can't hold up to a serious scrutiny than it's not worth holding on to."
-There are many who believe they have the truth while believing in largely different religions.

I hope I've captured the gist of the video.

Cool, thanks for the summary! That certainly sounds inline with what I've seen him post over at MDDB.

[_Kevin Graham]

No, I'm referring jokingly to the targets of Droopy and Schryver who instantly suspect someone is about to leave the Church the second they start showing signs of independent thought. If Kerry posted more on the MAD forum he'd likely be one of their targets.

I had a nice phone conversation with Kerry last week. He is a really good guy who is struggling with some things but probably not in the way you think. He is frustrated in the way certain Mormon writers have misrepresented the Bible in publications. But he never said anything to me about leaving the faith. He is just really interested more in what's true instead of what's politically correct from a faith promoting perspective and I get the sense he is starting to see the light in the way Mormon writers misrepresent the facts on a number of issues, and he doesn't like it.

Of course this could all mean he is trying to take apologetics in a more honest direction.

[_beefcalf]

Just finished watching... I think Stormy captured his points well.

I'll be interested in seeing where Kerry is going with this...