Pillars of My Faith This is Sunstone’s perennially best-attended session. Hear speakers share the events and concepts that animate their religious lives; a little soul-baring, a little spiritual journey, a little intellectual testimony-bearing. This self-reflective night is about the things that matter most, plus spirited congregational hymn-singing. Dan Wotherspoon, Susan D. Skoor
Speaker: Dan Wotherspoon
DISCUSSION: SUNSTONE STRATEGY BRAINSTORM
SUNSTONE IS AT AN IMPORTANT CROSSROADS. PLEASE JOIN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR FOR A CONVERSATION ON WHAT WE MIGHT DO TOGETHER TO TAKE SUNSTONE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY JOHN DEHLIN, DAN WOTHERSPOON
‘I’M BLESSED’: AN INTERVIEW WITH DARIUS GRAY
‘I’M BLESSED’: AN INTERVIEW WITH DARIUS GRAY Darius Aidan Gray joined the LDS church in 1964, at a time when black members were not allowed to hold the priesthood and could not enjoy temple blessings. But a remarkable answer to prayer, “This is the restored gospel and you are to join,” led him to put …
THE BOOK OF MORMON IN LIGHT OF DNA STUDIES: WHERE ARE WE NOW?
William Lobdell’s 16 February 2006 Los Angeles Times story is the latest in a string of stories over the past four years in which journalists have focused public attention on how DNA research on Amerindian ancestry has impacted discussions of Book of Mormon historicity. Until now, the impact of these stories on typical Mormon discourse …
FROM ENIGMA TO MADNESS: AN INTERVIEW WITH VALEEN TIPPETTS AVERY
FROM ENIGMA TO MADNESS: AN INTERVIEW WITH VALEEN TIPPETTS AVERY Northern Arizona University professor VALEEN TIPPETTS AVERY is well-known to students of Mormon history for two groundbreaking and highly celebrated books: Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith (1984),which she co-authored with Linda King Newell, and From Mission to Madness: Last Son of the Mormon Prophet (1998) …
Religion and Pop Culture: Shotgun Wedding, Marriage of Convenience, or Match Made in Heaven?
Religion and Pop Culture: Shotgun Wedding, Marriage of Convenience, or Match Made in Heaven? We’ve come a long way since Hollywood’s idea of religion was confined to biblical sand-and-sword operas; Irish priests and chaplains with twinkly eyes; and morally corrupt Protestant evangelists like Elmer Gantry. Barely a month passes without a movie or television show …
Is Bigger Better?: Meditations On ‘Size’
In today’s academic and political climates, using the word “hierarchy” can cause shudders, especially when one applies it to value judgments. I’ve long been enamored with process theologian Bernard Loomer’s concept of “size” as a way of talking about hierarchical relationships. Dan Wotherspoon, James McLachlan
Brigham And Buddha: Eastern Practices And Philosophies That Enhance Our Mormon Spiritual Lives
As suggested by the term “active” applied to fully engaged Latter-day Saints, Mormons are often characterized as emphasizing “doing” over “being.” The sensibilities and practices of many Eastern traditions reverse this emphasis, encouraging adherents to be “still,” to separate in various ways from the hustle and bustle of life. This session features Latter-day Saints who …
The Defense Of Cain
Prepare for a radical idea. Suppose Cain was framed?!! In this interactive, musical play, The Defense of Cain, the playwright claims that the scriptural record is one sided, that Cain has never had his day in court! This is that day. What are the implications of a possible ancient miscarriage of justice? How would the …
Mormon Contributions To Christology And Understanding The Atonement
Sterling M. McMurrin once noted that even among the best Mormon theologians, one can find “a confused combination of the entire gamut of atonement theories.” Panelists in this session will attempt to bring forth clarity from this confusion, as well as suggest areas in which Mormonism has made unique contributions to Christology (how Jesus can …