Mormon Inquiry

Mormon Inquiry

Wednesday July 29, 2009

Categories: Mormon culture

The meanings of Zion

This is the third post on Richard L. Bushman's Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2008). [See Part 1 and Part 2.] In Chapter Three, Bushman reviews the several meanings of the term "Zion" in LDS doctrine and thinking.

Wednesday July 29, 2009

Categories: Mormon culture

A statistical portrait of Mormons

The Pew Forum recently issued a detailed summary of survey information about Mormons gathered as part of a much larger survey of religious life in the United States. It is a very readable summary, noting that Mormons comprise 1.7% of adults in the US; 35% of Mormon adults live in Utah and 13% live in California; Mormons are more likely to be married and more likely to be a college graduate than a member of the general population; and so forth.

Thursday July 23, 2009

Categories: LDS history

July 24th: Pioneer Day in Utah

July 24th is a state holiday in Utah, designated Pioneer Day. It commemorates the entry of the first wagon train of Mormons into the Salt Lake Valley in the summer of 1847. They came down Emigration Canyon, somewhat north of the present I-80 corridor which comes down Parley's Canyon. Brigham Young was part of that first company to enter the valley. Due to sickness, he was a couple of days behind the lead group of wagons. By the time he entered the valley, crops were already being planted and water diverted for irrigation.

Wednesday July 22, 2009

Categories: Christianity

Finding heretics in strange places

A very interesting post at Mormon Matters, reviewing a 1989 book titled "Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up?" The book was written by an attorney who grew up a Jehovah's Witness, then became an Evangelical Christian. That lasted until he conducted a thorough reading the original writings of the pre-Nicene Church Fathers.

Friday July 17, 2009

Categories: LDS books, LDS doctrine

Reason and revelation in Mormonism

This is a second piece on Bushman's Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2008). [See Part 1.] Every faith and denomination has an approach for balancing faith and reason. In Chapter Two of the book, Bushman briefly outlines the LDS approach.

Wednesday July 15, 2009

Categories: Mormon culture

Boy Wizard rattles Christian cages

Some, not all. Harry Potter is back in theaters this week, to the consternation of some conservative Christians. See the lengthy Wikipedia discussion under "Religious debates over the Harry Potter series" for a gentle summary. The Catholic position has changed...

Tuesday July 14, 2009

Categories: LDS doctrine

Different views of inerrancy

It is sometimes difficult for Protestants and Evangelicals to understand that the LDS Church is not simply another Protestant denomination with a well-defined catechism or creed. It is expected to be well defined since, in the Protestant world, those with...

Saturday July 11, 2009

Categories: Prop 8

More than just a kiss

From the Salt Lake Tribune: "Gay couple cuffed, cited after kiss near LDS temple." A gay couple says they were detained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints security guards after one man kissed another on the cheek...

Friday July 10, 2009

Categories: Politics

One more reason I like the Pope

Pope presses Obama on abortion, stem cells. Pope Benedict XVI stressed the church's opposition to abortion and stem cell research in his first meeting with President Barack Obama on Friday, pressing the Vatican's case with the U.S. leader who is...

Thursday July 9, 2009

Categories: Christianity

Tribalism and religions

Between being out of town and the Fourth, it's been a slow couple of weeks here. Let's get July started with an Orson Scott Card column at the Mormon Times, "Mormon 'Tribe' Feels Like Home." OSC reflects on the fact...

Advertisement

About Mormon Inquiry

This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Mormonism in our Latter-day Saints forums.

David Banack is an attorney living in Jackson Hole. He joined the LDS Church at age 15 and later served a two-year LDS mission to France and Switzerland. He has lived up and down the West Coast, as well as in Fiji, Samoa, Sweden, Utah, and now Wyoming. Dave has been running the Mormon Inquiry site discussing LDS and Christian issues since 2003. He is a website editor for Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and also participates at the LDS weblog Times and Seasons. The views expressed on this blog are his own.

Search This Blog

Advertisement

Advertisement


About Beliefnet

Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. More about Beliefnet.

Legal

Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. Constructed by Beliefnet.

Advertisement

Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.