Is there space in the Mormon church for non-literal believers? Mormon Stories is joined today by Jon Westover, professor and former church apologist with FAIR Mormon to help us discover if the non-orthodox “middle way” is still a tenable path. We hope you enjoy hearing Jon’s story!
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Show notes:
- Ed Decker Mormon Stories interview
- Jon’s “Human Capital Innovations Podcast”
- Elder Packer General Conference remarks about same-sex attraction
- Why People Leave the Church Mormon Stories video
- Laurie Lee Hall Mormon Story
- Why people leave the lds church essay
- John Dehlin vs Scott Gordon debate at UVU
- John Lynch MS interview
- Queer Mormon Theology Blair Osler
8 Responses
I consider Jon a great friend. Everything he said about FairMormon was accurate. I am extremely grateful that he was there at FairMormon when I was, as he kept me sane
Wow, what a great episode. So fascinating to hear Jon’s views. I am not Mormon or religious but I have listened to hundreds of hours of this podcast. It’s been illuminating about religion but also it has informed me about LGBT issues and issues with young people. I have a 10 year old son and I hope that I can help him with whatever issues he may have as he grows older. Thanks John D. This little pebble you threw in the lake has made massive ripples out to little old me in the UK.
Cheers
Tom Mcguire
Torrit@me.com
Thanks Jon, John, and Carah.
I love the commentary about FAIRMORMON. “Defending the indefensible” is the perfect way to put it.
I am one of those that lost my faith directly as a result of FAIRMORMON long before the CES Letter existed. Reading the obscene dumpster fire of excuses, rationalizations, and obfuscations they put forward as answers to the issues absolutely obliterated any thread of testimony I ever had. And that’s not to mention the intelligence insulting deceitfulness and gaslighting they so willingly engage in to defend their desperate, non-answer answers.
My question has been and still is, why would any truth, let alone God’s truth, require shallow, blatant lies and disinformation to prop itself up? I thought it was the other guy that was the father of all lies!?!
Wow! Such a wonderful example of white man privilege! Our you serious.! ?!
Good luck with will your children, especially with your girls.
Of course you’re not worried. You are a white man. It doesn’t matter that you call people bigots! You are still a good faithful member. And you are so mad at the church leaders, but you are so fine with staying in this religion. What the F!
Long burn? You have no idea! How do you dare. to speak up?!? I’m disgusted with this podcast.
You have no idea what us… the other have to deal with?
Yes, you’re nobody! You are a coward!
It does matter. You are not making this better.
How in the world are you try to help the other?
Hi Jon Westover. Thank you for having done this podcast. I am also a person that has been disillusioned with FAIR and have been for a very long time and have felt marginalized by them for a long time. I am a researcher but don’t consider myself an apologist anymore. People on the outside would probably still categorize me as an apologist. I am a literalist believer about core truth claims, but on the peripheral issues, I am perhaps middle-way and science-centric.
I have done research on the Book of Abraham and so forth that I believe is significant that other apologists refuse to deal with or incude in the corpus of apologetic materials made available to people. A lot of people, apologists and critics alike, treat me in very unchristian ways, marginalizing me.
I resonate with a lot of what you have said.
I would like to communicate with you, so maybe Mr. Dehlin can share with you my contact info.
Thank you.
I spent the last ten months of my 18 month mission in Cameron, Mo. This was 1984. Hamilton was a town we covered too. Loved Cameron.
This was one of the most helpful interviews for me yet. I’ve struggled for decades with the inability to believe and the stress of lying at temple-recommend interviews, and just feeling broken and/or gaslighted. I’m an elderly woman now, and my life has been consumed in LDS-centered pain and guilt. It was so great for me to hear the words of my heart come out of your mouth so eloquently and precisely. I’m trying now to figure out how to increase my monthly donation., realizing how much I need these interviews.
As a TBM, I really appreciated this interview. I listen to many, but as a TBM these hit differently. I appreciated the respect from John and Jon.