44: A Vital Legacy of Independent Mormon Thought: Dialogue and Sunstone

July 27, 2011
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The Sunstone Symposium that begins next week (3 – 6 August) provides an excellent springboard into a discussion of the history and focuses of two of the longest-running and most important entities in independent Mormon thought: Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and Sunstone (magazine and host of multiple conferences each year).

In today’s Internet world with ever-increasing numbers of Mormon-themed websites, blogs, and podcasts, it is sometimes easy to forget that many of the most frequent topics under discussion in today’s forums have been debated and discussed in uncorrelated publications and gatherings for more than four decades, and that we who enjoy (or crave) these conversations today have an amazing treasure trove of wonderfully written, meticulously researched, and pioneering articles and essays that are definitely worth discovering, as well as thousands of highly thoughtful, dynamic, and many times funny discussions available in audio for free (or close-to-free) downloading.

Please join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon along with Joanna Brooks, Dialogue editor Kristine Haglund, and Sunstone editor Stephen Carter for a fun and informative tour of the history and contributions of these stalwart organizations and their offerings, along with some very thoughtful (not kidding here: listen!) comments about the way the blogging/podcasting and print worlds each have important and separate functions and roles to play but also how they can (and already do) benefit from each other. In the first half hour, Joanna also pushes Kristine into sharing some of her own experiences growing up in a faithful but very “thinky” home in which Dialogue was always around and difficult questions in Mormonism were regularly discussed, with no topics off limits.

After listening, please join in the fun by sharing your thoughts and ideas in the comments below! What do you see as the ideal continuing role for these stalwart independent Mormon institutions? What are your favorite classic articles, essays, humor pieces, and/or Sunstone symposium sessions?

Websites:
Dialogue
Sunstone

 

44: A Vital Legacy of Independent Mormon Thought: Dialogue and Sunstone [ 1:17:54 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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  • Brian K

    Yes! I am excited to listen to this!

    • Brian K

      That was great! I need to renew my subscription to both Dialouge and Sunstone.  Thanks for the reminder. :)

      • Dan Wotherspoon

        Not the goal for doing the episode, but I know you will make both
        editors/organizations very happy! Able to catch a bit of the symposium
        in person next week?

  • brandt

    A Kindle subscription for Dialogue!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!  FINALLY!!!!!!!

    Stephen, any insight into delving into the realm of Kindle subscriptions, or are you guys going to just be on the iPhone/iPad?

  • http://www.modernmormonmen.com ScottHeff

    Great podcast. My wife grew up with Dialogue/Sunstone, but I discovered them in my early 20s. They were so refreshing! I’ve believed they are still very relevant, even with the influx of the Bloggernacle, but hadn’t yet formed my thoughts enough to say why. Thanks for articulating it so well. I’m hoping there’s a symposium in Seattle this year!

  • Bill

    I know that you are excited about the e-versions but I hope that doesn’t distract from the printed versions.  Not all of us old folks (mid-40′s…!) are thrilled about the proliferation of I- Phones, Pads, Kindles, etc.  I already worry that unless I have hours each week to spent in the Bloggernacle, I will feel like an outsider in this community. 

    • Kristine Haglund

      Bill, never fear. You are not alone*. In fact, one of the surprising things to me is how many of our younger subscribers (even ones younger than you and me!) still subscribe to the print version. There are no plans to quit killing trees anytime soon (although I’d like to find an affordable and attractive recycled paper to print on).

      (*10 points and my condolences if that automatically cues “even though right now you’re on your own” in your head.  Sigh.)

  • http://latterdaymainstreet.com/ Chino_Blanco

    What do you see as the ideal continuing role for these stalwart independent Mormon institutions?

    Whatever that ideal role might be, I do wish the editors/publishers/fans of Dialogue and Sunstone would consider stepping outside of their normal channels and doing things like regularly posting links to memorable back issues or articles at the places where I hang out (where the 18-34 exmo demographic gets together).  We’ve got a whole generation of disaffected Mormon kids congregating online who have no idea y’all are even having this discussion (or that it’s been ongoing for forty years now).  They’re young and often more unchurched than disaffected and they number in the thousands but I don’t see anyone making even the slightest effort to interest them in the Mormonism y’all know.  It’s not my fight but if it was I’d sure consider dropping whatever reservations are holding you back from pushing a Sunstone and Dialogue presence at the social media sites that aggregate mo/exmo content for that demo.

  • Kristine Haglund

    Chino Blanco–you’re absolutely right, and, at least in my case, there aren’t any ideological reservations, only a finite amount of resources. In terms of generating and promoting content, we have a staff of one, and I have to sleep sometimes :)

    Your distinction between unchurched and disaffected is really insightful and important, I think.

  • Kristine Haglund

    Chino Blanco–you’re absolutely right, and, at least in my case, there aren’t any ideological reservations, only a finite amount of resources. In terms of generating and promoting content, we have a staff of one, and I have to sleep sometimes :)

    Your distinction between unchurched and disaffected is really insightful and important, I think.

    • AML Moderator

      Amen, Sister.

  • Jer

    I just got the Sunstone app. Very cool!

  • http://andreastaats.com Andrea Staats

    Loved this discussion! It was so interesting to hear the backstories on Sunstone and Dialogue. I’ve known about both for ages, and just never got around to reading them. I got the Sunstone app and it’s great! I’ll be asking for print subscriptions to both for my birthday.

  • SamBaUSA

    on the podcast each guest mentioned some “greatest hits” articles that would be worth going back into the archives to check out.  was out walking and couldn’t write them down.  any chance you can list some here? 

  • Lizanellb

    Dan, I still HAVE my JR. Jots and Tittles cards….my kids love to play with them. (well, the three year old who can’t read them does….PRETTY COLORS!)

  • Adam

    Great discussion!  Thanks Dan and pane1!

    Just a kindred quote on “more information” being a solution to troubling information:

    “One of the most important things in the world is freedom of the mind; from this all other freedoms spring. Such freedom is necessarily dangerous, for one cannot think right without running the risk of thinking wrong, but generally more thinking is the antidote for the evils that spring from wrong thinking.” — Hugh B. Brown

  • Manolo Saine

    I just got the app for iPad and it was hilarious to see the one negative comment that said something about pseudo intellectuals, and how the magazine is not the Ensign (because I guess the Ensign is so superior!). So, leave ratings, guys!

  • Manolo Saine

    I just got the app for iPad and it was hilarious to see the one negative comment that said something about pseudo intellectuals, and how the magazine is not the Ensign (because I guess the Ensign is so superior!). So, leave ratings, guys!

  • Lobizao

    I can’t find the Dialogue Journal on the Amazon Market or on the Dialogue website. Would you guys post a direct link to it? I really want to buy it…

    • Dan Wotherspoon

      If you’re talking about the journal itself,  the link at the end of the write up is the site, which has a “shop” button on the menu that allows you to subscribe to paper or electronic versions, or get back issues. Here is link again: http://dialoguejournal.com/

      If looking for a smartphone app, etc., I’m not sure if they have theirs ready yet. I’ll ask around and see what I can learn.

      Best!
      Dan Wotherspoon