Podcast Summary
A guest on The Confessional Podcast shares his background in teaching apologetics and explores philosophical questions about truth and the existence of God.: A guest on The Confessional Podcast, David, emphasizes the importance of being able to defend beliefs and explores philosophical questions about truth and God with his partner Erin Marshall. Listeners can connect with them through their podcast, Jew and Gentile Show.
Tony Merkel, the host of The Confessional Podcast, invites listeners to share their paranormal experiences and encourages open-minded discussions on various unexplained phenomena. David, a guest on the show, shares his background in teaching apologetics at UNCW with his partner Erin Marshall. They defend Christianity and explore philosophical questions about truth and the existence of God. David, a Jew who believes in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, emphasizes the importance of being able to give a defense for one's beliefs. Listeners can contact David through his podcast, Jew and Gentile Show, on Facebook, or by email. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, from Bigfoot and UFOs to philosophical arguments for the existence of God.
Childhood conflict with religion and violence: Speaker's childhood was marked by internal conflict between religious teachings and violent home environment, fueling doubts about God's existence and leading to a lifelong spiritual journey.
The speaker's childhood was marked by a deep internal conflict between his father's religious teachings and the violent home environment. This conflict led the speaker to question the existence of God and wonder why, if God was supposed to bring peace, his life was filled with turmoil. When he was 10 years old, he had a strange encounter with a man who told him not to talk to God anymore. The experience left a lasting impact on the speaker, fueling his doubts about religion and contributing to a lifelong spiritual journey. Despite the challenges of his upbringing, the speaker's relationship with his brother remained strong, providing a source of comfort and companionship during difficult times. The encounter with the mysterious man added another layer of complexity to the speaker's spiritual journey, leaving him with unanswered questions and a deep sense of uncertainty about the nature of God and the world around him.
Two terrifying encounters with the supernatural during childhood: Childhood experiences shaped by beliefs in the supernatural led to questioning truth, discovering it through evidence and reason.
During his childhood, the speaker experienced two terrifying encounters which he believed were from the demonic realm. The first encounter involved a man trying to enter his room, and the second encounter was hearing the sound of a horse and seeing a figure in a blue suit and top hat. In response to these experiences, the speaker's mother advised him to use the name of Jesus to ward off any evil presence. The speaker's belief in the supernatural was challenged during his adolescence, leading him to question the consistency of what people were telling him was true. He came to understand that truth is independent of personal beliefs and that it must be discovered through evidence and reason. The speaker's experiences and subsequent questioning of truth shaped his worldview and spiritual beliefs.
Childhood encounters with demonic entities tried to discourage faith: Satan may target young people with spiritual potential, using negative experiences to deter them from their faith and fulfilling their purpose
The speaker's experiences as a child involved encounters with what they believed to be demonic entities, which tried to discourage their faith in God and belief in Jesus. The speaker believes that these experiences were part of Satan's plan to lead people away from God and prevent them from fulfilling their potential. The speaker also suggests that Satan may identify certain traits in young people that he perceives as a threat to his influence and attempts to deter them from following a spiritual path. The speaker's experiences have shaped their perspective and given them a desire to help others who have had similar experiences. The speaker also notes that, according to the Bible, God can use even negative experiences for good.
God uses adversity to keep His people close: God allows trials to bring us closer to Him, whether through Satan's influence or other means, and our faithfulness during these times demonstrates our resilience.
God allows adversity into people's lives, whether through the influence of Satan or other means, to keep them humble and focused on Him. This concept is illustrated in the biblical stories of Job and Paul. Satan, or the adversary, disrupts Job's life through demonic influence, but ultimately God uses these trials to bring Job closer to Him. Similarly, Paul's thorn in the flesh was sent by God to keep him humble. In a broader sense, God uses the Jewish people as part of His plan to bring salvation to the world, making them a target for Satan's attacks. Overall, adversity serves a purpose in God's plan, and individuals who remain steadfast in their faith despite these challenges demonstrate their strength and resilience.
The Hatman: A Shadow Figure Entity: Reports of a shadow figure entity, the Hatman, describe it as wearing Victorian clothing and having a peaceful or terrifying presence. Some believe it could be demonic and encourage protection and prayer for children. Unexplained experiences may involve entities beyond the physical world.
There are numerous reports of a shadow figure entity, commonly referred to as the Hatman, described as wearing Victorian clothing or a long trench coat with a top hat or fedora. This entity is said to have a peaceful or terrifying presence, depending on the individual's experience. The speaker shared a personal experience with his wife, who had seen the Hatman as a child, leading them to discuss the commonality of such experiences. The speaker believes that these entities could be demonic and emphasizes the importance of protection and prayer for children. He also suggests that there are entities beyond the physical world and encourages questioning the unexplained experiences of people around the world.
Supernatural forces and their influence on individuals: Believing in supernatural forces as harmful and invoking Jesus' name for protection, acknowledging human spirituality, and questioning materialistic worldviews can provide answers and protection.
According to the speaker, there are supernatural forces at play in the world, which can be harmful and may influence individuals. These forces are often labeled as demonic. The speaker believes that humans are spiritual beings, with two-thirds of our being spiritual and one-third physical. The supernatural realm is real and dangerous, but when it affects individuals, answers are needed. The speaker shares that invoking the name of Jesus, the Messiah, has the power to ward off evil. The speaker also believes that there has been a conscious effort to move society away from acknowledging the spiritual nature of humans and towards a materialistic or naturalistic worldview. This worldview, as propagated by mainstream science and education, denies the existence of the supernatural and reduces humans to mere molecules in motion. This philosophical stance, the speaker argues, leads to numerous problems, as it denies the existence of reason, consciousness, and the ability to make decisions or come to conclusions.
Scientific exploration vs deeply held beliefs about reality: Some scientists at CERN report experiencing phenomena challenging the materialistic Darwinian evolution worldview, potentially disrupting their understanding of reality
According to the predominant materialistic Darwinian evolution worldview, there is no room for morality or the supernatural realm. This perspective, held by many in the scientific community, asserts that everything is just molecules in motion, from the simplest organisms to humans. However, some scientists at places like CERN, a particle accelerator, have reported experiencing phenomena that challenge this worldview, such as supposedly opening portals to other dimensions and encountering the supernatural. These experiences have the potential to significantly disrupt their understanding of reality, as they go against the scientific definition of what is possible. This highlights the potential tension between scientific exploration and deeply held beliefs about the nature of reality.
Impact of personal experiences on others: Personal experiences, whether unexplained or scientific, can significantly impact those around us and require open-minded exploration
Our experiences, no matter how unusual or unexplained they may be, can have varying impacts on those around us. The speaker shared an experience from his childhood where he claimed to have seen a UFO, but his mother did not follow up or engage in further discussion. This contrasts with the speaker's intention to be supportive and inquisitive if his own children had similar experiences. The conversation also touched on the scientific discovery of the Higgs boson and the potential loss of matter at the Large Hadron Collider, which challenges the fundamental law of conservation of matter. These discoveries, like personal experiences, can challenge our understanding of the world and require further exploration.
Exploring unexplained phenomena can be chilling and potentially dangerous: Delving into the unknown may provoke negative experiences and unwanted attention, potentially leading to disturbing consequences.
The experiences of being alone in an old house in Pennsylvania, where windows opened on their own and someone whistled an eerie tune, left a chilling effect on the individuals involved. This incident, which happened to both the speaker and her brother, was described as feeling "evil." The speaker shares her theory that such exploration of unexplained phenomena may provoke negative consequences, drawing an analogy from the biblical story of King Saul and the witch of Endor. She warns that delving into such subjects may invite unwanted attention from the "enemy," leading to disturbing experiences such as demonic impressions, bad dreams, and even death. The speaker's recent interest in the Catholic Church's perspective on extraterrestrial life has led her to read "ExoVaticana," which suggests the possibility of benevolent extraterrestrial life according to the church's doctrine. However, her personal experiences have made her cautious about investigating further.
Encountering Interdimensional Entities: Personal account of encountering small, transparent, gray entities believed to be interdimensional or spiritual in nature, leaving a profound impact on the speaker and emphasizing the importance of spiritual protection and awareness.
The speaker shares a personal experience of encountering perceived demonic entities, described as small, transparent, and gray, which he believes are not physical beings but rather interdimensional or spiritual in nature. These entities reportedly targeted his non-physical self during a terrifying experience, leaving him feeling frightened and in need of spiritual protection. The speaker's account raises questions about the nature of these entities and the boundaries between the physical and spiritual realms. While some may interpret this as an alien encounter, the speaker insists that these beings were not physical entities but rather demonic in nature. The experience left a profound impact on the speaker and underscores the importance of spiritual protection and awareness.
Religious and philosophical perspectives on aliens: Religious texts and beliefs suggest humans are physical and spiritual beings, with some considering aliens could have a role in our past or future. Scientific and philosophical circles explore the idea of aliens bringing messages or narratives.
According to religious texts and beliefs, humans are a combination of physical and spiritual beings, and the flesh and spirit are interconnected yet separate. This concept is reflected in the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and in Jewish beliefs about God. Regarding the topic of aliens, it appears that the idea of extraterrestrial beings having a role in humanity's past or future is not a new one within certain religious circles, such as the Catholic Church. As for the possibility of aliens coming with a message or narrative, it is a popular concept within certain scientific and philosophical circles, particularly those that embrace evolutionary thinking. However, interpretations and beliefs about the nature and intentions of any potential extraterrestrial beings vary widely.
The odds of extraterrestrial life are slim: Mathematical calculations and specific life conditions suggest low probability of physical ET existence, but non-physical or technological beings remain possible.
The probability of extraterrestrial life, especially physical beings, existing is extremely low based on mathematical calculations and the specific conditions required for life as we know it. The speaker also mentioned the anthropic principle, which suggests that the existence of life on Earth is unlikely, further supporting the argument against the existence of physical ET beings. However, the speaker did not completely rule out the possibility of non-physical or technological beings. The speaker also referenced the Bible and the idea of a great deception, but this was not directly related to the main argument.
The abstract nature of mathematics and personal discretion: Mathematical probabilities of nothing have such low chances in reality, and personal experiences require careful consideration before sharing with others.
The concept of nothing, as discussed by philosopher John Lennox, refers to probabilities that only exist in mathematics, and the probability of such occurrences happening in the real world is so low that it's impossible to write down with the available particles in the universe. This highlights the abstract and empty nature of mathematics. During a personal experience, the speaker chose not to reveal a supernatural encounter to his wife, believing that some burdens are better carried alone to protect her from fear. The speaker also mentioned his intention to write a book titled "Bigfoot and Jesus." The discussion touched upon the abstract nature of mathematics, the importance of personal discretion, and the potential for exploring unusual topics in writing.
Exploring the Similarities Between Jesus and Bigfoot: Both Jesus and Bigfoot share themes of evidentiary correlation and the importance of seeking truth, despite vast differences in belief systems and topics.
The historicity and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as the testimonies of those who encountered him, share similarities with the eyewitness accounts of paranormal phenomena like Bigfoot. While the topic of religion and the existence of Jesus may seem unrelated to the realm of Bigfoot and other paranormal subjects, the speaker argues that both share common themes of evidentiary correlation and the importance of seeking truth. The speaker also emphasizes the overwhelming evidence for the historicity of Jesus, which is often overlooked due to cultural jokes and denial. Despite the vast differences in belief systems and topics, the speaker encourages an open-minded approach to discovering truth in all areas of life, whether it be the existence of Bigfoot or the historicity of Jesus.
Inconsistency in Belief: People may face disbelief when sharing unpopular supernatural beliefs, even within religious communities. It's important to recognize the inherent inconsistency in accepting some supernatural beliefs while dismissing others, and to consider the natural world and invisible attributes as evidence of existence.
Belief in the supernatural, whether it's God or Bigfoot, often leads to skepticism and disbelief from others. The speaker shares her experience of being met with disbelief when discussing her belief in Bigfoot, despite attending a Christian church where people believe in an invisible God based on faith and scripture. She argues that the inconsistency lies in the fact that people accept the existence of the invisible God but dismiss the possibility of an undiscovered primate. The speaker encourages those who believe in Christianity to understand that they too may face disbelief when sharing their beliefs and to recognize the inherent inconsistency in the human tendency to accept some supernatural beliefs while dismissing others. Additionally, she highlights the importance of recognizing the invisible attributes of God and the natural world as evidence of his existence.
Exploring the Unexplained: New Discoveries and Connections: Open-minded exploration of unexplained phenomena can lead to new discoveries and connections. Seek truth with sincerity and respect for all beliefs.
Exploring the unexplained and allowing ourselves to wander into different areas outside of our comfort zones can lead to new discoveries and connections. The speaker shares how his interest in Bigfoot led him to investigate other topics, such as the Nephilim and biblical stories. He encourages an open-minded approach to these topics, recognizing that people are experiencing strange phenomena and deserve sincere responses. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of seeking a creator God for peace, comfort, and purpose, regardless of denomination or belief system. Ultimately, he encourages us to explore the unexplained with an open mind and a sincere desire for truth.
Discovering purpose through faith: Believing in God provides comfort, hope, and strength during difficult times, and sharing faith stories can help spread the message to a larger audience.
According to Tony Merkel, the purpose of life is to know God and make Him known. He finds solace and understanding of the world through the Bible and believes it to be objectively true. During difficult times, he finds comfort in the belief that his creator is in control. While some may view this as a crutch, Tony sees it as a source of hope and strength. He encourages others to seek comfort and grounding in their creator as well. The show, "The Confessional," is a platform for sharing encounters and stories, and Tony appreciates the support from listeners in sharing the show with their networks. The growth of the show is due in large part to this word-of-mouth promotion. If you have an encounter or story to share, feel free to reach out to Tony through email or the website. Remember, sharing the show on social media continues to help it reach a larger audience.
