Author Profile: Batman
Author Archive for Batman
Fascinating article from the New York Times about a new version of the Torah being released by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
, which represents the 1.5 million Conservative Jews in the United States. Apparently, this Torah openly acknowledges the historical and archeological issues with the text — openly questioning things like whether or not Abraham (the founder of Judaism?) even existed.
Given the fact that questions about Book of Mormon archeology and historicity will likely never cease — can you ever see a Book of Mormon, or even an LDS version of the Bible being released like this? Even 100 or 200 years from now?
Before you answer, remember that Jews 50 years ago probably could never have imagined this either. Yet SOMEHOW they still retain 1.5 million church members. Amazing.
Thoughts? Dreams?
Niblets voting has now concluded. We hope you have all enjoyed this year’s effort.
Join us one week from today to view Ziff’s professional summary!!
Niblets winners 2009 are cordially invited to use this button:
View Winners below——- Continue reading…
Voting is now closed.
Voting for the 2009 Niblets has begun. You may click the selections to view the links as many times as you wish. Then make your final selection and click the “vote” button. Once you click the “vote” button on each category, you cannot change your vote. You may make one selection for each poll except the last one; for the write-in category, you may choose up to three selections. Each person may vote one time. Polls will close at the stroke of midnight on January 31st.
Here we go . . . Continue reading…
Nominations for the Niblets Awards are now in. A few minor changes have been made to screen for category, and to avoid duplication. Nominations that did not fall under 2009 were eliminated. New blogs were accepted if they had a very small bit of introductory posting before 2009. When an author had two or more posts nominated for the same category, one representative post was chosen. The order of appearance is alphabetical; however, when links are included they came out alphabetical by link.
A few more nominations have come in by email and will be added as soon as possible.
Voting will start on Monday. Until then, enjoy perusing these Bloggernacle favorites for 2009 and let us know if there are any problems, questions, missing or wonky links, etc. Continue reading…
Mormon Matters introduces the 2009 Niblets Awards!
It’s back! The opportunity to honor the unique and talented Mormon bloggers of 2009. It’s a chance to look back on the year and remember the great things that happened in the Bloggernacle, to come together in a spirit of comaraderie and fun! Mormon Matters will be hosting this event to highlight YOU and your favorite 2009 Mormon blogs, and we are pleased to announce our continuing collaboration with Ziff of Zelophehad’s Daughters, the mighty numbers cruncher, who will handle results presentation at the end of this event. Continue reading…
(Hat tip to Michael Carpenter)
This just in from LDS Church News. Correlation remains king.
“A gospel teacher is not called to choose the subject of the lesson but to teach and discuss what has been specified. Gospel teachers should also be scrupulous to avoid hobby topics, personal speculations, and controversial subjects. The Lord’s revelations and the directions of His servants are clear on this point.”and“The Church — through its inspired correlation program — has given us official sources of information to help us prepare lessons and plan activities. Instead of turning to unofficial books and Web sites, let’s use those sources.”
What should be acceptable for a blog to be considered a “Mormon” blog? All Mormon content? Only that which is respectful to the church (not anti)? Is hate speech allowed, and if so, how is it defined? How would you decide something should not be considered a “Mormon” blog? Continue reading…
“One clear-cut position is that the folklore must never be perpetuated. … I have to concede to my earlier colleagues. … They, I’m sure, in their own way, were doing the best they knew to give shape to [the policy], to give context for it, to give even history to it. All I can say is however well intended the explanations were, I think almost all of them were inadequate and/or wrong.
… It probably would have been advantageous to say nothing, to say we just don’t know, and, [as] with many religious matters, whatever was being done was done on the basis of faith at that time. But some explanations were given and had been given for a lot of years. … At the very least, there should be no effort to perpetuate those efforts to explain why that doctrine existed. I think, to the extent that I know anything about it, as one of the newer and younger ones to come along, … we simply do not know why that practice, that policy, that doctrine was in place… Continue reading…
Do you know your Apostles’ wives? Bonus points if you can give first/maiden names in the comments. (Don’t cheat–only make a guess if you didn’t have to look it up!!)
Katherine Jessop Christofferson Continue reading…
SATURDAY SESSIONS:
Readers, we know that most of you will be home using the internet or other media wonders of today to keep abreast of General Conference. And if you’re at home with the fam, by all means make yourself as comfy as possible. On Saturday, PJ’s are perfectly acceptable. Here’s what the well-dressed Mormon will be wearing if they’re viewing at home.
Continue reading…
John Remy (an old friend of Mormon Matters) is being summoned to a stake disciplinary council for apostasy.
Bummer. Sad.
Our love goes out to the Remys. AND to the local church leadership that has to deal w/ this mess.
This feels like a lose/lose situation.
(Comments closed. Please comment on John’s blog if you desire to comment…but only in kindness.)
A cross-post from Nine Moons — written by John Dehlin by request of Rusty Clifton — in celebration of Nine Moons’ 5-year anniversary.
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Most of you won’t know me. I used to blog/podcast back in the day, but was never really part of the official Bloggernacle community (as defined by those invested in the term). I was (and am) a ‘Nacle Wannabe. 
A big thanks to Rusty for the invitation to write. He’s always been really cool to me. Same w/ Ronan, JNS, SV, ECS, Kaimi, KH, BIV, DKL, Kiskilili, Hamer, Danithew, Ann, Aaron Brown — and a few other mainstream ‘nacle friends I’m forgetting right now. I’ll never forget the kindness of those who reached out to me in my tougher times — even during the times when I was being an a@$, which were legion.
One or two of you may know that I’m starting a PhD program this Fall in Clinical/Counseling Psychology. Upon reflection, my interest in psychology sprung out of my somewhat embarrassing, quasi-entrance into the bloggernacle back in 2004/2005. What a disaster. Continue reading…
You’re all invited to attend the Sunstone “Un-Snacker” (Great fellowship and friends, but no food).
It will be held on Friday, August 14, 10 PM at the Sheraton SLC, 150 W 500 S.
Bloggers from all over the bloggernacle will be in attendance. This is your chance to meet all the “greats” in person!! Hope to see you there.
I wanted to share w/ ya’ll a new song from my favorite artist — David Wilcox. It’s called “Vow of Silence” — and for me, it’s a beautiful exploration of God’s communication with us.
Music and lyrics below (after you click on “Continue reading”).
I hope you enjoy.
Is the church growing or shrinking? Is it even possible to measure church growth accurately? Is this a case of statistical confirmation bias? Read on to find out more. Continue reading…
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