"Authentic Independence" - Larry Camp

Larry is an author ("Nobody Knows, They Just Want You to Think They Do"), podcaster ("Nobody Knows Your Story") and a former member of the Mormon church. He describes himself as an "average white guy, with a not so average life." He came to the discussion with "authentic independence" as the value that mattered most to him. We spent a bit of time up front exploring what that meant and where it came from, but it became clear very quickly that his upbringing in the Mormon church played a large role in it. So we spent a lot of time understanding the dynamics of being in what he called a "high demand" religion, the aspects of the human psyche that draw some people to it, and the question of if religion can be functional even if you don't believe it is true. This was something that Larry had tested in a very horrific way when he lost his son a few years ago and had to grapple with the idea that he no longer believed he would be reunited with him in the after life. I thought this conversation was really intellectually stimulating and we discussed a lot about religion and some of the logical flaws in "faith." But what I really appreciated and valued in this conversation is that we also challenged ourselves. We didn't allow ourselves to slip into the groove of believing that we "knew better" or were just smarter than those who have faith. Instead we tried to really understand if we were missing something, what someone who disagreed might say (and genuinely entertained the possibility they might be right), and questioned if religion is necessary for society to function.  Whether you have faith, are a true non believer, or are someone who is still grappling with the question, I think this is a really cool discussion to check out. We obviously don't have the answers, but if nothing else I hope it raises some good questions and ways of thinking about the topic. Thanks as always for listening.