“Would you feel the same way if you were someone else, in a different place, time, or situation?” It’s a great question, the kind of thought exercise we’re rarely encouraged to engage in at church. This episode explores nuance—increased complexity in the ways we think about things. How much richer might our discussions be if we were willing to give space for the expression of a true diversity of thought and experience? How much might our shared understanding increase? And can we ever become comfortable approaching even our most trusted old ideas in new ways?
Notes:
American Experience, Interview: Gordon B. Hinckley, PBS
Why We Need to Teach Nuance to Little Thinkers, Red T Media, March 2019
Questions Are the Answer: naked pastor and the search for understanding, by David Hayward
Restoration: God’s Call to the 21st Century World, by Patrick Q. Mason
Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others, by Barbara Brown Taylor
Katrina
Well I think the “acceptable” way we like faith to be used is when it comes to personal revelation about non-church doctrines.
This summer I read “David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism” because my brother has it from a BYU class. It has a lot of interesting things in it about how our church is the way it is in it. One thing I found surprising was that he was really upset about McConkie publishing “Mormon Doctrine.” (Which led to the rule of apostles needing to approve any books they write). McKay didn’t feel like we could really define what all the doctrine is like McConkie did. (Which after he made him make some changes for a second edition he I guess felt OK with it existing… And then the third edition had the changes to blacks and the priesthood in it.) I guess a lot of the later apostles really took to it because it became the basis of the Bible Dictionary in our church printed scriptures. I always remember seeing the Mormon Doctrine on the bookshelf, but I don’t think I’ve ever read it. I wonder how much of it is responsible for a lot of the issues you talk about. 🙂
Cynthia
I think David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Greg Prince should be required reading for ever LDS person.