The World Already Ended…or Didn’t You Notice?
So there's been some talk amidst the "end of days" crowds that this September is supposed to be the beginning of the end. Or the beginning of an end. Or the seventh year in the cycle of Jewish numbers of Old Testament things and 9/11 and the recession and UN troops...
Wandering in the Wilderness
It has now been 9 years since I first listened to the Mormon Stories podcast with Darius Gray and Margaret Young on blacks and the priesthood and temple ban. In it they put the priesthood ban into context of the surrounding culture. I learned that in the beginning,...
73: Top Ten Books on Mormon History – The Politics of American Religious Identity
Many of the history books we read or hear spoken of relate to the 19th century and address topics such as polygamy, priesthood, temple origins, Joseph Smith, and the trek west. The 19th century Mormon experience feels so foreign to our 21st century selves that it...
A Response to John Dominic Crossan, ‘How to Read the Bible and Still be a Christian’
I was invited to respond to John Dominic Crossan a few weeks ago at a book event at Writ & Vision in Provo, Utah. I was honored to spend the time getting to know Dom, and greatly respect his honesty, scholarship, and kindness in allowing me to share a few of my...
A Survey! A Survey! A Fun Little Survey!!!
Public perception is really important to . . . us. Us, as in, all of us. I tend to think that we are all really concerned about what others think of us. Well, blogs and podcasts are no different. Some of us at RF have constructed a little survey for you to try to get...
We’re All a Bunch of Liars
I once taught management courses to nurses at a hospital. In one particular class, I quoted a study that tried to quantify how often people lie, either to themselves or others. I don’t remember the exact number but it’s a lot. Most lies are diplomatic. “Abish, that...
The Mormon History Conspiracy
For generations, the LDS Church has engaged in a well-orchestrated conspiracy to suppress troubling aspects of its history. With the advent of the Internet, however, more and more Mormons are finding these troubling facts and facing a faith crisis. For many, worse...
The New Testament Made Harder
The New Testament Made Harder: Scripture Study Questions, by James E. Faulconer, has already been well reviewed in several places. I can't do a better job of telling you what's in it than other reviews, and I'm not qualified to give an academic critique, so instead...
72: Ask a Mormon Sex Therapist Part 10
In this episode of “Ask a Mormon Sex Therapist” Brian and Laurel talk with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife about how to raise children, particularly our daughters, to own their sexuality; the second question is in concern of worthiness interviews with a Bishop, either...
#shortcreek4th
Southern Utah is teetering on the brink of a human rights crisis as the towns of Hildale and Colorado City shed hundreds of refugees who have lost their homes and their families. As citizens on the border of our state suffer, the majority of Mormons are silent on this...
Are Children Supposed to Enjoy Church?
It’s 1993, I’m six years old, and I’m sitting in the pews listening to a speaker in Sacrament meeting. I’m not sure I can take it anymore. My parents have made it very clear that I must sit still. My attention span ran out about 10 minutes in (my adult attention span...
Does my church support a hate group?
These are not Westboro Baptist Church goers we’re talking about here. But, that doesn’t mean that the LDS Church’s involvement with a known hate group won’t be harmful.
An Argument for “Mormon Universalism”
The following is an argument for Mormon Universalism. I present this argument not as a personal endorsement in every particular, but rather as a prompt for constructive discussion and critical self-reflection. What is “Mormon Universalism”? It is the belief that every...
Curiosity Killed the Cat. (But it Saved me in Sunday School)
These days Sunday school is tough for me; I often get bored and sometimes I even get annoyed or frustrated. Sometimes I don’t like the way the lesson is being taught or comments from other class members. If I’m annoyed and or frustrated enough in class I will shut...
For the Cause of Righteousness: A Global History of Blacks and Mormonism 1830-2013
by Mike Barker Ah, yes. Race. We've all heard the aphorism, "Two things you never want to discuss are religion and politics." For many whites, we want to add a third thing, "Don't talk about issues of race." But to be honest, we must. Especially those of us born...
71: The Illusion of Asymmetric Insight
In continuing our series “The Human Mormon Mind,” I just talked with Mica McGriggs and Benjamin Knoll about an incredibly important aspect of human psychology and group dynamics. The Illusion of Asymmetric Insight describes our tendency to view ourselves and 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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