Conversations about the religious and spiritual life on the other side of fundamentalism
 
Category: <span>Patriarchy, Toxic masculinity and Faithful Resistance</span>

362: ‘That Was Not of God’: Natasha’s Witnesses Speak Up

Ambivalence, ambiguity, lack of accountability and spiritual abuse characterize Natasha Helfer’s membership council. Wanting to preserve her church membership, Natasha and her community (in and out of the LDS Church) rallied around her in support. …

359: When a Woman’s Professional Expertise Becomes a Question of LDS Apostasy: Natasha Helfer

Natasha Helfer (LCMFT, CST, CSTS )is a licensed clinician and mental health professional who has been summoned to a LDS Church trial for her public stance on sexual health. Taking offence at the idea that …

347: The Surprise of Section 132: Michael Mathews II

Blogger Michael Mathews II  shares his exegesis of Doctrine & Covenants Section 132.  While Mormons socially read Section 132 as pointing to the endurance of familial ties after death, Mathews argues, that there is no …

344: Mormon Divorce: Les Butterfield

Not all Mormon marriages are doomed, but some are. When divorce happens acrimoniously it’s never a better time to observe the LDS church’s position on the wellbeing of women and children.   The wife of a …

334: Women, Pandemic and an Uncertain Future: Prof. Annick Masselot

Professor of Law, Annick Masselot and I reflect on the many gender inequalities that the COVID-19 pandemic has made apparent.   With research foci on equality and anti-discrimination law, gender equality, pregnancy and maternity rights, and …

322: ‘It’s not a sin if it’s secret’: Brigham, Joseph, Wives, Sex and Priesthood: Joe Geisner

Let’s be fair.  Neither Joseph nor Brigham could be considered as good men in their care, affection, fidelity and love for their wives.  To the contrary, they were want to swap them, share them, manipulate …

316: What Gave Brigham the Right to the Presidency?: Joe Geisner

Brigham Young’s status in the early LDS Movement needs to be understood in order to tackle the hard question of what gave him the right to claim the presidency,  particularly in light of the fact …

313: Murderous Times: The Mormon Reformation: Lindsay Hansen Park

In order to really understand the LDS Church, one absolutely needs to understand Mormon history. There are few periods in Mormon history that are darker and more defining than the Mormon Reformation. Lindsay Hansen Park …

311: The General Conference Fall-Out: Sara Hughes-Zabawa and Carrie Salisbury

For most Mormons, General Conference is a happy interruption to the general business of running their stakes and wards.  Twice a year members get to take a couple of days off from running things in …

310: Brigham Young, ‘I don’t care about my character on Earth!’: Dr David Vaughn Mason

What kind of claim does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have to the proposition that they are a faithful continuation of the church Joseph established?  What kind of character was Brigham Young …