It’s Rapidly Approaching, And I’m Not Ready

FAIR is less than two months away. — Will I see you there? I hope so. If not, do you promise to look in online?

I’m trying to find the time to get my remarks together for the upcoming FAIR conference, which I’m scheduled to deliver in the concluding session, I believe, of the final day, on Friday, 8 August. But it’s genuinely difficult. (Last night, for instance, watching K-Pop Demon Hunters with an element of my progeny cut unexpectedly into my work time.) I know what I want to say, but I’m confronting a mass of good material, and selecting from it is a real challenge. What do I want to omit? (Hint: Nothing. But that’s not a realistic option.)

This is the emblem of a group that doesn’t separate “church” from state. In white, around the top: “The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.” In black, around the bottom: “One banner, one people.” In the black circle, in white: “There is no god but God.” In the white circle, in black, reading from bottom to top: “Muhammad is the Messenger of God” In other words, the inner portion of this logo incorporates the Muslim “shahada” or profession of faith. (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

The Internal Revenue Service has indicated that churches may now be free to make political pronouncements, including endorsements of candidates, from the pulpit.

Of course, I’m not sure that very much will change in the real world as a result of this: Although my own church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has, as a matter of regular policy, declined to endorse candidates or, except in very rare instances, to endorse political measures or policies, it is regularly accused of political meddling and theocracy by its critics. I don’t expect that to change. By contrast, although I can’t recall them ever being condemned for political interference to the extent that my church often is, Black Protestant Churches have been handing their pulpits over to political officials and candidates such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, and Joe Biden for campaign speeches for as long as I can remember, and Evangelical Protestant leaders such as Franklin Graham, Paula White-Cain, the lamentable Robert Jeffress, and the execrable Jerry Falwell Jr. are often to be seen “anointing” and praising and endorsing and praying over Donald J. Trump. I don’t really see how they could be more explicit or un-subtle than they already are.

Nonetheless, here’s an important warning from a noted law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, who happens to be a Latter-day Saint: “Perspective: The temptation now facing America’s religious institutions: If America’s various religious groups become indistinguishable from political campaigns, what will they offer their congregants?”

And here’s a warning on a completely different topic from the estimable Robert George, of Princeton University: “Perspective: It’s time to hold the line against the culture of death: People who believe in the dignity of every human life must seek to reverse the assisted-suicide revolution”

The 12, right now. — The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as of 6 February 2024 (and still currently). Front row, left to right: President Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Quentin L. Cook, and Elder D. Todd Christofferson. Back row, left to right: Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Elder Dale G. Renlund, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, Elder Ulisses Soares, and Elder Patrick Kearon. (Fair Use, I hope.)

I found these quite personal remarks, given by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during a visit in Paris, quite moving: “Elder Ulisses Soares “Heard a Voice From Heaven” After Losing Two Children” I don’t believe that you need to have experienced a similar loss — though, unfortunately, some of us (including myself) have — to appreciate his words, but surely such a loss is likely to make them more poignant.

William and Mary scene — On the campus of the College of William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

Driving out to Williamsburg this afternoon, the Third-Generation Unit in the back seat was playing K-Pop Demon Hunters on its child-friendly laptop computer. I wouldn’t have recognized the soundtrack prior to last night.

But on to another subject: As the science-minded researchers over at the Peterson Obsession Board have been able to declare on the basis of many scores of their rigorous studies over the years, by far the two principal themes of my blog entries here are my attacks on gay people and my assaults on racial minorities. (You need look no further for an illustration of such attacks than the foregoing portion of this particular blog post today.) Running a close second in frequency, however, are my lengthy celebrations of my sybaritic adventures in fine dining. Accordingly, I close with a typically voluminous and overwritten restaurant review:

This evening, in obedience to the wishes of the Third-Generation Unit under whose regime we are currently living, we went out to eat at something called Super Chix, which is located at 200 College Row in Williamsburg, near the campus of the venerable College of William and Mary (an institution that was founded in 1693 by royal charter). Truth be told, I wasn’t looking forward to the experience, even though — apparently along with racism and homophobia — my life essentially revolves around indulging in such gourmet culinary treasures. But I have to report that my Cordon Bleu sandwich was actually surprisingly good, as were the French fries when accompanied with Super Chix’s “Signature” sauce. (I think, however, although theirs was more than just good, that I may still slightly prefer the frozen custard at Utah’s own Nielsens.)

Super Chix was apparently founded in Dallas, Texas, and it’s heavily represented in the American Southeast. Lest you Westerners despair, though, I’m happy to report that the chain operates a number of restaurants in Utah as well as in adjacent areas, and that another one of their outlets will soon open in Provo.