In this episode, we sit down with Jared Smith –an ex-Christian, former Wheaton College student, and atheist YouTuber –to explore what happens when someone deeply rooted in evangelical Christianity takes a serious look at Mormonism.
Jared shares his journey from devoted believer to skeptic, including his time at Wheaton College (often called the “Harvard of Christian institutions”), where he studied everything from apologetics to exorcism –and even Christian heavy metal.
We dive into his firsthand experiences auditing religions, attending Mormon services, reading the Book of Mormon, and engaging with LDS culture from an outsider’s perspective.
Along the way, we explore what it’s like to WANT your religion to be true –and still lose it, the role of Jesus in Mormonism vs. traditional Christianity, those who take religion most seriously are the ones who seem to be leaving, the emotional and intellectual toll of deconstruction, what he thought when he read the Book of Mormon, and the intersection of belief, identity, and online content creation.
We also discuss broader topics like Jehovah’s Witnesses and blood doctrine, charismatic Christianity (including exorcism and speaking in tongues), and the culture of apologetics across faith traditions.
Jared offers a thoughtful, non-combative perspective as someone more interested in understanding belief than attacking it –making this conversation a nuanced look at faith, doubt and everything in between.
Check out Jared’s YouTube channel “Heliocentric”: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS5YtyTzVJo_N-vjub8te3g
Videos to watch in preparation for our next episode with Jared Smith:
“This Mormon church sucked” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_iAA_Zp-GQ
His episode with Nemo the Mormon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQSo0aQQkbg
Jacob Hansen’s response to Jared – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOFghorZj9s
Thumbnail Credits: Main image of Jared courtesy of Jared Smith; Background image of Joseph Smith by Unknown painter, from Community of Christ Archives (public domain)
