S2, E2 – Religion and its Relationship to Enlightenment
If you’re not philosophically entertained, our entertainment is only philosophical.
Season 2, Episode 2: Religion and its Relationship to Enlightenment
In this episode, we will discuss:
Introduction
- Podcast Title: Philosophical Entertainment
- Host: Matthew Mansfield
- Episode Topic: Religion and its Relationship to Enlightenment
Main Content
- Personal Anecdote: Host’s comment on never meeting a decent police officer.
- Explanation of “decent”: fairly good, adequate, or satisfactory, and devoid of corruption.
- Experience in stand-up comedy taught host that jokes should come from personal experience and identity.
- Police Officers:
- Host believes decency is compromised by the nature of police work.
- Police officers are trained and permitted by law (case law) to use deception during interrogations.
- Comparison to a man at a party who is only nice to steal a watch, highlighting lack of transparency and honesty.
- Decency and Virtue:
- Host argues that performing a non-virtuous act to achieve a virtuous goal undermines true virtue.
- Mention of a Chinese proverb about the right means being used by the wrong man.
- Racism in Police Culture:
- Police may claim to hate everyone equally to deflect accusations of racism.
- Discussion on the self-definition of police as “good guys” and the analogy of shoving cake down someone’s throat.
- Mormons and Decency:
- Host has never met a decent Mormon.
- Criticism of Mormon beliefs and practices, such as tithing and attempts to convert others.
- Comparison to a scenario where someone is nice to steal your wallet.
Religion and Enlightenment
- Jesus’ Teachings:
- Matthew 15:8 about lips honoring but hearts being far from honesty.
- Enlightenment as spiritual awareness and alignment of intent with behavior.
- Mahayana Buddhism:
- Enlightened beings escape the cycle of rebirth (Samsara).
- Importance of breaking out of self-referencing cycles to achieve enlightenment.
- Paradoxes and Understanding Life:
- Breaking attachment to understand life from an external perspective.
- Analogy of police officer pretending to resign and rehire without truly leaving the system.
- Masks and Trauma:
- Children are honest and decent because they don’t wear masks.
- Trauma causes changes in personas and creates masks.
- Personal story of host’s traumatic experience with his son’s hypoglycemic seizure.
Conclusion
- Summary:
- Decency is tied to honesty, transparency, and true intent.
- Both religious and everyday behaviors can lack decency if intent and actions don’t align.
- Enlightenment involves breaking out of self-referential cycles and understanding life from an external perspective.
Ways to listen
Our server
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:37 — 46.5MB)
Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | iHeartRadio | RSS | More
On Spotify
On Apple Podcast
Episode Cast & Crew
Contribute to the Show
Share this content: