The Church’s Republican Problem
The Church is headquartered in a nation that is becoming more and more divided along political partisan lines. Party tribalism is strong in this country. Just this past year a Pew research study found 91 percent of Republicans view the Democratic Party unfavorably,...
Being Mormon, Lesbian, and In Love…
As I sit in Fast and Testimony meeting this morning I hear one man speak of families. He expresses the immense joy he feels in his life because he has a wife and family. He says he has recently been wondering why families are so important to our Heavenly Father that...
125: THE CES PODCAST, EPISODE 18: ACTS 17-19
Was Jesus wife's name Resurrection? What kind of authority did women such as Lydia and Priscilla have in the early Christian Church? What were the philosophies of the Epicureans and the Stoics? Did Paul's speech on Mars Hill canonize Greek philosophy? If so, what does...
THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR AND MY EUROPEAN MORMON TRADITION
“Like one who seeks to warn the city of an impending flood, but speaks another language. They do not understand him… “So do we come forward and report that evil has been done us.” Excerpted from Poems [1913-1956] /Bertolt Brecht, ed. by John Willett and Ralph...
Found Among the Wise Women
Recently a Facebook meme caught my attention. You may have even seen it yourself. It said… Three Wise Women would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, brought practical gifts, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and there would be...
The Conductor
An audience waits in anticipation. A low murmur of chatter accompanies the sound of warming instruments, which accentuates the anticipation. The oboe plays an “A” from the stage. The crowd quiets as the woodwinds and strings tune to the note. A tuba plays a “B flat”...
17 Goals for 2017
I belong to a church of assigned goals, so I've decided to set some goals for other people to honor the end of 2016 and prepare us all for 2017: Read at least one book recommended by someone you disagree with. Try sushi. It really does deserve one more chance. Vocally...
RE: The MoTab. Who Represents You?
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be singing at Donald J. Trump's presidential inauguration. Yes, that Donald J. Trump. The one that not too long ago, The Deseret News (the news organization owned by the church) was disavowing. Our choir is singing at his inauguration....
124: THE CES PODCAST, EPISODE 17, ACTS 13-16
What is the difference between magic and the healings done by early Christians such as Paul? Why when Paul is recounting Jewish history does he leave out David's adultery? Why did some think Paul was the Greek god Hermes and some thought his companion, Barnabas, was...
123: SEARCHING FOR THE MOTHER OF GOD
This episode is a recording of a Christmas talk given on October 11, 2016. In it Mike Barker discusses the struggle to find powerful and righteous women in scripture to point his daughters towards as examples. ________________ Also please donate to the Liahona...
Ye Are the Body of Christ
(Christ Walking on Water by Julius von Klever) Over the past year, my son has been searching for a better understanding of Jesus and Christ, which I have encouraged him not to conflate. He recently asked me, “How can I know if all the things they say about Jesus are...
Questions make us human, and singing keeps us together
"Human ancestors shared the ground and living space with African lions for at least a couple of million years. Imagine the choir where all the individual members are forced (literally under the fear of death!) to be in perfect unity with the other members of the...
ROGUE ONE AND DONALD TRUMP
Kristin and Mikle South have a long tradition of hosting big parties for the release of big movies, from the Lord of the Rings trilogy to the new Star Wars shows. This year they hosted 592 friends and friends-of-friends for an advance screening of Rogue One: A...
Limiting Hope
Hope is inspiring. It expands our hearts and lifts our mind. It pushes our feet back under our bodies to rise up and get back to work in the face of difficult obstacles. In times of disappointment, trial and depression, in the doldrums of guilt and the paralysis of...
The God of Lost Keys
You needed to leave two minutes ago. You’ve searched frantically but can’t find your keys ANYWHERE. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous! You are going to be so late for that important event. Then it occurs to you: you haven’t said a prayer yet. So you pause...
Sunstone Nauvoo Retreat 2017 Review
In October, my friend and I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Nauvoo, Illinois for the Sunstone Nauvoo Retreat. This event was the first of its type from Sunstone- a location-based historical retreat for those who are academically interested in Mormonism. The...
LGBTQ Mormon Crisis
Two Printable handout for bishops and stake presidents that talks empirically about LGBTQ suicides:
The LGBTQ Mormon Crisis: Responding to the Empirical Research on Suicide
Youth Suicide Rates and Mormon Religious Context: An Additional Empirical Analysis
The Barker Brothers’ Projects
These videos were created for Latter-day Saint parents and allies to voice their love for their LGBT brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. They want to give a message of comfort and support to other parents who are navigating the difficult conflicts that can arise in families around this issue.
“Cogito!” (“I think!”) follows the intellectual adventures of a recovering academic outside the walls of academia.
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