Almost Awakened – Almost Awakened

One of the big modalities currently in therapeutic practices is “Internal Family Systems” or “IFS” and the idea that the core you can learn to communicate with the parts that protect you and the parts of that have been exiled due to shame and fear.  IFS is showing itself to be a deeply productive way to do inner work and today Bill is joined by LCSW Cory Reese and they set the ground work for what IFS is and how it works.  The plan is to follow-up with another episode that models IFS conversations where one talks to their parts and our hope is that we can prompt you to get curious about this therapeutic modality and to learn more. RESOURCES: Finding an IFS therapist – https://ifs-institute.com/practitioners Cory Reese’s practice in Southern Utah – https://www.brightwaytherapy.com/ The book “No Bad Parts” – https://www.amazon.com/No-Bad-Parts-Restoring-Wholeness/dp/1683646681 IFS Institute – https://ifs-institute.com/about-us/richard-c-schwartz-phdThe Multiplicity of the Mind: Dr. Richard Schwartz On A Systems Approach to Healing the Self – https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-rich-roll-podcast/episode/the-multiplicity-of-the-mind-dr-richard-schwartz-on-a-systems-approach-to-healing-the-self-304374502IFS Podcast Conversation – https://gabbybernstein.com/podcast/ifs-therapy-changed-my-life/

Bill Reel and Gabe go for round 2 of looking at the nature of reality. They look at various models of seeing the world, check in on Modern Science such as Quantum Physics, and share insights from their own learning and experience to investigate if the world we all believe we are seeing is in fact reality.

Bill Reel and Gabe take a long look at the nature of reality.  They look at various models of seeing the world, check in on Modern Science such as Quantum Physics, and share insights from their own learning and experience to investigate if the world we all believe we are seeing is in fact reality. A Little more Mormonism than normal but the conversation is definitely Almost Awakened !

What are the 7 variations of atheism and the 7 new religions on the rise. Based on two books – The Seven Types of Atheism by John Gray and Strange Rites: New Religions in a Godless World by Tara Burton

Hartley and Reel sit down with Lincoln Cannon to discuss Transhumanism and to evaluate if it could, in fact, become a new religion. RESOURCES: https://lincoln.metacannon.net/

today we talk with TikTok sensation Matt Hershberger, whose interests lie in Nihilism, Anti-Natalism, and the Dark Arts. resources:https://betterstrangers.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@betterstrangersbooks

Hundreds of thousands of years, maybe millions, and this is the furthest we have come in creating a healthy world of Humans. War, genocide, starvation, homelessness, Poor or non-existent healthcare, abuse, & trauma. Today we lay out and discuss 10 Changes that would elevate our human race to a healthier state of peace, health, and inner wellbeing.The New Ten Commandments – https://chat.openai.com/  Respect the dignity and worth of every human being. Practice empathy and compassion towards others. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Foster a sense of community and promote social responsibility. Promote equality and fairness for all individuals. Encourage honesty, integrity, and transparency in all dealings. Promote peaceful conflict resolution and nonviolence. Respect the environment and preserve natural resources for future generations. Encourage lifelong learning and personal growth. Promote the common good and work towards the betterment of society as a whole. These principles are not exhaustive, but they could form a foundation for a set of commandments that could guide individuals towards creating a better, kinder world. Ultimately, it is up to society as a whole to determine what values and principles are most important and how best to promote them.

We sit down with Jonathon Streeter, founder of the Blog and Youtube Channel “Thoughts On Things And Stuff” to discuss the manipulative tactics of High Demand Religions and how to spot them immediately. RESOURCES:https://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVTCFh3uDMH0GZlwl1JOoHQhttps://www.facebook.com/ThoughtsOnThingsAndStuff/

In This Week’s episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Hartley and Reel peek behind the curtain of Zen Buddhism to discuss the rampant sexual misconduct happening there. We are so used to hearing about sexual abuse with Catholicism or Mormonism or the Jehovah’s Witnesses but while sort of unexpected, Buddhist circles are also deeply affected by these atrocious acts. We sit down with TikTok’r @LifeAfterZen to discuss this sensitive issue and to learn how we can better be aware of and address the such problems. RESOURCES:https://www.shilohproject.blog/sexual-misconduct-and-buddhism-centering-survivors/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzoMdW8GEVI&list=PLpxqAk60QqWrlqnlVVWr4IvLyv1GtBw5I&index=2https://www.religionandsexualabuseproject.org/https://tricycle.org/magazine/sexual-abuse-in-buddhism/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-shocking-scandal-at-the-heart-of-american-zenhttps://tricycle.org/magazine/sex-sangha-again/https://www.lionsroar.com/openletteronabuse/

Abraham Maslow’s pyramidal “Hierarchy of Needs” model is a highly-influential way of organizing human needs from the most “basic” to the most advanced. Maslow’s argument is that the most basic needs must be met before people can move “up” to the more advanced needs. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological (food and clothing), safety (job security), love and belonging needs (friendship), esteem, and self-actualization. Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to higher needs. What is not as commonly known about Maslow is that toward the end of his life, he began to have some doubts about this model and just prior to his death added a 6th stage at the top of the pyramid called “Self-Transcendence” and today we review the standard hierarchy and finish by discussing at length the missing piece, Self-Transcendence. RESOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow’s_hierarchy_of_needs https://www.wichita.edu/services/mrc/OIR/Pedagogy/Theories/maslow.php https://www.thecareerproject.org/blog/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs/https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4136760 https://www.thoughtco.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4582571 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs

Hartley and Reel sit down TikTok Sensation Jordan The Grey Witch, an Atheist Witch to discuss what it even means in 2023 to be a witch and how being a witch plays out. https://www.tiktok.com/@jordanthegreywitch

Today we sit down with Dr. Lisa Miller author of “The Awakened Brain” and “The Spiritual Child”. The discussion centers around spirituality and awakeness and what the science and research says about both. How can we humans be our best healthiest selves? How can we thrive while also progressing as a species to achieve our potential? Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and a professor in the clinical psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology, and for over a decade has held joint appointments in the department of psychiatry at Columbia University medical school. Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred empirical, peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children.a.i. chat gpt was used to arrive at the following answers Some potential solutions for world peace may include: Building strong international partnerships: Countries can work together to establish partnerships and collaborations aimed at achieving common goals, such as reducing poverty, addressing climate change, and promoting human rights. Promoting diplomacy and conflict resolution: Diplomacy can play a critical role in resolving conflicts and preventing violence. International organizations, such as the United Nations, can facilitate diplomatic negotiations and promote peaceful solutions to disputes. Encouraging tolerance and understanding: Education and awareness-raising programs can help promote tolerance and understanding between different cultures and religions, reducing the risk of conflict. Investing in economic development: Economic development can promote stability and reduce the risk of conflict by creating job opportunities, improving infrastructure, and reducing poverty. Strengthening human rights protections: Protecting human rights can help prevent conflict by reducing inequality, promoting social justice, and ensuring that individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Ultimately, achieving world peace requires a sustained and coordinated effort from individuals, communities, and governments around the world. It is important to recognize that there is no easy solution or quick fix, but rather a long-term commitment to promoting peace and cooperation. Global climate change is a complex and urgent issue that requires a comprehensive approach at all levels of society. Here are some steps that can be taken to address and solve global climate change: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: This can be achieved by transitioning to renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing the use of fossil fuels. Implement carbon pricing: Implementing a carbon pricing system can help incentivize companies and individuals to reduce their carbon emissions. Increase investment in research and development: Developing new technologies and innovations, such as carbon capture and storage, can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Encourage sustainable agriculture and land use practices: Promoting sustainable agriculture practices and reducing deforestation can help mitigate the impact of climate change. Educate and raise awareness: Educating people about the causes and impacts of climate change can help build support for climate action and encourage individuals to take action in their own lives. Encourage international cooperation: Climate change is a global problem that requires a coordinated effort by all countries. Encouraging international cooperation and agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, can help ensure that all countries are working together towards a common goal. Addressing and solving global climate change will require significant effort and action from individuals, businesses, and governments around the world.

Hartley and Reel take on a conversation around the book “The Four Agreements” by Miguel Ruiz. Reel has read the book 4 times but Hartley is tackling the content for the very first time. This will be the backdrop of this incredible conversation. “The Four Agreements” is a self-help book written by Don Miguel Ruiz. It offers a code of conduct based on ancient Toltec wisdom that can help transform one’s life by breaking free from self-limiting beliefs and behaviors.The book’s insights can be summarized in the following four agreements:Be impeccable with your word – Speak with integrity, say only what you mean, and avoid using your word to speak against yourself or others.Don’t take anything personally – What others say or do is a projection of their own reality and has nothing to do with you. Don’t take things personally or make assumptions about others’ motives.Don’t make assumptions – Avoid misunderstandings by asking questions and clarifying things. Don’t make assumptions about others’ thoughts, feelings, or intentions.Always do your best – Give your best effort in everything you do, regardless of the circumstances. Focus on the process, not the outcome.These agreements can help you improve your relationships with others, free yourself from limiting beliefs and self-judgment, and live a more authentic and fulfilling life. One of the deepest insights of the book is the idea that much of our suffering comes from our own thoughts and beliefs, which can be changed through conscious awareness and a commitment to personal growth. The book encourages readers to take responsibility for their own happiness and to create their own reality through their thoughts and actions.

Brian McLaren has proposed 10 reasons to stay inside Religion and 10 reasons to leave Religion. Hartley and Reel dive into this list and share their thoughts and contemplate how much weight these reasons might have and what these reasons bring up within them.

Britt runs solo this week exploring a course for Teens she has created. The conversation will delve into what that course looks like and who it is designed for and will share several facets of Gen Z Spirituality.

Bill will be flying solo today (Britt had step away from this week’s episode due to an unexpected event). and discussing a couple of thoughts he had this week and to discuss the mass exodus out of Christianity.

The 5 Big Personality Traits are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Everyone of us at any given moment fall somewhere on a spectrum within each of these traits. These traits affect our mood, our energy, our behavior, our ability to connect with others, how we disagree, and how we perceive our outer and inner world. Reel and Hartley not only explain each trait and how such affects our perception and behavior but also give a ton of examples and insights into how an awareness of these traits and how they play out in our lives can help us navigate these differences with less disruption and less negative impact on ourselves and others.RESOURCES:https://www.verywellmind.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422https://www.typematchapp.com/application-features/?forkey=Big%205%20Compatibility%20Dating%20-%20TypeMatch%20Apphttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/big-5-personality-traitshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traitshttps://www.simplypsychology.org/big-five-personality.htmlhttps://www.truity.com/test/big-five-personality-testhttps://psychcentral.com/lib/the-big-five-personality-traitshttps://positivepsychology.com/big-five-personality-theory/https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/big-five-personality-traits https://www.bustle.com/p/what-is-self-distancing-this-practice-can-help-your-mental-health-relationships-17298648https://effectiviology.com/self-distancing-rational-decisions/http://selfcontrol.psych.lsa.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1-s2.0-S0065260116300338-main-2.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org//wiki/Distancing_(psychology)https://positivepsychology.com/psychological-distancing/https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7a3mm/why-you-should-talk-to-yourself-in-the-third-person-inner-monologue Aphantasia: The inability to visualize images (medicalnewstoday.com)

Hartley and Reel sit down with “Faith Transition Coach” Kyle Bishop to discuss the process of deconstruction and what lies beyond God and Religion? RESOURCES:https://www.beyondgodandreligion.com/

Hartley and Reel welcome back Jana Spangler as their guest to discuss the Netflix Program “Stutz”. Stutz features Jonah Hill’s conversation with his friend and therapist, Phil Stutz as they try to present Phil’s unique, visual model of therapy To come to the conversation prepared, please take the opportunity to watch Stutz on Netflix. RESOURCES:https://www.netflix.com/title/81387962https://www.thetoolsbook.com/tools/insecurity

An ISM is defined as “a distinctive doctrine, cause, or theory”. And in this week’s episode we explore just that. Everything from Theism to Nihilism to Absurdism and everything in between. What Ism’s do you ascribe to and how useful are the labels known as Isms. Isms –  Is there a God? Theism, Deism, Atheism, Agnosticism Theism – Belief in a supreme being, especially a belief in one supreme entity as a creator of the universe intervening intentionally and having a personal relationship with humans. Three Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity, and IslamBill: – A Need to explain the three questions (Where did we come from, why are we here, where are going) while also dealing with our sentient consciousness Deism – Popular in the 17th and 18th century, deists insisted that religious truth should be subject to the authority of human rather than divine revelation. Rejected the Bible as the word of God, rejected supernaturalism and superstition like miracles and prophesy. For Deists, God was a benevolent, and distant, creator whose revelation was nature and human reason.Bill: – Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient – When we boil God down to this base level of agreement of what God is such easily fits within the atheist view of the universe.   (Analogy – blood cell in the body) John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine Thomas Jefferson: “Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.”  You can be a Christian deist and believe in the moral teachings but not divinity of Jesus.  You can be A-deist which is that you don’t believe in a creator of any kind.  Atheism – Not a belief structure, simply is familiar with the arguments of theism and is not convinced.   Agnosticism – Agnosticism in our culture kind of means I just don’t know, but from a philosophical definition kind of place its the idea that we can’t know. Some people say that agnostics are then by definition atheists because they are not convinced by the theist and just say we can’t know, but that is a semantic argument that is up for debate.  Picture 1 – There is a scale of agnosticism. Agnostic Atheist – doesn’t believe in God but also doesn’t claim to know there is no God. Agostic theist, believes a god exists but doesnt claim to know the belief is true Gnostic atheist – does not believe any god exists and knows that. Gnostic theist believes a god exists and claims to know.  Picture 2 – Scale of theistic probability which is in The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins 1 – Strong theist 100% probability of God. I do not believe, I know. 2 – De facto theist very high probability but short of 100%. “I dont know for certain but I strongly believe in God and live my life on the assumption that he is there.”  3 – Leaning towards theism. Higher than 50%, I am very certain but I am inclined to believe in God.” 4 – Completely impartial. Exactly 50% Gods existence and non existence are e ually probable.  5 – Leaning towards atheism, more than 50% believe there is no God. “I do not know whether God exists but I’m inclined to be skeptical.” 6 – De facto atheist. Very low probability but short of zero. “I don’t know for certain but I think God is very improbably, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there.” 7 – Strong atheist. “I know there is no God.”  Dawkins argues that while there appear to be plenty of individuals that would place themselves as “1” due to the strictness of religious doctrine against doubt, most atheists do not consider themselves “7” because atheism arises from a lack of evidence and evidence can always change a thinking person’s mind. In print, Dawkins self-identified as a “6”, though when interviewed by Bill Maher he suggested “6.9” to be more accurate. “Once you assume a creator and a plan, it makes us objects in a cruel experiment whereby we are created sick and commanded to be well, and over us to supervise this is installed a celestial dictatorship. A kind of divine North Korea.” – Chris Hitchens We will include quiz in the show notes Are You a Believer? Take The Dawkins Test. What Kind of God? – Monotheism, Polytheism, Henotheism, Pantheism, Panentheism, Animism  Monotheism – Belief in one God  Is Christianity tritheistic?  Polytheism – Belief in many Gods  Bill: Allows us to separate good and bad, various skills, different and contradicting but also important values Tribal religions in Africa, some folk religions in China Henotheism – Worship one god but recognize many Gods Most forms of Hinduism for example, are not polytheistic where there’s a bunch of Gods like in Greece, these are all manifestations of the same G

Hartley and Reel sit down with Author David Lawrence to explore Free Will. Do we have Free Will? Are we the one’s in control of our choices? David seeks to offer a counterpoint to Sam Harris’ argument that there is in fact no Free Will and this conversation is one you won’t want to miss!RESOURCES:https://smile.amazon.com/Are-We-Really-Biochemical-Robots/dp/B09WHPYX3Y/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TComkS60UU8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGtkDzELAIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCofmZlC72ghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u45SP7Xv_oUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J_9DKIAn48https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O61I0pNPg8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI3JCq9-bbMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_BTVN68-ZA

Hartley & Reel sit down with renowned children’s author Andrew Newman to discuss his series “Conscious Stories” Each book seeks to help children grasp the practice of meditation, helping them begin to comprehend complex emotions, exercises to regulating one’s feelings, and helping them develop tools on the way to healthy adulthood. RESOURCES: Andrews Author Profile on Amazon (Amazon Smile) – https://smile.amazon.com/stores/Andrew-Newman/author/B00L5OEAI8?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Andrew Newman’s Website – https://consciousstories.com/ Conscious Stories Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/ConsciousBedtimeStories/

Hartley and Reel once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. This is the Third and Final part using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address how to move away from right belief in to encompassing Love and how to hold people as they are while make a big box for other’s humanity to fit in. RESOURCES: https://upliftkids.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@UCtQo1nPDdzxeLFq021DMmTA

Today Bill sits down with his good friend and past guest Jess Foutz to discuss her work in Sound Therapy. Sound therapy is the practice of using beautiful sounding instruments to help you be both present and to go deep within yourself to process things in your past or present life. Jess gives us the example of multiple instruments that she owns and plays and around these instruments we engage in a deep conversation around music and sound. RESOURCES: Grow With Soul Website – https://www.growwithsoul.com/ Shamanic Sound Healings – https://www.growwithsoul.com/shamanicsoundhealings What there is to know about Sound Healing – https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/sound-healing

Hartley and Reel decide to celebrate the Christmas Season by diving into their favorite stories that surround Christ. In spite of not holding a literal view of the Christ figure of the New Testament they still find a way to draw out modern spirituality through the stories attributed to the Christ figure!

Spiritual Atheist is a ground-breaking ‘philosophical memoir’ that draws on the author’s knowledge of cutting-edge neuroscience, physics, and psychology; his insights into wisdom traditions like Taoism, Kabbalah, Advaita Vedanta, Buddhism, Zen, and Sufism; and twenty years experience leading hundreds of major organizations, and tens of thousands of individuals, to transform themselves. Unable to find lasting happiness with religion, reason, pills, therapy, partying, wealth, success, or entrepreneurship, the author discovered the life-changing and heart-expanding benefits of ‘spiritual’ enlightenment. But not satisfied with New Age ideology, he spent years meticulously joining the dots between science and spirituality to form a rigorous philosophy for the ‘spiritual but not religious’ who want to flourish in their inner lives, relationships, and careers.RESOURCES: https://switchonnow.com/https://smile.amazon.com/Nick-Seneca-Jankel/e/B00L115YX0 https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjankel

Britt & Bill once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. This is the second of three parts using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address the following. Doubt as Descent Doubt as Dissent Doubt as Love Doubt as a Human Problem Faith, Beliefs, and Revolutionary LoveRESOURCES:Part 1 – https://youtu.be/3iFBEtHQZqIJon Paulien Stages of Faith – http://www.thebattleofarmageddon.com/stages_of_faith.pdfPerry’s Stage of Cognitive Development – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/12/Perry-Scheme.pdf

A dive into Greek Mythology and archetype for this episode. Chiron was the wisest of all centaurs, who can teach a lot about our wounds. It is in our wounds that we are healed.

Hartley and Reel sit down with Theologian and Philosopher Thomas Jay Oord to discuss Theology. Namely how Religion helps us connect with our inner and outer world. How humans are social creature who crave connection and whose minds seeks meaning constantly. Oord, Hartley, and Reel facilitate a conversation where we look into the Idea of GOD and if can can create a framing for God that allows us to dismiss the unhealthy facets of belief and religion. And if we take out all the unhealthy, if there is anything left of GOD worthy of continued belief. Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and multidisciplinary scholar who directs a doctoral program at Northwind Theological Seminary and the Center for Open and Relational Theology. He formerly taught for sixteen years as a tenured professor at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho and before that a philosophy professor at Eastern Nazarene College. Oord is the author or editor of more than thirty books and hundreds of articles. He is known for his contributions to research on love, open theism, process theism, open and relational theology, postmodernism, the relationship between religion and science, Wesleyan, holiness, Nazarene theology. Oord is consistently ranked among the most influential academic theologians of our time. (Wikipedia)

Britt & Bill once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. Using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address the following.* Doubt as Loss – How did you experience doubt as a loss?* Doubt as Loneliness – How did doubt bring loneliness?* Doubt as Crisis  -How did doubt bring crisis?* Doubt as Doorway – What did doubt open up for you?* Doubt as Growth – What growth did you experience because of doubt? Resources: Introduction to Stages of Faith – https://christoffaith.org/2018/04/7386/ Jon Paulien Stags of Faith – http://www.thebattleofarmageddon.com/stages_of_faith.pdf Ages & Stages: Robert Keeley – https://faithformationlearningexchange.net/uploads/5/2/4/6/5246709/faith_development__faith_formation_-_keeley.pdf Ken Wilber: Spiral Dynamics – https://mormondiscussions.org/discussion/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/12/IntegralMapBest.jpg Perry’s Scheme of Cognitive Development – https://mormondiscussions.org/discussion/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/12/Perry-Scheme.pdf Fowler’s Stages of Faith – https://psychologycharts.com/james-fowler-stages-of-faith.html

On this weeks episode Bill and Britt discuss How to have “Difficult Conversations”. When a Hard Disagreement occurs, often our Egos get in the way of having hard conversations where both sides feel heard and understood. Often even small conversations with nothing at stake can have us misunderstanding each other. So today Bill & Britt share their insights into how to navigate difficult conversations. Resources For Hard Conversations:https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/difficult-conversations/https://au.reachout.com/articles/6-steps-to-help-you-tackle-difficult-conversationshttps://www.judyringer.com/resources/articles/we-have-to-talk-a-stepbystep-checklist-for-difficult-conversations.phphttps://hbr.org/2017/05/how-to-have-difficult-conversations-when-you-dont-like-conflicthttps://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-have-difficult-conversations

Often when we hear “Brainwashing” or “Mind Control” it feels weird or a little science fiction to us. In reality, mind control refers to a specific set of methods and everyday normal appearing techniques that influence how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Our minds can easily be influenced… simply notice the billions spent in advertising. So in today’s episode Britt & Bill discuss Steven Hassan’s work with the B.I.T.E. Model which is the manipulation of (B)ehavior, (I)nformation, (T)hought,and (E)motion in order to maintain control over a person or group of people.

Bill runs solo today and decides to talk about Privilege. How privilege permits a person or group of people to redistribute negatively felt experiences or trauma and allowing others or imposing others take that additional trauma or negative experience on. He then talks about who were the system makers. Why did we choose them to be our voice? To make our systems? To create our rules? Bill points out that even when someone comes along such as Jesus to help us deconstruct the system and hold system leaders accountable, notice how the message is twisted and sabotaged so that the privileged remain at the top and now manage the message of the the one who came to disrupt the system. Bill wraps up the episode inviting us to see through all that clutter and to take our lives back by leaning into awareness, being present, and showing up in our life with focus and intention that allows you to have greater capacity to be a good actor in the world around you.

Britt and Bill explore the concept of “Dangerous Ideas”. Ideas that have the potential to turn our world upside down or to cause disruption to current systems, the outside world, or chaos to the inner mind.QUESTIONS DISCUSSED Sending signals into space to contact extraterrestrial life Is not having a concept of Free Will dangerousBelieving jesus will return and set everything straightLove your enemy Having a worldwide basic living income Capitalism for prisons Humans came into the world rather than from it  – not fleshed out enough in my mind Evolution controls us Transhumanism – allowing people to live longer may in fact slowdown progress and the implementation of new ideas If we can create consciousness should we Louis CK Pedophile doll  Should we bring children into the world, should secular people have more children Mouse embryos with no sperm or eggs – possibilities for LGBT children Teach history of religion in schools Allow religions to exist for the masses Differences between racesTransgender folks allowed in gendered sports?Social DarwinismShould men and women orgasm equally?

This Week Britt & Bill take a look as various data including the Pew Research Data and try to extrapolate some of the shifts away and beyond from past generations, that Generation Z is making. How are they different from their parents and Grandparents and how healthy or unhealthy might these shifts be. And where do they fall in their trust and loyalty to religious systems and systems generally.SLIDE SHOW SLIDE 1 Who is Gen Z  Generation X is anyone born from 1965 to 1980. Baby boomers are anyone born from 1946 to 1964.Millennials are anyone born from 1981 to 1996.Generation Z is anyone born from 1997 to 2012.         Born 1997-2012 SLIDE 2          Sexually Fluid          Racially Diverse          25% of the population          Biblically Illiterate          Dreams to:          Become Financially independent          Follow their dreams          Enjoy life and travel          Learn who they are     Internet 57% use their phones more than four hours a day, with phones being on their person close to 100% of the day. Their worldview, overall, is highly inclusive and individualistic based on the time that they spend hearing the stories and experiencing the lives of thousands of others online. While this can turn into a kind of moral relativism, it is based on the idea that other people’s experiences are valid. Their perspective includes the entire world all the time in the palms of their hands. “As the most racially, religiously, and sexually diverse generation in American history, Gen Z expects people to have different beliefs and experiences, and they seem to have a greater appreciation for social inclusiveness.” Family is not important to sense of self (Safer to Individuate) Another defining characteristic is that although they admire their relationships with their parents with more than half saying that they parents are their primary role model, “most don’t feel family relationships are central to their sense of self – a major departure from other generations.” Wide variety of friends (Safer to be Accepting and Inclusive) Almost half of them are friends with those who are vastly different from them, as opposed to their grandparents who rarely had to rub elbows with people who had life experiences that would cause cognitive dissonance or pushback to their own beliefs. Their access to the variety of human experience is wider than any previous generation can fathom, making them less dependent on their family or tribe for their way of life. High Anxiety Underneath this expansive worldview lies insecurities as well. There is pressure to find themselves as people and become financially successful. Gen Z has come of age in a post-9/11 nation reeling from the 2008 recession, and many teens are anxious about their future. Their goals revolve around professional success and financial security, and a majority says their ultimate aim is “to be happy” – which a plurality defines as financial success. It is very important for this generation to carve out their unique, financially secure, and authentic space in a very confusing and shifting world. Social media allows them to create networked communities where they actively take part in self-expression and identity formation. However, there is a cost. The pressure of matching their real life to what others post online can exacerbate loneliness, depression, fear of missing out, anxiety, and especially body image issues for young women. Insecure, young brains seeking identity and meaning in a secular, materialistic, perfect looking online world is going to be the challenge they have to overcome. According to psychology professor Jean Twenge, “this generation is on the verge of the greatest mental health crisis in decades.”Beneath the online veneer of happiness lies deep loneliness, anxiety, and stress.          How are Gen Z different than other generations? Gen Z and Religion Gen Z is Leaving Organized Religion SLIDE 3 A variety of studies report that 50 to 70 percent of young Christians walk away from the church by the time they are in their college years 79% of young people say that when they stop believing, it was during their teen years SLIDE 4          4% of Gen Z have a Biblical Worldview (They sense the absurdity of that view and don’t give it the time of day or are not raised with it imposed on them) James White, in his groundbreaking book Meet Generation Z, notes the most defining mark of members of Generation Z, in terms of their spiritual lives, is their spiritual

The Tree of Contemplative Practices illustrates some of the many contemplative practices used in education and secular organizations. In this Episode Britt & Bill walk us through this graphic discussing its meaning and usefulness. On the Tree of Contemplative Practices, the roots symbolize the two intentions that are the foundation of all contemplative practices: cultivating awareness and developing a stronger connection to God, the Divine, or inner wisdom. The roots of the tree encompass and transcend differences in the religious traditions from which many of the practices originated, and allow room for the inclusion of new practices that are being created in secular contexts. The branches represent the different groupings of practices. For example, Stillness Practices focus on quieting the mind and body in order to develop calmness and focus. Generative Practices come in many different forms (i.e. prayers, visualizations, chanting) but share the common intent of generating thoughts and feelings of devotion and compassion, rather than calming and quieting the mind. Please note that these classifications are not definitive. For example, mantra repetition could be considered a Stillness Practice rather than a Generative one. RESOURCES:Britt Hartley also offers various courses to assist you in spiritual development which are available for purchase here – https://www.nononsensespirituality.com/projects-8 Contemplation Tree – https://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/treeOn Being’s Contemplative Tree – https://onbeing.org/blog/the-tree-of-contemplative-practices/Another discussion on the tree – https://maiaduerr.com/tree-of-contemplative-practices/

Bill and Britt Discuss the four Attachment styles. What are the Attachment Styles. What leads to someone displaying said style. What is healthy and unhealthy about each. And what can be done if anything to move towards a secure attachment style. RESOURCES:https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/four-attachment-styles/#:~:text=There%20are%20four%20adult%20attachment,Secure Anxious Attachment: Causes & Symptoms Avoidant Attachment Style: Causes & Symptoms Disorganized Attachment: Causes & Symptoms https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/secure-attachment/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-with-the-basics-attachment-theory/id1488275879?i=1000548791151&fbclid=IwAR3k7n25dN_ij1X41qlByqH7gU_2HsYlOhtv_wlK5qLkGAsik2CAQcIABCs

Religious Humanism seeks to heal the world through religion done better. It uses the cultural technology of religion to foster individual and collective thriving, and aims this uniquely motivating force at the urgent problems that confront us today. We sit down with Humanist Chaplain Jared Anderson to discuss Religious Humanism is and how its approach plays out in the world. RESOURCES: Jared’s 4 Meditation Points as a mystic – Integrity, Expedience, Life, Elegance 6 words to live by: Compassionate, Curious, Acceptance, Clear, Gentle, FirmJared’s Youtube Channel “The Life Devoted” – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ0MypZizDzeWcPCDRWXfvw Jared’s website: http://religioushumanism.org/ Engaging Gospel Doctrine Podcast: https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

Britt & Bill tackle Spiritual Bypassing on todays episode. Spiritual bypassing describes a tendency to use spiritual explanations to avoid complex psychological issues. Rather than working through hard emotions or confronting unresolved issues, people would simply dismiss them with spiritual explanations. RESOURCES: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-spiritual-bypassing-5081640#:~:text=Spiritual%20bypassing%20is%20a%20way,Avoiding%20feelings%20of%20anger https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201901/what-is-spiritual-bypassing

We pick up from last week’s episode and continue the conversation here in Part 2. Where does morality come from and how best might we humans nudge to a more effective way to create and perpetuate a healthier morality. RESOURCES:Sam Harris – TED Talk “Science can answer moral questions” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHwwSam Harris — The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU0FeV3wj44How Morality Has the Objectivity that Matters—Without God Ronald A. Lindsay – https://secularhumanism.org/2014/07/cont-how-morality-has-the-objectivity-that-matterswithout-god/The Moral Argument – Good Without God – youtube.com/watch?v=OxiAikEk2vU

In this Episode Britt and Bill tackle a question that often comes up. If you leave religion how will you know right from wrong and how will you maintain a healthy morality rather than a laissez-faire attitude where anything goes?RESOURCES:Sam Harris – TED Talk “Science can answer moral questions” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHww Sam Harris — The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU0FeV3wj44 How Morality Has the Objectivity that Matters—Without God Ronald A. Lindsay – https://secularhumanism.org/2014/07/cont-how-morality-has-the-objectivity-that-matterswithout-god/ The Moral Argument – Good Without God – youtube.com/watch?v=OxiAikEk2vU

We sit down with Mike Bahr who deconstructed his religious system later in life. We discuss what all is involved in deconstruction. The letting go of beliefs, the re-evaluating the existence of God, and the loss of community. But we also talk about how for most this feels like growth and involves feeling happier and more content with life.

Britt and Bill pick up off last week’s conversation where they discussed the benefits of a religious narrative and religious community when one is faced with tragedy and trauma and attempt in this conversation to help us understand how we got there. How did God come to be? Which Gods had more holding power? What functions did these adaptations have for helping groups of humans collaborate and perpetuate?RESOURCES: Hidden Brain Podcast – Creating God – https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/628792048/creating-godOldest Cave Drawings – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cueva_de_las_ManosThe Sorcerer Cave Drawing – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sorcerer_(cave_art)God: A Human History – Reza Aslan https://www.amazon.com/God-Human-History-Random-House/dp/0525624333Sapiens Yuval Hariri https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095Civilized to Death – Christopher Ryan – https://www.amazon.com/Civilized-Death-What-Lost-Modernity/dp/1451659105

Britt comes back to update us on her life and to expound with Bill on the idea of how Religion helps us to deal with trauma. And How one receives such support outside a religious paradigm. They hope to help you see value in the mechanisms religions bring to the table and to help us all figure out how to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Bad things are going to happen to each of us and if we are going to create a better world we need to consider how these systems were built in order to help humans survive and to have needs met.

Britt shares an update on her family situation and thoughts about spirituality in trauma after religion.To help Britt, her daughter and their family please consider the following options1.) You can donate to the Almost Awakened Podcast and where Britt receives a significant majority of the funds collected. https://almostawakened.org/donate-to-almost-awakened-podcast/ (Tax Deductable) 2.) You can send money directly to Britt through her Venmo @brittsterhartley (NOT Tax Deductable) 3.) You help in other ways such as providing meals as they navigate the early stages of this event that has turned their world upside down https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0444a4aa22a20-support

Britt and Bill take a look at spiritual practices on the edges of society. Tarot, Necromancy, Divination, Crystals, Clairvoyance, Reiki, and many others. What is real and what isn’t and how can we know. And if some or even all of these practices contain no real supernatural processes, can they still be useful?

Bill & Britt dive into some wisdom around friendship and what it takes to be in relationship with others. We discuss little intricacies that we have learned over the years that will contribute to healthy relationships and community

Bill sits down with Carol Hollowell, founder and Executive Director of SwitchPoint. Switchpoint is a non-profit whose goal is to tackle homelessness and poverty throughout the state of Utah. They are doing this in dynamic ways that hitting the issue head on. Today we sit down and talk about the problem of homelessness in the state of Utah and cover what Switchpoint is doing to make a difference. RESOURCES: Switchpoint WebsiteHomelessness in UtahFacets of Switchpoint ShelterLow income housingSoup KitchenThrift StoreBoutiquePet daycareRecovery CenterDomestic Violence ShelterChildcare during non traditional hoursCommunity Supported Agriculture/GardenMuffin TopsWays You Can Helphttps://switchpointcrc.org/donations/monthlygiving/https://switchpointcrc.org/in-kind-needs/https://switchpointcrc.org/volunteer-2/https://switchpointcrc.org/shop-amazon-smile/https://switchpointcrc.org/planned-giving/

Today Bill flies solo and discusses the mechanisms and process by which two parties in a shared social space relieve each other of the pain or trauma and the shame or guilt when one party disrupts another. Once we grasp how this process works and what is going on underneath, we are much more likely to show up in a way that allows for real accountability, safe space for processing, and an easier time releasing the discomfort or trauma RESOURCES:https://www.nature.com/articles/srep10639https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2018.00009/fullhttps://www.ijcai.org/Proceedings/13/Papers/036.pdfhttps://bioneers.org/the-power-of-apology-eve-ensler-ze0z1912/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/201403/the-history-im-sorry

Bill and Britt sit down with Kimber Dutton, host of the podcast “Just Be Your Bad Self” to explore a conversation around being the bad ass person you are without the limitations the world places on you and even the limitations you place on your self. The topics we hope to center the conversation on are – Authenticity – Letting Go Of Perfection – Moving On From Patriarchy – Self Love and AcceptanceResources:https://www.justbeyourbadself.com/