College of Religious Education at BYU

[Archaea]

or compare a randomly selected professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

the list of publications is too long.

http://religion.unc.edu/people/facul.../CV-ariel.html

or look at the entire faculty.

http://religion.unc.edu/people/faculty.shtml

[Archaea]

or Duke

http://www.divinity.duke.edu/

or Yale

http://www.yale.edu/divinity/

or Harvard

http://www.hds.harvard.edu/

Not only do they have a bunch of professors with cool degrees, their websites are really hot and fancy too!

[Archaea]

Here's a link to a random Harvard Divinity School Professor.

Sounds like somebody I'd like to take a class from.

http://www.hds.harvard.edu/faculty/cvs/thiemann0709.pdf

[MikeWaters]

I believe Claremont has a Mormon studies program, or an endowed chair of Mormon studies, meaning that a LDS person with a lot of money gave them a lot of money. So there is a nexus there.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I believe Claremont has a Mormon studies program, or an endowed chair of Mormon studies, meaning that a LDS person with a lot of money gave them a lot of money. So there is a nexus there.

I become jealous when I see real theological study programs.

Look at some of those profs, and tell me you wouldn't like to take a course from them. Or maybe you wouldn't.

But imagine making the Institute give real courses on Mormon History, with great literary angles on reading scripture in the fold of English literary analysis.

We have the potential but have never been given the direction.

[MikeWaters]

The church's goal is a uniform program designed to foster faith and sustained membership. BYU is part of that program.

It is a lowest common denominator program. Designed to serve the very weakest among us. They have no interest in taking chances. Discussing Joseph Smith's polygamy is taking a chance.

There concerns are of the global health of the church. But here we are in 2009, the church has never had LESS control of information. So in some ways this is a crossroads for the church.

Do we need to be commanded in all things? Here, we discuss things, we hash it out. We learn about it. That's fine. We can be those elements of the church body that we don't get through "official" church. We may not be able to discuss polygamy in Sunday School, but we can discuss it here.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

The church's goal is a uniform program designed to foster faith and sustained membership. BYU is part of that program.

It is a lowest common denominator program. Designed to serve the very weakest among us. They have no interest in taking chances. Discussing Joseph Smith's polygamy is taking a chance.

There concerns are of the global health of the church. But here we are in 2009, the church has never had LESS control of information. So in some ways this is a crossroads for the church.

Do we need to be commanded in all things? Here, we discuss things, we hash it out. We learn about it. That's fine. We can be those elements of the church body that we don't get through "official" church. We may not be able to discuss polygamy in Sunday School, but we can discuss it here.

And you have alluded to key aspects of the debate. Your description of the lowest common denominator program is reasonably accurate.

On the other side, with so little control of information, and being so unwilling to inoculate, failing to be at the cutting edge of theological debates may be harmful as well. We are a reactionary group, not progressive and anticipating anything any more. And yet the Church has discouraged small study groups as well.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Archaea

And you have alluded to key aspects of the debate. Your description of the lowest common denominator program is reasonably accurate.

On the other side, with so little control of information, and being so unwilling to inoculate, failing to be at the cutting edge of theological debates may be harmful as well. We are a reactionary group, not progressive and anticipating anything any more. And yet the Church has discouraged small study groups as well.

Would be funny if they banned "internet study groups and message boards" as well.

Mormons are reasonably good at ignoring their leaders when they feel like it.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Would be funny if they banned "internet study groups and message boards" as well.

Mormons are reasonably good at ignoring their leaders when they feel like it.

Yes we are.

The ostrich approach always seems to be the best way to wisdom and a happy life. We're seeking to prove "ignorance is bliss".