Author Profile: Jeff Needle
Author Archive for Jeff Needle
Here’s an article from a recent Mormon Times:
http://mormontimes.com/studies_doctrine/research_discoveries/?id=11607
I was intrigued by this story. John L. Sorenson has lots of books in print. He’s never had a problem finding a publisher before.
If the book is all he says it is, why isn’t Deseret Book jumping on it? Why isn’t the Neal A. Maxwell Institute publishing it?
I’m really curious.
I receive a daily mailing from a fundie Protestant pastor that details every story that day that he feels is important for Christians to know about. Today’s mailing included such items as: Earthquake Shakes Chile’s Capital, Dengue outbreak in Argentina now ‘epidemic’, Mother kills son with a bullet to back of head at Florida shooting range, and, to my surprise, Gay marriage’ in Iowa more damaging than a 500-year flood! Pretty grim stuff. The pastor calls his daily post All The Good News OF Bible Prophecy. Huh??? Why is any of this stuff good news?
I guess, from the point of view of a pre-millenialist believer, it’s all good news. Things are getting really bad, and only the return of Jesus Christ can fix all of it. The worse things get, the closer we are to the eschaton. Fabulous! Bring it on!
Mormonism, I think, takes a different view. It avoids changing bad news into good news. Instead, it presents the Gospel as life-affirming and an eminently practical way to live one’s life.
My question: Are there aspects of Mormonism that aren’t, in the end, “good news”? Are there some aspects you’d change, not because you just don’t like them, but because they contribute nothing toward the ultimate message of good news for all people?
Well, my latest ponderings. Your feedback will be welcome. Continue reading…
It may be that some of you caught the excellent article in Monday’s USA Today titled “How Much Truth Is Too Much?” It can be found at:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/forum_commentary/index.html
Here is a fellow who struggled with his Roman Catholic church’s treatment of the sex-abuse scandals, and finally left the communion, going to Eastern Orthodoxy.
A point he makes — he acknowledges problems in Orthodoxy, too, but the need for the institution of the church is greater than his need to uncover all of his church’s flaws.
I wonder if we all should stop criticizing people who insist that every flaw in Mormonism needs to be paraded in public, and instead acknowledge that, for many people, the institution fulfills an important role in their lives.
Once again, the Lord’s University, BYU, is embroiled in a controversy regarding censorship and the essential values being taught there. A student entered into a photographic exhibition head shots of gay and straight students at BYU. They were paired — one gay and one straight — without identifying which was which. There was no nudity, no bare chests, no nothing, just head shots. BYU decided the display had to come down.
Several thoughts occur to me. Continue reading…
Well, it’s time for the non-Mormon blogger to chime in on Prop 8. As some of you know, I live in the San Diego area. I, along with the rest of my compatriots here, have been inundated with pro- and anti-Prop 8 propaganda. We must protect traditional marriage! (What the heck is that, anyway?) We must protect the rights of gays to marry! (Where is *that* right spelled out?) There was too much dreck for anybody to possibly sort out.
Here’s the irony. At its heart, Prop 8 wasn’t about gay marriage at all. It was about how we understand the role of government in deciding how churches can deal with their members. By passing Prop 8, the churches, who should value their independence from civil authority, have invited the “arm of flesh” into their chapels and said, “Yes, YOU, the government, can now decide who can marry and who can’t.”
How in the hell can Mormons, of all people, with their history of persecution and problems with the government, possibly support this intrusion of state into church affairs? And the Baptists! Don’t they have a tradition of independence and separation from government? Something bad has happened along the way, and it’s time religionists wake up and see that their silly, knee-jerk reactions to issues like gay marriage are, on a macro level, threatening the very institutions they’re trying to preserve.
Alas, vox populi has become pox populi. And, in the end, there may very well be a pox on all our houses. As for me and my house, we will serve a rational approach to the issue.
I am painfully aware that I haven’t posted anything in a long time. Sigh, too much to do, not enough time to do it all. And with Sunstone coming up, I’m dashing about getting ready to make my way to Zion from sunny southern California.
There is a certain madness in this year’s trip. Something inside of me desperately wants to move from San Diego to Salt Lake City. I will be looking seriously at housing opportunities. My friends all think I’ve gone crazy. How can I leave paradise for life behind the Zion Curtain?
Here’s the odd thing — it’s the closest I can come to a “testimony” about anything. I feel as if this is really supposed to happen. I have no idea how. How do I move hundreds of books and everything else that would need to come with me? How can I find housing that will fulfill my needs? I have no idea.
But somehow I feel that there is an undeniable urge in me to relocate and spend my waning years in the shadow of the Temple.
Now, here’s the question: will I live in the shadow of the Temple, or of the Church Office Building? Quite different phenomena, you know. I can’t go into the Temple, but I can go into the Church Office Building. But I have no desire to go into the COB again — been there, done that. Eaten in the employee cafeteria, visited several offices. And, frankly, I don’t much want to go into the Temple, either.
So what do I want? Damned if I know.
What is it about Mormonism, and Mormons, that makes me want to live in the thick of things? The logic behind it escapes me. Maybe some of you who live in Mormon-land can explain it.
This past Thursday, Claremont College hosted a very good panel discussion with Richard and Claudia Bushman and Richard Turley on the future of Mormon history. I asked Claudia if she would e-mail me a copy of her talk, and whether I could distribute it. Here it is, unedited, but with the typical Claudia Bushman flair, at the end, pure poetry. I hope you enjoy it. Continue reading…
No, I don’t have any profound knowledge about Mormonism and Ferraro, but the recent uproar over her comments about Obama have raised a question in my mind.
First, a word about race, Mormonism, and America. Like it or not, race is still an issue in almost everything we do. We can’t seem to break free of it.
Ferraro said, in effect, that if Obama were white, he wouldn’t be where he is in the race. Consider the possibility that: a) she’s right, and b) the Bible says that “the fool uttereth all his [or her] mind.”
The evidence that she may be right might be summed up in two words: John Edwards. Both fine orators, both on target on most issues, Edwards with more experience. But Obama is still in the race, and Edwards isn’t.
I don’t know if this topic can be discussed dispassionately, but I’d love to hear your comments on this issue. We all agree that people of color are woefully under-represented among the General Authorities. They’ve had 30 years to find competent people to fill these posts. Nationally, could Obama be benefiting by being a mold-breaker? Hillary is also breaking the mold, by the way.
Your thoughts on this are solicited.
Well, I’m back after a bit of an illness. I don’t know if this post will generate any interest, but I thought I’d share it.
A Letter to Glenn Beck
February 29, 2008
Dear Mr. Beck:
First, let me tell you that I am not a regular viewer of your program. My politics is to the left of yours, and so I naturally gravitate toward other broadcasters. You make no bones about being a conservative. I appreciate this openness. Continue reading…
I am trying to keep to a once-a-week blog post, generally on Sunday evening. The passing of President Hinckley is surely sad news for all Latter-day Saints, and for many of us outside the Church who have followed his career. I suppose everyone expects Pres. Monson to become the new Prophet, although this is tradition more than a hard and fast rule. Continue reading…
This is the first in my posts with the title “The Continuing Crisis.” Each will discuss issues that either are, or should be, front and center in Mormonism today (at least in my opinion…)
Imagine my surprise when I learned that Martin Luther King Jr. died at the age of 39! This Monday is a holiday celebrating Dr. King. Another young man lost his life at about the same age — Joseph Smith, Jr. Both had a dream, both were either loved or hated by the people. Both based their beliefs in religion. Both died martyrs.
My question: would Dr. King be welcomed into the Mormon church today? They may want him to keep quiet about his feelings of unrest. And how far has Mormonism come in its well-known problems with race? Has Mormonism become the race-neutral welcoming place that it should have been from the beginning?
Well folks, this is my first post in this community. I’m glad to be here. Those who know me will recognize the title of this entry — it’s an ongoing series of posts I’ve sent over the years, documenting the angst of a Jewish fellow living hip-deep in Mormondom.
I plan to post once a week, with a new column on The Continuing Crisis. I do look forward to seeing many of you here, commenting, criticizing, etc.
Best.
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