There are now a number of biographies painting a different picture of Joseph Smith than that which is typically presented at church. What should one make of the differing accounts of the first vision, Joseph’s version of celestial marriage, peep stones and magic, for example? This session asks active Latter-day Saint panelists to focus on …
Speaker: Paul Montclair
Reading Lolita In Tehran, Reading Pride And Prejudice In Taichung: Literature As Resistance To Spiritual And Political Oppression And As An Aid To Spiritual Growth
Reading Lolita in Tehran explores how reading forbidden works of literature can be a soul-saving act of resistance to spiritual and political oppression. Latter-day Saints are advised to seek knowledge out of the best books and encouraged to believe that the church will one day have its Shakespeare’s and Miltons. Panelists will explore the relationship …
THE BEST IDEA IN MORMONISM
Thought experiment: Imagine Mormonism without any concern for the concept of being “the one and only true church,” without any worries about how this or that doctrine might “play” in the mission field or among those with whom the Church is forging coalitions to cooperate on moral issues. That imaginary position is the starting point …
THE WAR WITH IRAQ THROUGH A RELIGIOUS LENS: HOW DOES RELIGION INFORM OUR CHOICES?
The intersection of religion and war is complex and complicated. Whether we look at the causes of war, processes for avoiding war, ways of resolving conflicts, or the moral imperatives of peace, Christianity and other major world faiths often have a seat at the table of influence. Stan Christensen, Robert A. Rees, Bill Benac, Paul …
Mormonism and Process Theology Part II: The Problem of Evil
The cover of a recent issue of BYU Studies states: “Joseph Smith Resolves the Problem of Evil.” This is an editorial exaggeration of the conclusions reached in the actual article, written by David L. Paulsen, which appeared inside. Still, of all the theological challenges that dominate philosophy of religion, “theodicy,” often called the “problem of …
Defending Magic: Explaining The Necessity of Ordinances
Defending Magic: Explaining The Necessity of Ordinances On their face, ordinances seem to be morally insignificant gestures that have meaning only insofar as they are symbolic. But, then, why would they be necessary for salvation? We will explore at least four separate theories, but I will argue that these theories are either (1) quite plausible, …
Ethical Theory for the Believing Mormon
Ethical Theory for the Believing Mormon Philosophers over the millenniums have developed several schools of philosophical ethics–some involving God, some not. Because some have tried to develop ethical theories that do not depend on revelation, Bruce R. McConkie has called philosophy a religion whose followers are apostates. Now that you’ve been warned, come hear some …
Are We Latter-day Psi-nts?: Resources in Mormonism for Affirming the Paranormal
Are We Latter-day Psi-nts?: Resources in Mormonism for Affirming the Paranormal Many events and elements in Latter-day Saint history and belief fall under the broad classification of paranormal, or psi, phenomena. Yet, even so, we have a long-standing tradition of denying that these occurrences are ultimately “miraculous,” arguing instead that were all the principles governing …
The Virtue of Spiritual Regret
The Virtue of Spiritual Regret Professor Lee Yearley at Stanford has proposed that since it is impossible to be more than one person at a time, and yet since one person can desire to embrace more than one religion at a time, the “virtue of spiritual regret” needs to be cultivated in society. This virtue …
PROSELYTIZING AND CULTURAL CONFLICT
PROSELYTIZING AND CULTURAL CONFLICT Paul Montclair, Joseph Black, Thomas Rogers