A Mormon Buddhist? - Noah Rasheta Pt. 1 | Ep. 2205

Mormon Stories Podcast episode 2205 features John Dehlin interviewing Noah Rasheta, a former Mormon who transitioned to Buddhism and now hosts the Secular Buddhism podcast. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation exploring Rasheta's spiritual journey. Noah was raised Mormon in Mexico after his parents converted, growing up as one of few Mormons in his community while navigating Mexican culture and Catholic family influences. He describes himself as naturally curious, which shaped his approach to faith questions from an early age. After serving a two-year mission in Ecuador, Noah experienced a significant shift in perspective—particularly regarding the Mormon doctrine that other religious traditions are fundamentally wrong. He returned home, attended university, married in the Salt Lake Temple, and attempted to build a conventional Mormon life. However, mounting questions about Church doctrine, Joseph Smith's history, his marriage, and the role of faith in his life triggered a deep faith crisis. Noah discovered Mormon Stories itself during this period and began seeking answers outside his childhood framework. His search eventually led him to Buddhist practice and philosophy, which he credits with transforming his approach to suffering, relationships, certainty, and daily life. Initially, Buddhism provided a way for him to remain in his mixed-faith marriage while processing his doubts. Part 1 concludes at this juncture, with Part 2 promised to explore what happened after his marriage ended, how he rebuilt his life, and lessons learned from that experience. The episode aligns with Mormon Stories' stated mission to facilitate informed consent about Mormon history and doctrine, support those in faith crises, and promote healing for those leaving high-demand religions. The conversation appears structured as a narrative arc rather than a debate, positioning it as a personal testimony and exploration rather than apologetic defense.

Verdict: A well-positioned interview on a compelling personal journey that delivers on its title and serves the podcast's mission, but limited source material prevents confident assessment of depth, pacing, and actual substance of the discussion.

Religion & Spirituality rubric

• Depth of teaching 3/5 20%

  Shows notes indicate personal narrative and spiritual journey exploration rather than systematic teaching; Buddhist philosophy mentioned but not detailed in available material.

• Respect and openness 4/5 20%

  Mormon Stories' stated mission emphasizes exploration and support for faith crises; interviewer format suggests openness, though actual dialogue content unavailable to fully assess.

• Applicable to life 3/5 15%

  Noah's journey offers relatable framework for faith transitions and Buddhist practice application, but specific practical guidance not evident from show notes alone.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  Covers significant life events and philosophical shifts, but Part 1 of two-part series means narrative is incomplete; depth of discussion unclear from notes.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Title 'A Mormon Buddhist?' directly matches the episode's core subject—Noah's transition from Mormonism to Buddhism—and show notes confirm this is the primary focus.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  Two-hour episode for Part 1 of multi-part interview; pacing and efficiency cannot be assessed from show notes, but length suggests potential for padding or natural conversational flow.

How we score Religion & Spirituality

Worth it if you're navigating a faith crisis, interested in Buddhist philosophy as an alternative framework, or curious about the lived experience of leaving Mormonism.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.