Fasting! In all its forms and purposes. We take a wander through world religions to see how fasting plays a part in almost all of them. Mormon fasting is far less peculiar than we thought. Then a few episodes of South Park that provide wonderful commentary on fasting, the economy, and witch hunts. We round out with happy news about land being returned to Indigenous people and burn through listener mail that’s been piling up.
Show notes:
Fasting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting
Fasting: https://www.britannica.com/topic/fasting
Religious Fasting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_fasting
Fasting in Islam: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting_in_Islam
Ramadan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
Native Teachings are about a way of life: https://mushkiki.com/programs-services/fasting/
Fasting in Jainism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting_in_Jainism
With Lent almost over, here’s why religions fast: https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/07/world/religious-fasting-traditions-finding-jesus/index.html
Fasting in African Spirituality: https://asanee44.com/fasting-in-african-spirituality/
Sam Young: https://protecteverychild.com/
Hunger strikes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_strike
Nonviolent resistance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_resistance
Civil disobedience: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience
Violet Bland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_Bland
Emmeline Pankhurst: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmeline_Pankhurst
The Pankhurst Sisters: How suffragettes changed the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax2wGWNco0k
Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act 1913: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoners_(Temporary_Discharge_for_Ill-Health)_Act_1913
Intermittent Fasting: Fad or valid weight-loss solution: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/intermittent-fasting-fad-or-solution
The Effects of Fasting on Drug Metabolism
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17425255.2020.1706728#d1e326
MOGP:
South Park
Spontaneous Combustion S3E2
Margaritaville S13E3
Sons of Witches S21E6
Happy News:
https://apnews.com/article/potawatomi-illinois-treaty-reservation-805f5030d9abbac93ce3da3cec18a636
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on ”What’s with Mormon Underwear?” https://youtu.be/1s2h71-UfP8
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
We’re finishing The God Who Weeps by Terryl Givens and Fiona Givens. This is the first book in a trilogy of Mormon theology and we want to leave room in the year to get through it all. What does today hold for us? We start with a long discussion on the pre-mortal existence, transitioning into existence, then ascending to perfection thanks to Mormon beliefs. We didn’t realize until pretty late in the project that the 5 chapters of the book are structured around the different stages of the Mormon Plan of Salvation (PoS), but it become clear pretty early on in our discussion. All told, the book is a marker of modern orthodox Mormon belief: pray, pay, and obey. They even have an ultra-conservative take on abortion that makes the official stance of the church seem like bleeding-heart liberals in comparison. Then we talk about The Meaning of Life, a Monty Python movie from 1983 that has a much more healthy way of looking at the random cosmic soup that led to human existence. We wrap with some happy news about the success of a slightly higher tax in Massachusetts that raised a bunch of money for all the things for which taxes are used. We round out by going through some delightful listener mail from the April Fools episode!
MOGP:
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life
Happy News:
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
April 2025 General Conference Sunday Afternoon session. Patrons of the show get the appendix of Saturday Evening session at the end of the record.
Ulisses Soares – Reverence; Moses and the burning bush; you-damn-kids talk; pray for guidance from the Holy Ghost for AI, don’t weaken your connection to God with AI!!!
Michael Strong Q70 – Killed a kid on a bike during his mission, was really sad that he had to spend the night in jail until a ‘compassionate’ fellow missionary stayed with him
Scott Whiting Q70 – Hazed as a deacon and sat on a cactus; Garden of Eden, “blessed Eve”, crying repentance
Christopher Kim Q70 – JS translated an ancient record, includes God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas; Laman and Lemuel were sooooo evil and dumb; moral agency, we can choose to harden or soften our hearts, submission vs respect
Patrick Kearon – Gifts, “you really are that you might have joy,” repent ye, repent ye
Benjamin M Z Tai Q70 – Cancellation of a sealing after divorce, pray daily, “Ask sincerely what you can do to help an individual feel god”
Rusty Nailz – The world is coming to an end; sooo many new temples that won’t be built for another 3 decades
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on what Mormons can teach us about organizing a cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
April 2025 General Conference Sunday Morning session.
David A Bednar – Joseph Smith totally restored the one true church; and other sundry sacrament meeting talking points
Steven Shumway Q70 – Do your callings, no matter how demanding they may be
Tamara Runia FC YW GP – Cry for repentance; Jesus is excited every time he sees us on our knees
Gerald Causse PB – Dude who controls the church’s wealth is moved by seeing people suffering in poverty
Gerrit Gong – Jesus Wept; Easter, Palm Sunday, holy week; mortal and moral agency and alignment with Bednar
John McCune Q70 – Tithing, temple attendance, the world is ending, Rusty is a terrible dad who abandoned his daughter on her death bed
Dallin Oaks – The most flacid GC talk he’s given in years; Plan of Salvation, sacrament meeting talk, returning to the Celestial Kingdom, 10 virgins, trusting in the lord will keep you safe
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on what Mormons can teach us about organizing a cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10