The classic theological puzzle known as the “problem of evil” arises when we assert the existence of an all-powerful God who is also perfectly loving, …
532–533: What Is the “Good News” Jesus Taught?
As they begin to experience shifts of faith, many Latter-day Saints and others within the Christian tradition come to think of Jesus Christ differently than …
505: The Heart and Depth of Father Tom Roberts: How the Things He Sees, Studies, and Shares Might Prove a Great Boon for Many Latter-day Saints
No one who has appeared on Mormon Matters has a more interesting, diverse, and ecumenical religious journey than Father Tom Roberts—one that also includes Mormonism from …
488–490: Resurrecting Atonement
The concept of “atonement” is powerful: being “at one” with God, others, and ourselves. But the panelists on this episode, Mark Crego and George Andrew …
467–468: The Work of Peace in Mormonism and the Religious World: An Interview with Charles Randall Paul
Many long-time Mormon Matters listeners will recognize the name Charles Randall Paul, (or, as host Dan Wotherspoon calls him 90 percent of the time, “Randy” Paul). He …
465 –466: Deeper Readings of Misunderstood and Under-Appreciated Scriptures
Very few of us give deep consideration to the nature of scripture and how it should be read and understood. We grow up (or come …
443: Seeking a Good Death: Spiritual Practice and Framings to Help Us Prepare Now for Our Eventual Deaths
In this follow-up episode to our early December shows titled “Mormons Encountering Death”(MM 430–432), former hospice chaplain and meditation and contemplation teacher Phil McLemore joins …
441–442: Living in (and Growing through) Tension: An Interview with Bill Reel
Bill Reel is widely known within the Mormon podcast world as a fellow traveler on the road many of us have found ourselves on—often quite …
427: (Encore) “Living” Stories
This is an encore presentation of a fantastic May 2014 episode by the same name. In it, philosopher-theologian Adam Miller and narrative studies specialist Stephen Carter join Mormon Matters …
401–402: The Uncontrolling Love of God—Talking Theology and Community, and Meeting a Fellow Traveler in Thomas Jay Oord
This two-part episode features a wonderful conversation with Thomas Jay Oord, an author, teacher, theologian, and elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Jim McLachlan …
372: Jesus’ Abba: The God Who Has Not Failed
John B. Cobb is one of the world’s most renowned theologians and philosophers, noted especially for his Christological pluralism and work across many disciplines, and …
365: More on the Mormon God (with help from Process Theology)
In somewhat of a continuation of our previous episodes (363 & 364), Jim McLachlan and Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon are joined by David Ray Griffin, a world-renowned philosopher and theologian …
333: Mormonism and Future Generations
In a wonderful new book, Future Mormon: Essays in Mormon Theology, Adam Miller sets his spirit and intellect loose on the important task of helping clear …
292: The Landscape of Mormon Theology: Terryl Givens at the Rockwell Museum
On 7 March 2015, Terryl Givens gave a wonderful lecture and was interviewed at the Rockwell Museum in Corning, New York. The occasion was a …
290–291: Past, Present, and Possible Futures of Mormon Studies
The academic study of religion has been around for a long time. And although there are many examples of books and articles that have used …
272: Paul’s Theology of Grace
The Apostle Paul’s theology can be difficult to grasp–and, in a few ways, especially so for Mormons. Some challenges arise from Latter-day Saints’ primary use …
265–266: Mormonism as a “Religion”
Of course Mormonism is a religion. But do we always think about it through the lenses of such a big and diverse category? Among those …
257: Negotiating Adult Faith within a Developing Institution
Just as many theorists understand individual human maturation through developmental stages, a great deal of literature suggests that institutions (churches, corporations, governments) as well as …
230: The Mormon God
Mormons have several quite distinctive views of God, but do most Mormons realize it? In almost every theological area, ranging from the nature of God …
227: “Living” Stories
In this episode, philosopher-theologian Adam Miller and narrative studies specialist Stephen Carter join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon to explore the many and varied ways …
226: The “Best Thing” About Mormonism
This episode strays from Mormon Matters’ typical panel discussion format, featuring instead four one-on-one conversations between host Dan Wotherspoon and wonderful friends of his who …
222–223: Becoming Like God
The most recent entry in the Gospel Topics series at lds.org, “Becoming Like God,” represents the LDS church’s newest attempt to help clarify (for members, …
182–183: Is Mormonism’s God Worthy of Worship?
Mormonism has a distinctive view of God that differs quite a bit from that of traditional theism. And though we as Latter-day Saints recognize and …
166–169: The Couplet (and Teachings about Theosis) in Today’s Mormonism
The 2013 LDS Priesthood and Relief Society manual, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, features a lesson, “The Grand Destiny of the Faithful” …
157–158: C.S. Lewis and Mormonism
C.S. Lewis is a towering twentieth-century figure, known especially as an author of fiction and meditations on Christianity and the work of God in human …
142–143: Process Theology and Mormonism
The term “process theology” refers to a system of thought that emerged in the early twentieth century and is based primarily upon the reflections of …
139: A Beautiful Vision of Mormonism
This episode was planned to be an exploration of the joys and perils of being a public face of Mormonism, especially as a woman, and …
102–103: Pragmatism, William James, and Mormon Sensibilities
Pragmatism is the name of a philosophical approach for judging between competing truth claims. It essentially says that if you are presented with two ideas …
72: Effecting Change in the Church
This episode features panelists who all are deeply involved with the LDS Church, yet from their position of involvement in, and love and affection for, …
61: Mormon Views on Satan and the Origins of Evil
Most religions, cultures, and philosophies contain stories or theories about human evil and its origins. Some, including Mormonism, place a major portion of the blame …
58: Obedience and Agency
Mormonism teaches the importance of being obedient to God and God’s will while at the same time emphasizing the bedrock fact of our individual agency. …
53: Mormonism and Capital Punishment
The recent execution of Troy Davis brought to the front once more the issue of capital punishment, especially arguments about the very real possibility of executing …
50: The Call to Be Peacemakers
The tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks provide an important moment for all of us to reflect on life’s most precious things and what …
29: David Brooks, The Book of Mormon Musical, and Rigorous Religion
New York Times columnist David Brooks very much enjoyed the Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon,” but, as he articulates in his 21 April 2011 …
28: Racism in Honor Code Enforcement for BYU Athletes?
On 13 April 2011, Deadspin.com published a fast-trending article, “The Truth about Race, Religion, and the Honor Code at BYU,” that highlights possible racial factors …