Ben Wilson

Okay, my end notes. So I should mention my religious background, I guess. So I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That's people typically know us as Mormons. So I'm kind of in an interesting position here because no one likes us. Atheists think we're ridiculous. Christians don't accept us as Christians.

If you want to know more about what this religion is, you can go listen to the Brigham Young episodes where I explain a little bit about the start of our religion. But everyone thinks I'm a heretic, which is why I just tried to stick to what is in the gospel. I don't think I said anything controversial in terms of my interpretation of the gospels.

If you want to know more about what this religion is, you can go listen to the Brigham Young episodes where I explain a little bit about the start of our religion. But everyone thinks I'm a heretic, which is why I just tried to stick to what is in the gospel. I don't think I said anything controversial in terms of my interpretation of the gospels.

I'm sure someone's going to yell at me for this episode. A lot of people will probably yell at me. Of course, you just can't talk about Jesus without incurring strong emotions.

I'm sure someone's going to yell at me for this episode. A lot of people will probably yell at me. Of course, you just can't talk about Jesus without incurring strong emotions.

But hopefully, you know, my status as an outsider kind of affords me an opportunity to look at things a little more objectively than someone who is a mainstream Christian or a mainstream atheist who's critical of the biblical account. Okay, so some other things to talk about. One thing I've been mentioning a lot in recent episodes is that charisma comes from the eyes, from the gaze.

But hopefully, you know, my status as an outsider kind of affords me an opportunity to look at things a little more objectively than someone who is a mainstream Christian or a mainstream atheist who's critical of the biblical account. Okay, so some other things to talk about. One thing I've been mentioning a lot in recent episodes is that charisma comes from the eyes, from the gaze.

So from great leaders, people always talk about the way they stare and the way they gaze. And so I found this really interesting passage from Paul Johnson, quote, on the other hand, we know certain things about his visual personality, which struck eyewitnesses. And so we're recorded in the gospels. Jesus was very observant.

So from great leaders, people always talk about the way they stare and the way they gaze. And so I found this really interesting passage from Paul Johnson, quote, on the other hand, we know certain things about his visual personality, which struck eyewitnesses. And so we're recorded in the gospels. Jesus was very observant.

It is notable how many times he is described as looking, looking upon, looking around, looking up. The last is mentioned three times. His habit of penetrating observation punctuates the narrative. He looked around before speaking, and he lifted up his eyes on his disciples. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.

It is notable how many times he is described as looking, looking upon, looking around, looking up. The last is mentioned three times. His habit of penetrating observation punctuates the narrative. He looked around before speaking, and he lifted up his eyes on his disciples. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.

He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts. He was a man greatly interested in detail. He missed nothing. He had a penetrating gaze, which eyewitnesses noticed and remembered. His all-seeing eyes were almost certainly the first thing that struck people about him. His gaze was linked to his air of decision. It astonished people.

He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts. He was a man greatly interested in detail. He missed nothing. He had a penetrating gaze, which eyewitnesses noticed and remembered. His all-seeing eyes were almost certainly the first thing that struck people about him. His gaze was linked to his air of decision. It astonished people.

He appeared and spoke not as an interpreter of the scriptures, but as a fountainhead of truth. Okay, so I just think that's really interesting. I had never put that together. You know, I've read the Gospels before, but I had never put together. That is true. It talks often about him looking around, looking up, looking upon. And so obviously his gaze was something that was notable about him.

He appeared and spoke not as an interpreter of the scriptures, but as a fountainhead of truth. Okay, so I just think that's really interesting. I had never put that together. You know, I've read the Gospels before, but I had never put together. That is true. It talks often about him looking around, looking up, looking upon. And so obviously his gaze was something that was notable about him.

I thought that was an interesting synchronicity with other people I've been studying recently. Okay, another point I liked from Johnson, who just does a good job of pulling out some interesting threads in Jesus's life, is this idea of being busy. Jesus was never busy. And I think busyness is for losers. Like, yes, obviously you want to be doing a lot and Jesus was doing a lot.

I thought that was an interesting synchronicity with other people I've been studying recently. Okay, another point I liked from Johnson, who just does a good job of pulling out some interesting threads in Jesus's life, is this idea of being busy. Jesus was never busy. And I think busyness is for losers. Like, yes, obviously you want to be doing a lot and Jesus was doing a lot.

But, well, here's what he says. Jesus was not thus overburdened by a program or specific appointments to teach. While always at work, he gives the impression of finding time to chat, albeit not about trivialities. There is never a sense of hurry. So I like that.

But, well, here's what he says. Jesus was not thus overburdened by a program or specific appointments to teach. While always at work, he gives the impression of finding time to chat, albeit not about trivialities. There is never a sense of hurry. So I like that.

And that makes me want to focus more on not being hurried, not being busy, but making time for serendipity and happy coincidences in my life. Okay, so he used his gaze. Another thing that Johnson draws out is his use of silence.