Posts Tagged ‘ faith ’

Mormon Blogs – What’s OK?

December 3, 2009
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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?

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Anish Kapoor on Spirituality

November 30, 2009
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Anish Kapoor on Spirituality

On the BBC, there is a great series of Art documentaries entitled ‘Imagine’.  Alan Yentob, a Television Executive, presents them and in the most recent, as of 18th Nov 2009, Yentob interviews and discusses the work of Anish Kapoor.  People will recognise his sculptures without necessarily remembering his name, perhaps the height of fame for an artist.  Having recently finished reading Givens’ ‘A People of Paradox’ I have been considering the relationship between Art and Spirituality and during this documentary Kapoor made some interesting comments which resonated with me.

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To Those Struggling In Their Faith

November 13, 2009
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There are many within Mormonism who struggle daily with their faith. They have been exposed to historical information they were not aware of, they were torn in political battle, they dislike the culture, or in some other way awoke to a “reality” they had not known before. It can be a lonely place in a tight knit community with such strong beliefs. And when a person is in that frame of mind, it often feels like the solution is to crawl in a hole and disappear. To further throw salt in the wound, the church doesn’t have any sort of…

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“Knowing” It All

November 2, 2009
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“Knowing” It All

Mormons love to use the word “know.”  We say we know God lives.  We say we know that Jesus is the Christ.  We say we know that families can be together forever.  Some say that they know the church is true or that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet (the middle initial makes him truer somehow).  People say they “know” a lot of things.  What does “know” mean in Mormonism?  Has it been overused to the point that its meaning has changed or that is has become meaningless?

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White Noise

October 9, 2009
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Everybody blogs, right? Why not me? Looking for my niche, my angle, and the one thing that seemed to make me stand out in my corner of the world. I found it: Being single. And 40. And Mormon. In a family ward. In a town where EVERYONE is under 30, sealed in the temple and constantly reproducing. The best humor is found in our painful life experiences. Read about mine and laugh with me. Or at me. Whichever. singlemormonchick

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In Praise of Elder Packer: ‘Let Them Govern Themselves’

September 28, 2009
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In Praise of Elder Packer: ‘Let Them Govern Themselves’

It might just be the posts that I read, but Boyd K. Packer is not the most popular of Apostles in the Bloggernacle (or perhaps among liberal Mormons more generally).  I acknowledge that this is a speculative impression.  At the very least, I have heard Elder Packer criticised at Sunstone and on the Bloggernacle on a few occassions at least.  I was therefore surprised to find one of his sermons published in full in an issue of Sunstone.  The talk was insightful, challenging and thought-provoking.  As a result I wanted to reproduce some of his comments here that I found most interesting…

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On Agency and Accountability: An Inter-dependent View

September 20, 2009
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On Agency and Accountability: An Inter-dependent View

Jeff Spector wrote a post on Agency a few months ago which I enjoyed alot.  The discussion led me down a slightly different path and I wanted to write a supplement to his ideas in light of some of my own thoughts on agency and how they relate to accountability.  My major contention is that the notion of individual accountability is a fallacy, or, perhaps more accurately, it is not the whole story.

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The Genius of Mormonism: Ordinances

September 15, 2009
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This is the next installment in my series about what gives Mormonism staying power and makes it an effective religion at winning and retaining adherents.

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Too Much of a Good Thing: A Birth Control Poll

September 9, 2009
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Too Much of a Good Thing:  A Birth Control Poll

Does the church discourage birth control?  Are couples encouraged to breed as quickly and frequently as nature allows?  Take this poll to share your feelings on the subject.

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Do Mormon Kids Understand the Atonement?

August 28, 2009
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Does the church teach that we are saved by grace or that we are saved by works?  This is one of the most oft-repeated criticisms of the Mormon church by other churches, that we don’t correctly understand the atonement of Jesus.

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Insiders & Outsiders

August 17, 2009
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When it comes to Mormonism, do you feel more like an insider or an outsider?

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Belief vs. Action

August 13, 2009
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Belief vs. Action

Which is more important – belief or action?  Is faith without action better than action without faith?  Is belief without action better than acting despite disbelief?  Which leads to the better outcome or are both fraught with their own dangers?

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Unleashing the Analyst. A Personal Story

August 6, 2009
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Unleashing the Analyst.  A Personal Story

As I have already posted a few times, I think it’s time I introduce myself.  So, this is my story, Mormon Story style (only without the cool podcast, John, and well…okay, it’s nothing like Mormon Stories).  It’s likely familiar to many, so if it sounds like Déjà Vu feel free to move along!

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Liars, Damned Liars and Statisticians

August 5, 2009
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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.

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Is Prayer About God?

July 22, 2009
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What does prayer mean? What is its purpose in our lives?  Today’s guest post is from jmb275.

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Science vs. Religion: A Poll

July 21, 2009
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When there is a seeming conflict between science and religion, people tend to make a mental choice that either favors religion or science.  Which is it for you?

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The Doctor Is IN: An Interview with The Mormon Therapist

July 17, 2009
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Natasha Helfer Parker is a licensed therapist who has counseled the LDS community for 12 years.  In 2009, she began a blog called The Mormon Therapist, answering questions from readers from the standpoint of a faithful LDS therapist.  We were able to get her to answer a few questions about her site, issues Mormons face, and to get her sound advice.

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Early Mormonism in Context

July 16, 2009
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We tend to view Mormonism in the context of its current contemporaries:  Baptists, Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists, and atheists (among many others).  But how does Mormonism compare with other religious movements of its time at founding?  Was it more progressive or less?  Were its ideas uniquely handed down via revelation or part of a shifting religious culture?  Or both?

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The Genius of Mormonism: Israel is Back, Baby! (POLL incl.)

July 13, 2009
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The Genius of Mormonism:  Israel is Back, Baby! (POLL incl.)

One of the attractive components to Mormon theology was the notion that Mormons were a chosen people, and both figuratively and literally part of the House of Israel.  The Book of Mormon also offered the idea that Israel was all over the earth throughout time in various times and places and that they are always the chosen people.  Mormon youth (and adults) who receive a Patriarchal Blessing are personally informed of their own lineage as a member of the House of Israel.  So, how does this compare to other religions’ views of Israel and Judaism?

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Mormon Dating Sites – What the Heck?!?

July 9, 2009
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Mormon Dating Sites – What the Heck?!?

In a church that requires chastity but a world in which random hookups are the norm, what about the plight of single adults who are well past the average Mormon dating age?  Or even more difficult, what about those divorced members who are committed to the law of chastity, but also facing the dating scene again?  Today’s guest post is by Single Mormon Chick who also blogs at The Law of Chastity and the Modern Mormon Girl.

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