Status Update: I’m an individual…please don’t shun me

September 21, 2010 By Heidi Harris

If you’re keeping up with the latest debates in LDS pop culture, you’ve probably come across some discussion over the new mormon.org site. It’s fantastically imagined and executed–an amazing leap away from the stogy PR of the past and a clear leap into the iFuture, if you will. I’ve found the stories on it personally moving and uplifting in so many ways, especially those featuring women. Here I’m told about mayors, dentists, non-profit humanitarians, journalists, artists, doctors, lawyers, and everything... Read more

“How long have you been eighteen?” “Fifteen years”- Local Mormon vampires

September 19, 2010 By benspackman

A friend of mine wrote and acted in this, and it won a local LDS video contest. It’s got some New York insider jokes and references (Duck Beach is a non-Church-sponsored “Mormon Spring Break” for example.) Plus it has my cousin Colette in it. When it came out, I’d been thinking about vampires and Mormons, and recruited Heidi Harris to write this great bit on Mormon vampires. Enjoy. Read more

Gospel Doctrine Podcast 34- Hosea

September 17, 2010 By benspackman

Edit: Some people are reporting errors, for others it’s working. Please leave a comment or send me an email with the error message so we can get it fixed. If the links below don’t work, try downloading from this alternate link. [audio:http://media.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/Media/MormonPodcastLesson34.mp3] (Right-click and save here to download.) Opening clip: Loreena McKennit, “Marco Polo.” Transcript Notes and references (more…) Read more

Responses and follow-ups to KLS on teaching sexuality (updated)

September 17, 2010 By benspackman

Lots of people have read Kathryn Soper’s excellent article on teaching sexuality to the youth (particularly the young women) in the last few days. In fact, it’s the highest-viewed article at Patheos in the last week, in spite of being posted on Wednesday. Several blogs have posted their own responses or lengthy comments, and I think those are worth linking to. I’ll update this as more links appear in our googleanalytics page. (more…) Read more

Jonah- the Insufficiency of the New Testament Argument

September 12, 2010 By benspackman

Other than tradition that Jonah is historical, there is the New Testament argument. This argument is fairly common and made by non-LDS as well as LDS, but on examination, I think it’s insufficient to prove what its proponents claim. This also applies, by the way, to Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt (Luke 17:32), and Job (D&C 121:10). What’s really at stake here? Not much, I think, but perhaps an opportunity to break down a wall. Most often,... Read more

Gospel Doctrine Podcast 33- Jonah (u)

September 10, 2010 By benspackman

[audio:http://media.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/Media/MormonPodcastLesson33.mp3 ] (Right-click and save here to download.) Openining clip: Loreena McKennit, “Marco Polo.” Transcript (I ad libbed a bit more this time.) Notes and references: (more…) Read more

“When the Bishop called and asked me to upload my talk last week…”

September 3, 2010 By benspackman

The Church is moving pretty quickly on new tech. New LDS.org with snazzy maps and picture uploading. New LEED-certified meetinghouses. But I want an “iPulpit” 🙂 This is a real product from Little Mountain Productions, and they call it the iPodium. I don’t care so much what it’s called. iWantOne (but don’t even own an iPad and probably won’t for the foreseeable future.) I could give my talk AND control some nice overheads onto the screen behind me at Church.... Read more

Not a smidge o’ pink here!

September 3, 2010 By Heidi Harris

The LDS church, if you’re new to its intricacies, has a series of programs set up for children and youth to participate in and advance through. For the boys, this is Boy Scouts. For the girls, this is Achievement Days for the 8-11 year-olds and Personal Progress for the teens. This year, a new Personal Progress book was released with a smattering of updates. I believe that the awards were even upped a notch. Whereas before, a young woman received... Read more

Upload Your Own Darn Pictures to the Ward Directory and Finally Learn Other People’s Names

September 1, 2010 By benspackman

I brought this up in Ward Council on Sunday, and everyone was surprised at its existence and thrilled. Clearly, it needs to get wider circulation. It seems like the Church was slow to get on the internet bandwagon, but is now cranking full steam. Here are instructions how to upload your own pictures into the ward directory (and see the whole ward mapped!), instead of waiting for the ward clerk to herd everyone into the hall for pictures, IF your... Read more

Some Pagan Thoughts on Mormonism

August 31, 2010 By benspackman

As I run the Mormon Portal, Star Foster runs the Pagan Portal here at Patheos. Yes, we have a Pagan Portal, as well as Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Evangelical, etc. (Go to the main page and click on Religion Portals to explore a bit.) She’s been putting up thoughts about whichever religious tradition is the weekly focus of our Future of Religion series. She recently posted 13 Things I Like about Mormons. While some of her examples (such as... Read more