What if the biggest threats to your faith aren't other religions, but the everyday things competing for your attention and loyalty? From sports fandoms and social media platforms to workplace cultures and political affiliations, Morgan and Joel explore how modern "cults" subtly shape our identities and priorities without us realizing it.
The conversation begins with a provocative question: What makes something a cult? Beyond the stereotypical religious connotations, cult-like attributes manifest in surprising places—authoritarian leaders who can't be questioned, manipulation of emotions and behaviors, isolation from outsiders, and demands for total loyalty. Sound familiar? These patterns appear everywhere from Instagram algorithms designed to hijack your attention to professional environments that convince you success isn't possible elsewhere.
Most revealing is how these influences don't suddenly replace our faith but gradually crowd it out. Just as ancient Israelites tried integrating idol worship alongside their devotion to God, we often don't notice when our priorities shift away from Christ. The distinction between "Mormonism" as a cultural identity versus following Jesus Christ becomes crucial—when religion becomes about perfectionism and judgment rather than love and growth, it transforms into something that pushes people away rather than drawing them closer to God.
This thought-provoking episode offers practical wisdom: simply deleting distractions without changing our hearts creates temporary change at best. What if instead we replaced scrolling time with service to others? What if we prioritized scripture study before checking work emails? As Joel and Morgan vulnerably share their own struggles to keep God first, they remind us that being imperfect believers striving to follow Christ is exactly where most of us find ourselves.
Join the conversation and share how you're working to ensure God remains your priority amid life's many competing voices. What modern "cult" do you need to step back from this week?
