We Need to Talk About Bruno + Today’s Digest

Our daily rundown of the articles from around the web that we feel our readers would enjoy and appreciate. We hope to highlight the best of what’s around. Public Square Bulletin recommends: How can Vladimir Putin be described as a defender of Christian values? Michael Cook – Mercator Net There is much Christian rhetoric that has come from the Kremlin regarding the war in Ukraine. And the religious elements of the conflict run deep. But some American commentators have started to frame Putin as an ideal Christian. Michael Cook argues that this goes much too far. Along the religion beat: Should ‘mainstream media’ pundits take sides on church disputes? Richard Ostling – Get Religion Richard Ostling responds to a recent article in Real Clear Religion that asks New York Times journalists David Brooks and Ross Douthat to stop writing op-eds on religious issues. Ostling believes there is already too little coverage of religion issues. The Power of Laughter Aleah Ingram – LDS Daily Tomorrow’s “Daily Dose” at LDS Daily appropriately looks at humor for April Fool’s day and looks at the gospel need for joy in our lives. Transitioning from Science to Philosophy Joachim Ostermann – Church Life Journal Biochemist turned Franciscan Friar, Joachim Ostermann, looks at his work in the sciences and examines the philosophical underpinnings that were all too often missing from his understanding. We Need to Talk About Bruno Ryan McDonald – The Gospel Coalition A look at one of the most popular films of the year and it’s gospel themes. McDonald sees in Bruno a type of Jesus Christ. His thoughts should add to the already deep themes of forgiveness and family present in the film.    

Love for Transgender Individuals

I wanted to highlight a trend I’m noticing in discussing the dialogue around trans issues. This morning Adam Russell Taylor wrote for Sojourners an article “God loves Trans Kids. Recent Laws do the Opposite.” In it he says that because God loves trans children, the recent approaches to trans issues in places like Utah, Florida, and Texas are unloving. This reminded me of Sam Brunson’s article on Saturday in By Common Consent called, “Molech, Transgender Children, and the Idol of Politics.” In his article Brunson talks about the idolatrous God Molech which involved the sacrifice of children. Brunson went on to describe Utah’s recent transgender bill as analogous as sacrificing children to Molech. I don’t have any interest myself in staking out a position on these recent laws at the moment, but I do feel like it needs to be said, that those who supported these laws also feel like they’re loving transgender children. And some of them might even believe those who support gender transitioning are metaphorically sacrificing children to Molech. The question isn’t who loves transgender children and who hates them, but rather what is the best way to approach this issue for all involved. And that’s a question on which there are many different positions. And if that’s true, then trying to create a climate where we can truly hear out the competing perspectives on the well-being of children–and try to come to decisions together that can help the most kids, is also a loving thing to do.

More on Strange New Worlds

Carl Trueman’s new book “Strange New World” is among the most important books for individuals of faith to read this year. We were very fortunate to have Carl write an article for us here: https://publicsquaremag.org/sexuality-family/identity/living-in-a-strange-new-world/ And Jeffrey Thayne interviewed him for us as well here: https://publicsquaremag.org/media-education/education/a-conversation-with-carl-r-trueman/ If you haven’t yet, be sure to check those out. But I also wanted to point your way to a couple of podcasts that Crossway, the publishing house behind the book, has released. The first is an interview with Carl where he goes into depth about how he believes churches should respond to the trends of expressive individualism he’s identified. The second is a preview of his book in audio form and is definitely worth a listen.

Identity

A Conversation with Rep. Kera Birkeland

Coverage of Utah HB 11, regarding transgender students in high school sports, has generated more outrage than illumination. We wanted to find out if there was more to the story.

45 New Area Seventies

In the leadership session of General Conference forty-five new area authority seventies have been called. They include senior counsel for the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty, a forensic psychiatrist, and several from the fields of construction, law, education, and medicine. For the full list visit the Church’s newsroom  

Religion and Psychedelic Decriminalization+ Today’s Digest

Our daily rundown of the articles from around the web that we feel our readers would enjoy and appreciate. We hope to highlight the best of what’s around. Public Square Bulletin recommends: The Road to Decriminalization of Psychoactive Drugs Runs Through Religion Brad Stoddard – Religion Dispatches Brad Stoddard outlines the movement to decriminalize psychoactive drugs, and the role religious rhetoric and experience play in it. Whether you agree, or want to be aware of how religious freedom rhetoric is being used, it’s worth the read. We must not let health care become a religion-free zone Charles C. Camosy – America Magazine This Jesuit publication focuses on what it calls the “absolutely bizarre” insistence that religion should not play any role in the world of medicine. Camosy outlines the long-term problems of this approach. Threats to religious freedom and to women go hand in hand Jeff Brumley – Baptist News Global A panel at the United States Commission of International Religious Freedom found that everywhere religious freedom is threatened, the rights of girls and women are threatened as well. To Those Who Say Religion is for People with Weak Minds Daniel C. Peterson – Meridian Magazine Since Freud, many have concluded that religion is only adopted as psychological comfort. Daniel Peterson looks at various refutations of that argument, including a look at the possible psychological motivations of atheism. Getting ‘More Christians Into Politics’ Is the Wrong Christian Goal David French – The Dispatch Having people of faith in powerful positions used to be seen as a default good goal for many Christians looking to expand their influence in politics. French suggests that may no longer be a wise approach.    

Missionary Builds International Interfaith Community of Faith online Half-Million Strong

Check out this recent article from BYU’s student newspaper: Student interfaith Facebook group looks to broaden impact as nonprofit Worldwide Unified, a Facebook group started by a then missionary, to help promote President Nelson’s call for a fast has grown to more than half a million members. Today it is a broad, diverse, interfaith, and international group of people uniting for faith in God. They are looking to expand their influence, and making some fantastic steps. Make sure to check out their article.    

New BYU Studies!

BYU Studies is out with its newest edition. https://byustudies.byu.edu/journal/61-1/ The entry, titled “The Restored Gospel and Good Government” includes an article from Thomas B. Griffith, one of the judges who recently testified on behalf of Ketanji Brown Jackson. Dieter F.  Uchtdorf, and Dallin H. Oaks, also contribute. Important scholars such as Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye, and Susan Madsen add to the conversation. Among the topics are the legacy of the late Senator Harry Reid. And across the board, the pieces are provocative additions to the important conversation we also engage in at Public Square. We recommend reading it. The Mormon Women for Ethical Government have stepped in as guest editors for the issue. MWEG has played a tremendous role in amplifying the voice of Latter-day Saints in public discourse. And their steady call for increased civility comes at an important time. But the organization has often failed to create those kinds of conversations within its own community, which has often been described as rancorous and uncivil towards anyone but those within the center-left politics of the organization. And the organization has also been criticized for representing itself as being more representative of Latter-day Saint women than it is in fact, an issue that their role as guest editors here may amplify. Latter-day Saint commentator Cassandra Hedelius writes, “I’m a Latter-day Saint woman, anti-Trump, and I love ethical government. But I disagree with them.” Perhaps the most noteworthy criticism of the organization and issue is that MWEG sees itself as a neutral voice for political civility, and yet its positions are often explicitly left-wing. Ivan Wolfe, a rhetoric instructor at Arizona State University has said, “While on the surface this is fine, the links in the footnotes indicate a pretty solid and unwavering support for progressive, Democrat (capital D partisan) changes.” For example, the solutions posited for increased civility in this issue include reparations, praise for the Chinese communist school system,  and changes to voter laws entirely in line with proposals from the Democratic party. When viewed as a thoughtful, but largely partisan, call for increased civility from a non-representative group of Latter-day Saint women, the issue is a resounding success.

Gospel Fare

Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice

Are we among those deriding and deconstructing prophetic teachings, or are we rejoicing and relishing the chance to hear from them?

FX to Broadcast Temple Ceremonies

Latter-day Saints are finding themselves in a bind today after a trailer was released revealing that FX will be broadcasting temple ceremonies as part of its new show “Under the Banner of Heaven.” The television program is based on a sensationalized book about a Latter-day Saint detective, that includes substantial themes around his faith. While the depiction of sacred ceremonies of the Church are clearly inappropriate, Latter-day Saints are stuck wondering if they should simply ignore the program, or highlight the offensive nature of it, giving the show the attention such a provocation was clearly designed to elicit.

Joseph teaching Joseph

Donny Osmond is evidently teaching youth Sunday School these days, and as the story of Joseph has come up, it was perfect for the actor and performer who originated the part of Joseph in the Broadway production of “Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat” to bring his old costume out of storage. I teach Sunday School for the 15, 16 and 17 year old teenagers at our church. This day was the story of Joseph from the Old Testament. What better way to teach that lesson than to wear my Joseph coat. So I guess you could say, Joseph taught about Joseph. 😉 pic.twitter.com/NQJ69UO6i0 — Donny Osmond (@donnyosmond) March 29, 2022 We hope his students enjoyed the rare spectacle.

Is the Church safe for LGBT+ youth?

Prominent Salt Lake attorney, Eli McCann tweeted a widely shared and remarkable claim. I frequently have Mormon parents of lgbtq children reach out and ask what they can do to be affirming and make sure their child feels safe. I am so sorry to say that there is absolutely no healthy place for their child within the church. — Eli McCann (@EliMcCann) March 29, 2022 While variations on this theme have frequently appeared in pop media, the reality is that his claim has been not only thoroughly debunked,  but the opposite shown to be the case. Hal Boyd at Deseret News writes: https://twitter.com/halrobertboyd/status/1508775258467311618 So not only might The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints be among the safest places for LGBT+ youth, the kind of rhetoric that McCann is employing here has been found to be itself dangerous.

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