Using Elder Oaks’ guide to would-be critics of church leaders, I’d like to explore some of the implications of this important text. In this talk, he recommends five options for those who wish to criticize the church. First, one can overlook the difference. This doesn’t mean that one must accept the leader’s view, but simply not act on it. Second, like the first, is to reserve judgement and not act on it for a time. This requires that one reflect... Read more

The topic of “criticism” of Church leaders has arisen again in the blogs in response to three recent important talks: 1) Elder Holland’s Oct 2009 General Conference address on the Book of Mormon, 2) Elder Oaks’ BYU-I talk about preserving religious freedom, and 3) Elder Hafen’s remarks on “same sex attraction.” In trying to formulate my own thoughts about the role of criticism in the church, I went back to look at some things that FPR bloggers, including myself, had... Read more

BYU’S TOCQUEVILLE PROJECT With funding from THE JOHN ADAMS CENTER For the Study of Faith, Philosophy and Public Affairs PRESENT A SYMPOSIUM Religion and Politics: The Philosophical Problem and its Contemporary Implications October 29-30, 2009. Thursday, October 29 5pm B192 JFSB: Keynote Address: Daniel Mahoney (Professor of Political Science and Chair, Assumption College, Worcester, MA), “Moral Foundations of Liberal Democracy” Response by Neal Kramer (BYU, English) Friday, October 30 9am 4010 JFSB: Jeremiah John (Southern Virginia University, Politics): “The Site... Read more

In the recent talk by Elder Oaks to BYU-I addressing the topic of the constitutional right to free speech and free exercise of religion, he also noted the establishment clause of the first amendment. The prohibition against “an establishment of religion” was intended to separate churches and government, to prevent a national church of the kind still found in Europe. In the interest of time I will say no more about the establishment of religion… The difficulty with this omission... Read more

John Rawls is a prominent 20th century philosopher. While his work is well respected, it is also a great source of controversy. Much of this controversy is rooted in the fact that his work has forced those in the areas of moral and political philosophy to pay attention. I was first introduced to Rawls my senior year at the University of Utah. My first reaction was one of confusion and frustration. It is tough reading. That semester, I read both... Read more

There is a strong intellectual current among some popular LDS personalities and bloggers (and a very few non-LDS thinkers) that see the temple not only as the defining element of Mormonism, but also of ancient Judaism, Christianity, and for many, a near universal cultural theme. This tradition imagines a cultural inheritance that is both conscious and unconscious of temple themes, motifs, and rituals. In this recent revival of this theme in Mormon thought, Margaret Barker has emerged as a central... Read more

Sorry to our dear readers who’ve suffered in our recent absence. For me, the start of the fall TV season means big business in VCR repair. I don’t know what my co-bloggers’ excuse is… The last few decades of Mormonism have been a period of intense assimilation. Latter-day Saints have become an increasing presence in various urban areas and increasing numbers of Mormons hold positions of influence in business, government, and academic life. There seems to be more engagement with... Read more