Public Square Staff, Author at Public Square Magazine

We Are Hypatia

Posted by Public Square Staff | Dialogue, Persuasion

Elaborating the rationale for agreeing to a group pseudonym to be used in select articles in the days ahead.

What’s the Greatest Threat to Public Discourse?

Posted by Public Square Staff | Dialogue, Social Justice

Would you say the greatest threat to public discourse is misinformation or censorship (or both)? Depending on that answer, we’re drawn to very different “solutions” – taking very different directions for America’s future.

The Mobs Now Come from Both Sides

Posted by Public Square Staff | Uncategorized

In America today, even mobs come in red and blue flavors. This was especially evident in last week’s controversy over a featured Church News article, and subsequent apology.

Competing Views of “Inclusivity”

Posted by Public Square Staff | Dialogue, Tolerance

One sense of this popular term was used to call for the cancellation of Sister Wendy Nelson’s speech last week. Another sense of the same word was used to defend its occurrence.

The Doctrine of Christ is Not Racist

Posted by Public Square Staff | Editorials

Like the accusations against its history, some have insisted the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ has racism “embedded” within it. Are those making this claim aware of what the Church actually teaches?

Is Latter-day Saint History More (or Less) Racist Than Other Communities’?

Posted by Public Square Staff | Editorials

Those who claim that Latter-day Saint history is uniquely racist pay insufficient attention to the larger context surrounding early Saints, as well as the meaningful examples of positive race relations in the life of Joseph Smith.

Five Ways to Explain Away Black Conservatives

Posted by Public Square Staff | Editorials

As black conservatives have become more vocal and popular, efforts to dismiss them have also increased. If we’re serious about diversity and inclusion we need to hear from all black voices, including those on the right.

Saving Meghan’s Fairytale

Posted by Public Square Staff | Faith, Gospel Fare

All across the globe, people have different theories of what went wrong with the Meghan and Harry fairytale. Most explanations, however, offer little hope of any redemption from the mess. There is one notable exception.

Three Public Takes on the BYU Racial Equity Report

Posted by Public Square Staff | Editorials

A long report on racial equity was released by a BYU committee last week, eliciting widely disparate public responses. We summarize three competing interpretations being taken up here.

Disagreement is Not Disunion

Posted by Public Square Staff | Election Aftermath, Politics & Law

The inauguration of our new president is almost a week old. There’s one especially striking moment from his speech that can’t and shouldn’t yet slip from our memories.

Not Who We Are…Right?

Posted by Public Square Staff | Election Aftermath, Politics & Law

If it’s true yesterday “did not reflect the core of who we are as Americans,” the siege of our nation’s capital does say something about who many of us are becoming. Is this just another step on a downward spiral, or could it become a legitimate turning point for our nation’s trajectory?

Mapping Public Disagreements about Election Challenges

Posted by Public Square Staff | Election Aftermath, Politics & Law

Disagreements over the integrity of our recent presidential election don’t appear to be going away anytime soon. In such a heated atmosphere, there is remarkably little comprehension (on either side) as to the nuances of their opponents’ actual beliefs. That’s where a map like this might just come in handy.

The Grinch Who (Almost) Stole Thanksgiving

Posted by Public Square Staff | Holidays

How to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is a challenging question for many American families. Whatever the details of the decision, let’s hold on to the transcendent spirit of the holiday.

Stop Deleting Your Facebook

Posted by Public Square Staff | Editorials

More and more of our friends and family are opting out of social media entirely. Honest question: What would Jesus do?

Dear America, We Can Still Do This!

Posted by Public Square Staff | Political Atmosphere, Politics & Law

Domestic peacekeepers are speaking out with everything they’ve got—reminding this country about its historic capacity to hold and work through serious disagreements productively. It’s time to listen before it’s too late.

Monsters Among Us

Posted by Public Square Staff | Political Atmosphere, Politics & Law

This Halloween, the trend of American monsterizing is on full-display. Let’s recognize the fantasy in it so we can leave it behind, and avoid the danger it involves for all of us.

Prophets on Politics: Ten Messages to an Agitated, Aggrieved America

Posted by Public Square Staff | Faith, Leadership

In this tumultuous year for America, with so much confusion and fear, is it time to consider what “watchmen on the tower” have to say?

The Wisdom of the Aged

Posted by Public Square Staff | Faith, Leadership

Increasingly, older and senior members of our communities are seen as backward and not worth considering. That’s a mistake. General Conference will provide an opportunity to listen to the hard-earned wisdom of age that we should seek for.