tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58665717698166844122011-04-21T19:49:31.705-07:00This blog has moved. Please see below for link.markiinoreply@blogger.comBlogger311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-27033901957556421512006-11-02T14:20:00.000-07:002008-01-27T16:17:15.761-07:00

I am moving my blog to a new site over here!Hope to see you there,or for one dude's mormon studies, go here: http://onedudesms.wordpress.comMark

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-81593938328509249832006-11-02T10:51:00.000-07:002006-11-02T10:56:29.971-07:00

"We take the Curse of Cain and slide it over to that little trash can, and that's that!"

markiinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-53785915150865553382006-10-31T16:07:00.000-07:002006-10-31T16:40:37.033-07:00

Looking for something different to do this Halloween? Try checking out the After Dark Horrorfest (see video) . Looks interesting...Also: You think Halloween has pagan roots? Guess again. Two new histories of America's second favorite holiday reveal the truth. (Read Article here).

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-7487336449293998002006-10-24T23:42:00.000-07:002006-10-24T23:43:52.192-07:00

Click to view Video

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-37283798915186453672006-10-22T12:03:00.000-07:002006-10-22T12:04:43.764-07:00

My brother is a freakin stud. We had a really cool conversation yesterday. That is my post for today.

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-37979592923709507732006-10-21T22:27:00.000-07:002006-10-22T12:31:37.368-07:00

Check it out bloggers: Google Reader makes it ten times easier to read all your regular blogs! Click here to check it out... (you'll be re-directed to my other blog)

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-81110237349609041372006-10-20T15:42:00.000-07:002006-10-23T11:30:07.480-07:00

An Agnostic [1] [noun] [OW] embraces a worldview in which the existence of deity is unknown or unknowable. Derives from the Greek agnostos, a = without, gnostos = known or knowledge. "Agnostic[ism] [CE] was coined by Professor TH Huxley in 1869 to describe the mental attitude of one who regarded as futile all attempts to know the reality corresponding to our ultimate scientific, philosophic, and

markiinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-7181979872580030752006-10-19T16:31:00.000-07:002006-10-20T18:39:13.346-07:00

A conversation going on over here is pretty interesting. The people leaving comments are discussing whether you can be opinionated in the Church or if dissension is a sign of apostasy.

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-29349115018507323052006-10-16T09:23:00.000-07:002006-10-16T12:38:15.632-07:00

[Click here to "Sustain" John's original post on this subject.]For only $5-$10 monthly subscription we can save Mormon Stories. John Dehlin (creator) has already compiled many great podcasts and screencasts which are invaluable tools for:reaching out to disaffected MormonsHelping others understand what the disaffected go through and help to understand and empathize their situation.Learning more

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-71866565169871434692006-10-12T13:56:00.000-07:002006-10-18T14:04:41.055-07:00

A nice summary of Intelligent Design and the current sub-theories of Evolution. Found in the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe Podcast, episode #49 (Timemark 2:40- 19:30). You can download by clicking here (you're welcome).

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-26486896243790170332006-10-10T23:58:00.000-07:002006-10-11T00:30:39.797-07:00

This is a great episode from the podcast Speaking of Faith. I highly recommend listening to it! Like the title, it talks about a/the history of doubt in religion. It highlights the lives of many of our history's great thinkers, philosophers, and doubters. This is part of my 'must-listen-to' podcast episodes found on the sidebar of my blog. Enjoy!!» Download (mp3, 53:18) » Stream (

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-39227823614763806262006-10-10T17:21:00.000-07:002006-10-11T15:10:11.706-07:00

Today I listened to a past episode of the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe. Towards the end (time marker 58:22) they discuss DNA and the Book of Mormon, its effect on the LDS Church, and the effect of Science on religion in general. I recommend checking it out. You can download the episode here. The original LA Times article that they allude to can be found here.Even more interesting is the

markiinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-80773753676666107582006-10-09T19:02:00.000-07:002006-10-23T13:02:44.164-07:00

Here are two new Posts on religious doubts. [Posted as earlier posts as to keep chronological order as they happened. Note, my thoughts/feelings may be different now then they were at the time these were were written]Letter to my Family about my Doubts...Dealing with my Doubts

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-58876014261170699142006-09-28T12:05:00.000-07:002006-11-20T23:46:28.731-07:00

This post has been moved Please click here to be re-directed.

markiinoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-16705069576141899182006-09-22T15:14:00.000-07:002006-11-20T23:52:55.243-07:00

This post has been moved. Click here to go there.

markiinoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-80568783496104230742006-09-21T14:25:00.000-07:002006-09-21T14:27:41.388-07:00

The Onion (a satirical news source) has kind of a funny post on polygamy this week. Check it out here.

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-49594919712447626042006-09-19T08:37:00.000-07:002006-09-19T02:14:15.831-07:00

Today I read a heart-felt article called An Agnostic in a Foxhole: The Story Behind "Heaven in My Hand", by Bob McCue. In it, McCue describes his feelings as his young son goes into the ICU. He developed a serious infection after simply taking his wisdom teeth out. You can feel the pain he is going through as he says:I can feel my heart rate rising as a result of typing this. Our son is in

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-79020791223740445252006-09-19T02:15:00.000-07:002006-09-19T02:20:19.898-07:00

Yesterday I read a wonderful article entitled Dialogue with a Prophet, by Bob McCue.Excerpt:His voice gradually faded as I walked away toward a beckoning, peaceful meadow where members of my family were playing Frisbee while waiting for me.“Here he comes! Catch Dad!!”, one of the kids shouted, throwing a Frisbee in my direction. “That didn’t take as long as you said it might, Dad”, another said.

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-38616540503603662692006-09-18T15:19:00.000-07:002006-09-22T16:57:08.243-07:00

I was looking around at blogs today, especially in search of progressive LDS blogs when I came across the Mormon Left. This is a blog of another individual going through the same spiritual journey I am currently going through as I study my Mormon religion. It is kind of funny, however, that I caught the blog on it's exit- and into post-Mormondom. John says:This is going to be my last post on

markiinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-15401501288286019462006-09-18T11:24:00.000-07:002006-09-19T10:29:59.438-07:00

Remains Linked to Massacre Found in Nephi, UT. Seven American-Indians were unearthed from a grave. Their bodies were found riddled with bullets, at least one at point blank. "I don't see it as revising history," Rood said. "I see it as adding another chapter."

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-73475243553165330382006-08-14T10:32:00.000-07:002006-11-20T23:40:07.781-07:00

This post has been moved! Click here.(Picture: Me with John Dehlin and Armand Mauss)

markiinoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-76650250114103909372006-08-07T15:19:00.000-07:002006-10-23T13:04:24.704-07:00

Take this quiz here to see what religion suits you best based on your personal beliefs. My results were the following:1. Unitarian Universalism (100%) 2. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (91%) 3. Liberal Quakers (85%) 4. Secular Humanism (73%) 5. Theravada Buddhism (68%) 6. Bah�'� Faith (65%) 7. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (61%) 8. Neo-Pagan (56%) 9.

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-55637443511030781002006-07-29T00:11:00.000-07:002006-10-23T13:07:03.704-07:00

Quote:What a man believes upon grossly insufficient evidence is an index into his desires -- desires of which he himself is often unconscious. If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-44849254634544736072006-07-01T08:57:00.000-07:002006-09-20T00:59:48.537-07:00

Today was the World Cup again. Brazil has already beaten a few other countries (we watched Brazil vs Ghana in the theatre room next door with two Brazilian families with us), and today they were to play France. My wife and I watched it at a friend's apt. in Branbury with some friends. It was a VERY stressful first half. We were all shouting, rooting and pleading for Brazil to make a goal and

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-82297458034780656662006-06-05T18:17:00.000-07:002006-10-17T12:35:14.741-07:00

[I wrote this letter to a dear family member after they found out I had doubts about the church]Dear [****],How are you? I wanted to first of all thank you for our conversation Sunday evening and for you lending an ear to me. That was so helpful! I have said it before and I will continue saying it: I am very grateful to have a person like you in my life. I have also told [your daughter] many

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-6993498382896555562006-05-27T17:16:00.000-07:002006-10-17T12:35:32.126-07:00

[Note: this is a conversation between me and a couple of people on Mormon Stories.org. At this time, I had been dealing with some serious doubts about my faith and religion. Here are the responses, insights and support from some thoughtful individuals- ending with a great quote!]Jordanandmeg said:Daniel [another commenter talking about his experience in studying "New Mormon History"] said:“It

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-29481762054868809692006-05-10T10:54:00.000-07:002006-09-19T10:58:42.603-07:00

I noticed today that I have listened to approximately 75 hours of Podcasts talking on Mormon Studies. The most interesting one I am listening to is called Mormon Stories. John Dehlin interviews Mormons of ALL types and backgrounds including ex-Mormons and anti-Mormons. The reason he does the Podcast is because he ran into a lot of Church History problems and things about the church that were

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-86500497435649226912006-05-02T23:45:00.000-07:002006-09-28T23:54:06.938-07:00

I found this comment on "testimony and peer pressure" on this blog. It rang true to me. The writer is talking about cognitive dissonance. I know this subject has been written about very much by many people but I thought I'd include this excerpt here today. To learn more about cognitive dissonance, many studies have been done in the academic world (it not only pertains to Mormonism, but to all

markiinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-76320852963989773632006-04-17T12:28:00.000-07:002006-10-17T12:33:15.517-07:00

Interesting conversation between a striving apologist and a former believer.

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-91467677469262164512006-04-04T23:14:00.000-07:002006-10-22T12:11:18.165-07:00

The following is a letter I wrote to Darron Smith, author of Black And Mormon after he appeared on this podcast on Mormon Stories (mormonstories.com) which is hosted by John Dehlin: Darron, Great job on the recent Podcast with John Dehlin! I have enjoyed most all of his Podcasts including this last one and I just wanted to let you know that I think you did a great job in portraying that

markiinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866571769816684412.post-7885819648404850052005-11-28T12:01:00.000-07:002006-09-19T11:04:30.884-07:00

Sunday's lesson in Elder's Quorum was prepared and delivered by Bro. *****. The lesson was #22 "Agency and Responsibility" from the David O. McKay manual (teachings of the living prophets).***** opened his lesson stating the following:a wise man told him that there are two things one must do in life; repent and change. In order for that to happen we have been given what is referred to as the

markiinoreply@blogger.com0