Conversations about the religious and spiritual life on the other side of fundamentalism
 
Category: <span>Restoration Studies, Religious Studies, Church History and Faith</span>

295: The Beginning and End of Church College of New Zealand: Witehira & Puriri

Church College of New Zealand, which was opened in 1958, had a short life by education standards.  For 52 years it served the mostly Māori Mormon LDS community.  But, in a swirl of confusion, it …

294: Māori and LDS: A Complex History of the LDS Church in New Zealand: Prof. Peter Lineham

In 2019 Professor Peter Lineham was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to religious history and the community.  And that honour is well deserved.  Few, if any scholars in …

282: Fostering Restoration Ecumenism: Apostle Richard James

In the spirit of LDS Restoration ecumenism Richard joins me to discuss how Community of Christ has developed as a vital expression of the Restoration.

279: Finding the Divine and Community Again: John Hamer

John Hamer comes from a family who has long been a part of the Latter-day Saint movement.  Once a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, today, John pastors a bustling downtown …

277: It’s Not Faithless to Doubt: Spiritual Formation & Faith Crisis: Katie Harmon McClaughlin

We shouldn’t be more worried about Faith Crisis than we are about our response to it.  A poor response to faith crisis can cause spiritual havoc and immense emotional damage. From our LDS cousins (who …

272: A Māori Reflection on LDS Church Culture and Discipline: Mahuika, Rangiwai, Hikairo

Without any effort to contextualize or indigenize the LDS Church in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Māori are often asked to accept ways of being that get imported from Utah.  This ‘Utah’ worldview is  presented to LDS Māori …

268: What Do Your Temple Garments Mean to You?: Nancy Ross and Jessica Finnigan

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there’s often a very large gap in the theological or doctrinal understanding of the garment, and the lived experience with wearing one.   Predictably, Mormons will …

260: Reckoning with the Corruption of Brother Joseph: Andrew Bolton

Few institutions are more equipped to peek in on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with more understanding, sympathy and even critique than the Community of Christ.  They too have been dealing with …

257: The Sins of Brigham: The granddaughters of Brigham’s wives speak out: Jacobs, Jensen & Chamberlain

While Mormons claim Joseph Smith as the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is still very much Brigham Young’s church.  Brigham’s leadership was formative in shaping the LDS movements as …

250: Living Honestly with Mormonism’s Past and Present: Brian Whitney

Brian and Gina discuss the complexity of the experience of Mormonism when confronted with eyes wide open to both its past, its present and its changing contexts.   Brians’ Website:  Mormonism in Context