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The Economist on Mormons

November 1, 2011

The Economist dances into the current discussion on religions and politics by declaring that “Mormons are Christian.” Author E.G. states
“WITH regard to Mitt Romney’s presidential prospects, I agree with Jeffrey Goldberg that his Mormonism shouldn’t matter and that the question of whether Mormons are Christians probably isn’t all that important. The people who would vote against Mr Romney because of his religion aren’t likely to set aside all of their objections to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints just because a theologian decided it was kosher. It is, however, an interesting analytical question. I disagree with Mr Goldberg’s conclusion that Mormonism isn’t Christian.”
Click in to see why. Plus there is a shout-out to Eugene England’s landmark Dialogue article “The Mormon Cross.“

Mormon Women Project: Salon 2011 this Weekend

October 30, 2011

Come to the incredible salon/fundraiser sponsored by the Mormon Women Project this Saturday, November 5th at 6:00pm, at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in SLC, with the theme: “Crafting A Deliberate Life: Making Choices That Are Purposeful, Personal and Powerful”.
It promises to be a tremendous evening — here is the schedule and speakers (further info here):
Keynote Address: Emma Lou Thayne, Author and Poet
Breakout Sessions:
“Finding Power in Your Spiritual Heritage” by Kate Holbrook, Jill Mulvay Derr and Cherry Silver
“Finding Power in Service” by Amy Antonelli (former director of Rising Star Outreach)
“Finding Power in Your Personal Story” by Shelah Miner (of fMh and Segullah)
Light dinner, small discussion groups, and silent auction with items including…

Joanna Brooks on "On Being" with Krista Tippett

October 24, 2011

A Mormon is once again in the national spotlight, this time it’s Joanna Brooks who works to demystify Mormons on “On Being” with host Krista Tippett.
From the producer: “Enjoy an inside perspective of the Mormon universe with journalist Joanna Brooks. She helps us understand the emergence of a viable Mormon presidential candidate as a “white-knuckle” moment — a moment of self-searching. From an unorthodox perspective, she sheds a candid, genuinely informative light on what some are calling this “Mormon moment” in American life: on Broadway, on TV, and in presidential politics…”

Jonathan Stapley on Women, Ritual, and Authority

October 20, 2011

Jonathan Stapley will delve into “Womwn, Ritual, and Authority” as the featured speaker at the Miller-Eccles Study Group this weekend.
DATES: October 21 (Villa Park) and October 22 (La Canada – Flintridge).
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
Stapley will discuss female participation in healing rituals and last rites, to highlight “important shifts in how rituals were transmitted and developed throughout Mormon history as well as the major external and internal forces that shaped current ritual performance.”

Welcome to Dialogue!

October 19, 2011

Welcome to Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought What is Dialogue? The Dialogue journal has been around for over 40 years (45!) providing an important space for the independent exploration of Mormonism from a broad…

Richard Bushman on “Mormonism and the Public Good”

October 11, 2011

Watch Richard Bushman discuss “Mormonism and the Public Good” at the 2011 David P. Gardner Lecture held September 27th at the University of Utah.

Here’s a tease: Recent events in Washington have demonstrated once again how much Americans differ on how to resolve the nation’s problem. The parties to the debate cannot even agree on the nature of the public good. The lecture will argue that these conflicts arise out of basic contradictions in our national values and therefore will perpetually recur.

Getting Everything Wrong (Even What He Gets Right)

September 27, 2011

By Russell Arben Fox at By Common Consent The October 2011 issue of Harper’s Magazine features as its cover article a lengthy, provocative, at times insightful, but mostly wholly tendentious anti-Mormon screed by Chris Lehmann,…