CONFESSIONS OF A KNIGHT ERRANT: THE POETRY OF A FAITHFUL REBEL Though better known to Mormon audiences for his non-fiction (his Defending Zion received the Mormon History Association’s Best Documentary History Award) and even his fiction (his first short story was published in Sunstone way back in 1976) Roger Robin Ekins has written – though …
Event: Southwest Symposium 2008
SW08006: PURPOSEFUL STRANGERS: A STUDY OF THE EX-MORMON NARRATIVE
PURPOSEFUL STRANGERS: A STUDY OF THE EX-MORMON NARRATIVE The presentation focuses on the narratives of so-called Mormon apostates and the burgeoning ex-Mormon movement, placing them within an appropriate sociological framework and identifying common trends and structures for these narratives as a literary sub-genre. My research illustrates that there may be little difference between a ‘liberal’ …
SW08007: SCRIPTURAL LITERALISM AS THE NEW PAGANISM
SCRIPTURAL LITERALISM AS THE NEW PAGANISM Terms such as ‘pagan’ and ‘heathen’ are used as (usually derogatory) labels for people adhering to older, non-normative, ‘superstitious’ beliefs (e. g., ‘witchcraft’). Originally, however, these were denigrations used to describe the unsophisticated country dwellers who had not yet accepted the tenets of Christianity then normative among city dwellers. …
SW08123: LITERACY AND EDUCATION AMONG EARLY MORMON CONVERTS: THE CASE OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
LITERACY AND EDUCATION AMONG EARLY MORMON CONVERTS: THE CASE OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND Latter-day Saints often take for granted that members of the Church are reasonably well educated and find it difficult to imagine them without some basic level of schooling – at least enough to gain personal access to the word of God in the …
SW08009: WHY WE STAY
WHY WE STAY This session, a Sunstone favorite through the years, features the stories of those who have chosen to remain active, dedicated Latter-day Saints even in the face of many difficult challenges to traditional faith. How have these members wrestled with their faith and yet emerged more determined than ever to be part of …
SW08010: BODY AND IMAGINATION: HEALING BODY IMAGES THROUGH DREAM TENDING
BODY AND IMAGINATION: HEALING BODY IMAGES THROUGH DREAM TENDING This paper explores how paying attention to one’s dreams can provide important personal revelations to help heal the body and spirit. Despite the importance given to dreams in both the Book of Mormon and the early Church, paying attention to dreams is not widely practiced or …
SW08011: MORMONISM AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY: EXPLORING COMPARATIVE THEOLOGY
MORMONISM AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY: EXPLORING COMPARATIVE THEOLOGY A new course is being offered at Claremont Graduate University this spring entitled ‘Mormonism and Christian Theology.’ The class is designed to explore LDS thought in comparison with the broader Christian theological tradition. A panel of students in this seminar will discuss the curriculum and explore some of …
SW08012: THE LEGACY OF PRESIDENT GORDON B. HINCKLEY
THE LEGACY OF PRESIDENT GORDON B. HINCKLEY In this session, panelists and audience members are invited to share both personal and analytical reflections about the life and legacy of President Gordon B. Hinckley, who died 27 January 2008. What will be the lasting legacy of this beloved prophet’s presidency and leadership during his long-time Church …
SW080013: STORIES FROM THE BORDERLANDS
Many of us at this symposium are in the LDS “Borderlands” in one way or another, and we’ve all had interesting, funny, or troubling experiences. We’ve also overcome difficulties and challenges (or we wouldn’t be here!). In this session, I will share a few reflections and experiences on Borderlander topics, but I mainly want to …
SW08014: MORMONISM AND IMMIGRATION
MORMONISM AND IMMIGRATION Mormons tend to be strongly conservative about immigration matters. But should they be? Is there anything in Mormon theology that requires a hard-line immigration approach? Some hardliners cite the 12th Article of Faith as support for a conservative approach to immigration – is this a necessary conclusion? And are there aspects of …