Todo Concostrina | Acontece que no es poco

Episode: El Libro de Mormón
Date: January 25, 2024
Host: Nieves Concostrina (SER Podcast)

Overview

In this episode, Nieves Concostrina takes her sharply humorous and critical lens to the origins of Mormonism and, by extension, religious belief systems in general. Prompted by seeing the irreverent Broadway musical The Book of Mormon, Nieves revisits the real story behind the religion’s founding, highlighting how the patterns of invention, dogma, and promises of salvation recur across faiths. The episode is less a recounting of the musical’s plot and more a satirical, historical analysis of Joseph Smith’s creation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the broader phenomena of belief, credulity, and religious business.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Human Imagination and the Invention of Religions

• The episode opens with a reflection on the boundless creativity of humans to invent supernatural beliefs—religion being the prime example.
• Host (00:16):

  “La imaginación del ser humano no tiene límites, … para inventar, para crear, para diseñar ese catálogo de creencias sobrenaturales que llamamos religión…"

• Nieves notes that every religion is essentially a business model constructed on unverifiable promises.

2. Satire in ‘The Book of Mormon’ vs. Reality

• The musical is lauded as hilarious and bold, but Nieves underlines that the story’s absurdity lies in real historical events, not just parody.
• Co-host (01:36):

  “El musical es una crítica despiadada, no a una religión, sino a todas las religiones, porque todas tienen la misma base.”

• She questions if Christian audiences laughing at Mormon peculiarities realize similar accusations could be aimed at their own beliefs.

3. The Universal Structure of Religions

• All successful religions must promise an afterlife—this is “la clave del negocio.”
• Co-host (04:39):

  “Todas, absolutamente todas, te tienen que procurar una vida en el más allá. Si no es así, el negocio no cuaja. Porque solo si te asegura otra vida te pueden mantener engañado.”

4. The Origins and Family Background of Joseph Smith

• Nieves describes the religious chaos of Joseph Smith’s family: Universalist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and various visions and conversions.
• Co-host (06:33):

  “Cada uno de sus miembros... seguía la doctrina del universalista… otro se pasó a los metodistas… Otro abuelo… se hizo cristiano siendo muy mayor, porque dijo que tuvo unas visiones…”

• Emphasizes that Joseph Smith’s environment made him ripe for “inventar su propio negocio.”

5. Creation of Mormonism: A Patchwork of Previous Faiths

• Joseph Smith’s foundational revelation was that all churches had become corrupt, and he must create the “one true faith” after his “Primera Visión.”
• The angel Moroni and various Biblical figures (even Santiago Matamoros in New York!) make guest appearances in his stories.
• The Book of Mormon claims Jesus visited the Americas post-resurrection.
• Co-host (09:42):

  “…un libro de instrucciones en donde se dice, entre otras cosas, que Jesucristo resucitó, se acercó a América a decir hola, que ase, qué tal? Y se piró para el cielo. Es decir, Jesucristo estuvo en América antes que Colón, quede claro.”

6. The Ingredients for a ‘Successful’ Religion

• Every religion copies the formula: holy prophet, divine messenger, sacred book, heaven, and hell.
• The translation of golden plates (planchas de oro) by Smith mimics other scriptural origin tales.
• Co-host (11:44):

  “Todas las religiones tienen los mismos ingredientes. Y esos ingredientes un Dios Padre, un profeta... un ángel anunciador... un libro... y fundamental, todas tienen un paraíso... y un infierno...”

7. Fear as a Tool – ‘Santos de los Últimos Días’

• The name of the Mormon church itself draws on the apocalyptic sensibility that keeps believers invested.
• Host (13:02):

  “Ese interés por atemorizar con la cosa del más allá, los mormones lo llevan incluso en el nombre porque es la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días.”

• Satirical advice is given for dealing with street missionaries: avoid them, lest you get recruited and tithed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On religious exclusivity (00:30):

  “...cada uno es muy libre de seguir o no, siempre que no intente imponerles a los demás, que al final, históricamente es el problema fundamental de todas las religiones...”
  — Host

• On the business of afterlife promises (04:39):

  “Solo si te asegura otra vida te pueden mantener engañado. En esta es la clave.” — Co-host

• On Joseph Smith's mystical heritage (06:34):

  “...el padre de Joseph Smith, que según amaneciera el día se creía una cosa o se creía otra, o no se creía nada, según le daba el aire.” — Co-host

• On the First Vision and Smith’s “revelations” (09:04):

  “Esto es lo que se conoce en el mormonismo como primera visión. Lo que no te explican en el libro de mormones, ¿qué fumó o qué se metió este tío?” — Co-host

• On religious pattern recognition (11:44):

  “Todas las religiones tienen los mismos ingredientes...” — Co-host

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:09 | Opening reflections on religious invention and human imagination | | 01:36 | Satirical power of ‘The Book of Mormon’ musical commenting on all faiths | | 04:39 | The business model of religion: necessity of afterlife promises | | 05:41 | Origins: Joseph Smith’s family and their religious confusion | | 09:04 | Smith’s “first vision” and subsequent revelations | | 10:53 | Spread and global reach of Mormonism; credulity of millions | | 11:44 | Anatomy of a religion: copying the basic ingredients | | 13:02 | Apocalyptic branding: ‘Santos de los Últimos Días’ | | 13:30 | Satirical public service announcement about avoiding street missionaries |

Tone and Style

• Witty, incisive, and iconoclastic, Nieves Concostrina’s style frames religiosity as both a historical curiosity and an enduring human folly.
• The episode is peppered with vivid analogies, everyday metaphors, and tongue-in-cheek dismissal of unfalsifiable beliefs.
• The hosts maintain an irreverent, yet educational atmosphere throughout, never shying from pointed criticism but always grounding their arguments in historical narrative.

Conclusion

This episode of “Todo Concostrina” offers a brisk, biting, and illuminating journey through the invention of Mormonism, exposing its parallels with other global faiths and lampooning the all-too-human drive to invent and believe in grand supernatural narratives. Nieves Concostrina infuses history with both satire and substance, leaving listeners with sharp questions about belief, critical thinking, and the ongoing business of salvation.

Memorable Line:

• Co-host (13:17):

  “No puede haber un nombre más rebuscado porque efectivamente ellos dicen que al mundo le quedan dos telediarios. Estamos en los últimos días. Ese es el mensaje de todas las sectas.”