FAIR

Mike Parker

FAIR Conference: Thursday open thread

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Anyone with Internet access in the conference hall is invited to comment here on Thursday’s presentations.

If your commenting on your own blog or other site, please feel free to link to it here.

  • Wade Miller, “Science and the Book of Mormon”
  • Vickey Taylor, “The Sariah Dilemma: Finding Increased Faith When Our Children Misplace Their Own”
  • John Gee, “The Larger Issue”
  • Ugo Perego, “Haplogroup X in Light of Recent Book of Mormon Claims”
  • McKay White, “The Kirtland Safety Society: The Myths, the Facts, and the Prophet’s Good Name”
  • Ron Barney, “The Reliability of Mormon History Produced by the LDS Church”
  • Robert White, “On Being An Apologist: Imperatives, Predicaments, Perils, and Blessings”

FAIR Conference starts Thursday morning

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After months of preparation, the 2009 FAIR Conference begins tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM.

If you haven’t preregistered and you live in the Salt Lake area, at-the-door registration will be available both days. Video streaming is also being offered for $20. Details available at FAIR’s conference web page.

The FAIR blog will have an open thread for conference participants to comment on the talks. Check back tomorrow!

Gospel Doctrine apologetics: D&C lesson 27

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In what will hopefully become a recurring feature on the FAIR blog, we present a list of issues that could come up as you teach or participate in your ward’s Gospel Doctrine class. Each issue is linked to an examination and response by FAIR.

This week: Lesson 27, “They Must Needs Be Chastened and Tried, Even as Abraham” (D&C 101; 103; 105).

[Read more…] about Gospel Doctrine apologetics: D&C lesson 27

Asking those I agree with to be honest

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I’ll be up-front about my politics here: They’re conservative, libertarian, anti-foreign intervention, and pro-civil rights. I have mixed feelings about California’s Proposition 8; I probably would vote “no” on it if I still lived in California.

Considering my views, it only makes sense that I’ve read and enjoyed Andrew Sullivan’s blog for many years.

But at issue is not my politics, it’s Mr. Sullivan’s over-the-top claim in his October 31st blog post:

Yes On 8 has been bankrolled to the tune $20 million from the LDS church. And their main theme has been the ancient blood libel against gay people (and Jews): that we’re out to “recruit” or abuse others’ children.

Disagreement with another’s political views is one thing; outright dishonesty is quite another.

Believe what you want, Mr. Sullivan, about what’s really in Mormons’ hearts as they go to the polls on November 4th. But no pro-Prop 8 campaign advertising has even come close to using “blood libel against gay people” and fears of gay “recruiting” or abuse of children — let alone made it the “main theme” of the campaign.

Andrew Sullivan is employing the same sort of stereotyping of Mormons that he complains Mormons are doing about practicing homosexuals. And, as someone who usually enjoys his writing, I find it beneath contempt.

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DMI: “So-Called Stages of Faith”

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Over at the blog Dave’s Mormon Inquiry, the eponymous Dave Banack examines the “Stages of Faith” that has become something of a fad among those who reject the literal nature of the Restoration.

According to developmental psychologist James Fowler, individuals develop in their religious faith from a basic understanding centered on safety of one’s environment (Stage 0) to a universal enlightenment (Stage 6). Conformity to an organized religion is rooted in Stages 2 and 3, where myth, cosmic justice, and conformity lay (along with notions of an anthropomorphic god). According to Fowler, those on their way to enlightenment will leave these simplistic beliefs behind on the way to “universalizing” faith.

[Read more…] about DMI: “So-Called Stages of Faith”

FAIR conference day 2 – open thread

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This is an open thread for participants and streaming listeners to comment on FAIR conference presentations on Friday, 8 August 2008.

Today’s speaker lineup:

  1. Ron Esplin (“The Joseph Smith Papers”)
  2. Matthew Brown (“The Israelite Temple and the Early Christians”)
  3. Newell Bringhurst and Craig Foster (“The White Horse Prophecy: Myth vs. Reality”)
  4. Scott Gordon (“Online Apologetics”)
  5. Brian Hauglid (“The Book of Abraham”)
  6. Brant Gardner (“Second Witness: The Book of Mormon”)
  7. Daniel Peterson (“Humble Apologetics”)

We look forward to your comments!