Mormonism LIVE: 051: Denver Snuffer

Let me first place my intellectual flag by stating that I am an atheist and apply Carl Sagan’s dictum about “extraordinary claims”. That stated, I must say that in addition to John Dehlin, you two have been my hard working, go to commentators and investigators for all things Mormon. I have just finished the two hour interview with Denver Snuffer and consider it to be the most frustratingly weak, conciliatory lost opportunities that you have pulled off; and this from two guys who have espoused trustworthy, hard hitting truth seeking. The closest either of you came to anything resembling serious critique was when Bill pardoned himself from asking about Snuffer’s unsubstantiated vision claims, all the while RFM stumbled over his “excuse me” and “ pardon me” for interrupting. Snuffer was allowed for two hours, a contradictory, authoritarian, quasi intellectual filibuster in trying to steer clear and obfuscate from the hard stuff. Imagine a person living today, who claims to have seen (not in a vision or a dream) and visited with the creator of the universe, and nary a question, a challenge or a“you don’t say” was stated. As a simple man, I could have come up with such pedestrian questions as, “oh, and what was he wearing, and who really shot JFK”. Of course The Venerable Man, Lord and Master of the Universe would have seen through my sarcasm and we could get straight to the really tough questions. Instead you guys doubled up on Snuffer by asking about the status of gay people in his expansive world view. His answer, “they should know their place, and leave me alone”. Snuffer took ample time in regaling us with his humble knowledge about the necessary mysteries of the divine and that if we wanted to be a humble servant like him, ( and see Jesus, like him) we could get our own personal revelation by reading his vast catalogue of books and sermons. After all, he had a room full of High Priests and Stake presidency brought to tears with his white board sermonizing (watch a video of Keith Raniere and just substitute Kieth’s name with Denver’s). He reminds me of Tony Robbins, the “I’m not your Guru” guru, who standing on the flashing neon stage to the thumping music and loud cheers of his paying, devoted followers, tells them that he is just a regular guy, who has tapped into the hidden spirit of success (secular gnosis) and that said followers can be just like him if they but keep showing up to his pep rallies and buying his self help books. I don’t know what it took to get Snuffer on your program, or if you agreed beforehand not to broach certain taboo topics like, “come on, did you really see Jesus?” As if the pain in my head wasn’t enough and I thought that there would surely be audience questions that would cut through the smoke screen, it seemed as if any difficult questions were censored out. If and when anyone makes such a fantastic and improbable claim, yet refuses any serious critique or inquiries, my bullshit radar goes on high alert. I think Denver Snuffer is an intelligent, persuasive, sincere, deluded, charlatan – who until he can sit down with a Sam Harris equivalent, will remain so to me. But you two dropped the ball.

There now, I got that off my chest and look forward to your next podcast. And by the way, I still think you guys are great.