http://theculturalhall.com Exploring "A Middle Way" Within Mormonism Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:53:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The doors to the cultural hall are going to be shut for a while as we vacuum the floor. You can peek inside and see what we've been discussing over the past couple of years, but comments are closed for the time being. Why? It is simply time for ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=458 "Here's what I think in a single sentence: I think that the real religion is about the understanding that if we can only still our egos for a few seconds, we might have a chance of experiencing something that is divine in nature. But in order to do that, we ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=213 One of the more interesting things I heard last weekend at the American Psychological Association convention in Boston was this line, "Absolute certainty and evil are actually the same thing," from a presentation on the belief systems of religious extremists. It struck me as something that many in the Cultural ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=260 I promised to pass along any LDS efforts to counter church support for Prop 8. The purpose of the site is to educate people about  marriage equality and about LDS people who are lesbian or gay and to provide support to LDS people who oppose the proposition. More videos and ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=257 When it appeared on television I'd heard about the 30 Days episode featuring an LDS woman, Katie, living with gay men who'd adopted children. I hadn't been able to see the program, however, until today, when  a friend forwarded me the link. It is fascinating to watch, and it ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=255 That was the title I suggested to my wife for her talk in sacrament meeting tomorrow. After reading that a graduate of BYU's law school approved of the "torture memo", it seems to me that we could benefit from being reminded that Jesus said to turn the other cheek. ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=252 Imagine my husband coming into the house. He steps into the kitchen, and there I am at the computer weeping uncontrollably. “What happened?” asks spouse as he rushes to me. Between sobs and catching my breath, I try to answer. It takes a full minute before I speak at ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=248 I promised earlier that I'd pass on any information about groups organizing to protest LDS church involvement in supporting Prop 8 (that's the official name for the ballot measure for the amendment to the California constitution banning gay marriage.) This is the first effort I know of that's gotten off ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=247 I'm sure by now our readers know about the First Presidency letter to be read in church this coming Sunday. I don't want to get into any debates on this post about the letter itself, or gay marriage. My question is-- what do you plan to do when the letter ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=244 In response to my own post, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" I came up with some interesting ideas of what's in it for me by not deciding - by sitting on the fence, or in the lawn chair at the crossroads. By not deciding, I'm maintaining the status quo, ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=243 I have been a long-time proponent of just parking at the crossroads. Mormons and ex-Mormons alike always say stuff like "if you don't believe, you should just leave." And I've argued with that, vehemently. I can stay if I want. However, now I don't know if ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=240 Not too long ago a letter was read in our ward from our stake leaders emphasizing a concern about "casualness." The letter went on to specify dress standards, stressing outward appearance, but not addressing the heart at all. It seems that God has suddenly become very concerned with the style ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=242 I received word of a study of people's attitudes about the Book of Mormon. Please take a few minutes to add your responses. The survey is available at http://nelsonseawright.bookofmormon.sgizmo.com/ All sides of the faith spectrum (true believers, inactives, ex-members, etc.) are welcome to participate. http://theculturalhall.com/?p=241 Fathers come in all types. I'm fortunate to have one who is loving and is always there when I need him. Even 40-somethings can use a helpful word from Dad once in a while, y'know. We Mormons anthropomorphize God, calling him Heavenly Father, and seeing human characteristics in deity. Of course, ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=199 We've made some amazing strides. The day when it is possible for a either a woman or a black man to have a really good shot at the highest office in the nation is finally here. It's something we should all be excited about. Martin Luther King Jr.'s poetic and ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=238 How I navigate Mormonism while being a rationalist, non-believing, feminist: 1) To avoid the guilt that I initially felt upon disbelieving [early in my 20s], I recognized that everyone has their own form of Mormonism. Thanks to a great therapist. Everyone ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=237 The California Supreme Court recently ruled that the state's ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. The Mormon internet has been busy with comments and reaction to the ruling, which will almost certainly be the subject of a ballot initiative in November to add the ban to the state constitution. Of ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=236  Guest post by Natasha: I have wanted to post on this a long time.  I think sometimes I spend too much time thinking about how Mormonism limits me, without thinking about how it has helped me.   But as a mostly non-believer, I stay in Mormonism because my life has been so ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=235 Since I've never lived outside of Utah for more than three months, I'm about as Utah Mormon as they come--that is as far as geography. I grew up in one of those cities south of the Mormon curtain (the point of the mountain) that is close to 90 % LDS. ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=234 As scholar Karen Armstrong accepts her 2008 TED Prize, she talks about how the Abrahamic religions -- Islam, Judaism, Christianity -- have been diverted from the moral purpose they share to foster compassion. But Armstrong has seen a yearning to change this fact. People want to be religious, she says; ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=233 I’d heard once that Sister Camilla Kimball had said that when there was something about the gospel she didn’t understand, she put that on a shelf. I liked the idea. I envisioned a shelf full of food storage and canned goods, and I started piling up my issues--stuff that ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=232 In today's Salt Lake Tribune is an op-ed piece I wrote about polygamy, copied below. Some people will say I'm overstepping my bounds, and others will say I don't go far enough. I simply hope it makes people think about the church's connections to polygamy. The present policy ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=231 When I moved 15 years ago to this small corner of Georgia, Bill was one of the first people I met. He greeted me with a broad smile and a twinkle in his eye, and there was never a moment that I doubted he genuinely cared about me. Some people ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=230 Not here!  There are threads going already at Mormon Matters, Messenger and Advocate, Our Thoughts, Mormon Mentality, Times and Seasons, and By Common Consent. We may not have a lot of action here, but we're not redundant. http://theculturalhall.com/?p=228 One theme that I hear often in Mormonism concerns morality and its central place in society. Most recently I came across this idea in an op-ed piece in the Salt Lake Tribune. The writer, Lynn Wardle, described his views regarding morality in the context of Elliot Spitzer's downfall. ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=227 I read this a couple of days ago and thought it is a wonderful reminder to us all "Our task is to learn that if we can voyage to the ends of the earth and there find ourselves in the aborigine who most differs from ourselves, we will have made a ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=226 In Eckhart Tolle's book entitled: A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, it says the following about Spirituality and Religion: What is the role of the established religions in the arising of the new consciousness? Many people are already aware of the difference between spirituality and religion. They realize that ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=224 Tom Lantos, a powerful member of the US House of Representatives for many years, died recently. In this report of his funeral I learned he had a significant connection to Mormonism: His wife and daughters, who apparently converted some time ago. What caught my eye about Lantos' funeral is the description ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=223 I just read Jana Riess’ Essay Tributaries of my Faith.  It is thoughtful and beautiful.  One part that really jumped out at me is about spiritual practice (bolded below).  How we cooperate in the world’s redemption brings me to the second tributary of my faith, Renewal—spiritual rejuvenation through concrete, regular disciplines. Spiritual ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=222 Rocky Mountain Retreat for LDS Women (Links to earlier post about the retreat) This year's featured speaker is Claudia Bushman. Registration is open now. For more details, and registration forms, visit the retreat's website. http://theculturalhall.com/?p=220 I really liked this post on Zelophehad’s Daughters site by Lynette. It is called The “Only True” Church: Does “True” Necessitate “Only”? Also, have any of you read from the Theologian Paul Knitter? I have not but now I am curious. http://theculturalhall.com/?p=217 I was in the UK last week and had the chance to visit with some dear friends that are serving a mission there (senior missionaries).  I asked them the following question: “What is different about the Church over there, or at least different than you expected?” The response surprised me.They said:  “The ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=216 My alma mater, Northern Illinois University, is mourning today, following a shooting in one of its classrooms. News reports say that a gunman whose identity is not presently known shot and killed four students and wounded many  more when he fired a shotgun and then pistol in a large auditorium ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=215 Hello everyone, I know I don’t post often but I have been thinking about something and I felt like this was the right place to air the laundry. So like many of you, Mormonism really screwed me up. I mean it was doing a number on me while I was in it, ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=214 While reading a New Order Mormon discussion recently I came upon a message that made me stop and think for a moment. The discussion concerned how to deal with family members' rejection when one has decided to leave the church. A writer described her wish to renounce her LDS Church ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=212 Wow, can you imagine what it would be like to control sperm-flow via remote control? This technology is exciting, but scary. What if your parents or bishop got hold of your remote? Or what if your kids found it lying in the bottom of the nightstand drawer ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=211 Save the Date 2008 Rocky Mountain Retreat for LDS Women, May 30th - June 1, 2008 Snow Mountain Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies Featured speaker: Claudia Bushman More details and registration info coming mid-February An announcement for Mormon “women of good will” who’d like to spend a weekend in the Colorado Rockies, ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=209 Religion and comedy have been in the news recently, with some interesting Mormon angles to the story. A few weeks ago the Salt Lake Tribune had an article about Mormon comics that was quite funny. Alas, the article is archived, although you can still view the comments at that site ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=204 For me personally, one of the most important factors in keeping the "Mormon Experience" meaningful in my life has been finding mentors. Getting to know women and men who are bright, compassionate, thoughful and still connected. I am lucky to have had Greg Prince as one of these people in ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=203 Note to our gentle readers and those who read this blog at work: this post is about sexuality and the more explicit portion is after the "continue reading" link.... As a teen I was always confused what the term "petting" and "necking" meant. I knew what "making out" was and ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=201 When I was about 8 years old, I remember wondering why my Mom was always so exhausted and wishing that she could relax and have some fun. At the time there was a commercial on TV for a particular perfume that featured an energetic woman doing sporty activities. ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=200 An incident at a recent Stake Conference upset me, probably more than it should have. I was upset enough that I left the meeting midway. The episode brought to the forefront something I have known for a long time, even since before I lost my faith: my thinking ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=197 After a year and a half, my wife has become accustomed to the idea that I am essentially an unbelieving Mormon. Along the way we’ve had some conversations that can only be called unpleasant, but these days I am less frustrated, she is less defensive, and we can talk ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=198 In sacrament meeting two weeks ago, a speaker asked, "What are you willing to give up to be closer to your Father in Heaven? A computer game? A TV show?" She suggested that the time gained by sacrificing this leisure pursuit was to be spent reading the ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=196 One aspect of my Mormon heritage that I'm grateful for is that I have many 'traditional' skills. I can sew quite well (even making up my own patterns), crochet, knit, can veggies or jam, bake my own bread (from home-ground flour), quilt (both tied and hand-stitched), etc. Through ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=194 This was originally posted as a comment. I thought it might get more response as a full-blown post. Guest post by Tim Several months ago, I came to this site under the greatest anguish. Since that time I have learned far too much. I have very nearly left the church ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=193 Over at Various Stages of Mormondom, where I did a nice long guest stint, this week's theme is Gifts. As with so many short phrases, the topic brought a song to mind. Even though it invokes harvest images, I think it's very suitable for this time of ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=192 I am leaving straight from work today to go to the airport to fly back to California for Christmas. As excited as I am to see my family, Christmas time has taken on a slightly different flavor over the last few years. As my core faith in the church began ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=190 Mark Brown from BCC came to church in our ward today, and afterward he joined me, Left Field, and The Kid for a mini-Gulf Coast Snacker. We didn't have gumbo - I've been here five years, and haven't yet learned to make gumbo. Instead, we had a pasta ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=189 For the last five years, I have been reading and participating in discussions about the church: doctrine, practice and culture. For much of that time, it was pretty intense, and I was really angry. Now, I've thoroughly mellowed out. Apparently, my new Zen Mormonism is just in time ... http://theculturalhall.com/?p=188