It is my experience, both personal and observed, that we can create our own faith crisis by putting our faith in the wrong things. Some things must be unchanging, true, and good. Other may not be. Our faith is constructed from childhood with simplistic stories, but that which we can understand as a child is often much different than reality.
Continue reading “Distinguishing Doctrine and Practice”Faith Crossing – Part Two
In part one I describe a tension between the church and those in faith crisis and post-deconstruction stages. Assuming that we want to retain these people, the question is:
How can the church, as an institution, help people through a faith crisis or reconstruction?
I have a few ideas.
Continue reading “Faith Crossing – Part Two”Faith Crossing – Part One
In several previous posts (Stages of Faith Part 1, 2, 3, 4), I discuss faith stages and ask how the church can meet the needs of those in different stages of their individual journey. However, we may actually need to address a different question first:
Continue reading “Faith Crossing – Part One”God on a Leash
“If you do what God wants, you will receive a reward. In fact, God wants to give you stuff.” This is known as prosperity gospel or prosperity theology and there is a uniquely Mormon flavor of it.
Continue reading “God on a Leash”Wrong Question
Continue reading “Wrong Question”We are still behaving as though “Which church is true?” is the question most people are asking.
But it no longer speaks to the questions young adults (in this culture, at least) are actually asking.
Seems Like Revelation
This is a topic that I have wanted to address for a long time. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we often speak of inspiration, revelation, or feeling. Of these, “revelation” carries the most weight. But, there are often unintended consequences.
Continue reading “Seems Like Revelation”Weeping Souls
As a child I remember listening to a particular sermon about the evils of depression, a tool of Satan, evil ingratitude. I don’t know why it struck me so strongly, maybe because I recognized a dark sadness within myself that convicted me.
Continue reading “Weeping Souls”Velvet Elvis
There is deep wisdom among thought leaders from other Christian traditions that can be beneficial to us. Not so much because it is different, but because it is the same.
Continue reading “Velvet Elvis”Visitors Welcome – Δύο (Two)
I just attended one of the most intriguing church services ever.
Continue reading “Visitors Welcome – Δύο (Two)”The New Mormons – Part Two
In the spirit of the ever-popular Top Ten List of ________, I will start with some brief statements describing the results of the New Mormon Survey. You can then decide if you want to read more.
Continue reading “The New Mormons – Part Two”