Compared to conservative parents accused of trying to “ban books,” librarians making preemptive restrictions on other books are seen as “doing their job.” Can this conversation be rescued from its political skew?
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: Latter-day Saints need to tell their own stories Barrett Burgin—Deseret News I realize that no one can gate-keep Latter-day Saint cinema, but applying powerful rules of story and craftsmanship will yield the best results. Latter-day Saint filmmakers have something different, unique, and vitally important to offer. Born This Way? The Rise of LGBT+ as a Social and Political Identity Eric Kaufmann—CSPI Researchers looking at rates of LGBT+ identity, find the data suggest that while there has been an increase in same-sex behavior in recent years, sociopolitical factors likely explain most of the rise in LGBT+ identity Are Wars of Religion as Dangerous as Secularization? Émile Perreau-Saussine—Church Life Journal MacIntyre considers that the erasure of forms of belonging threatens the individual, whereas liberalism considers that forms of belonging threaten the state and tyranny. He considers that the same danger threatens faith and practical reason and that both pass through wisdom rather than calculation. Christianity is Not Merely Another Identity Ismail Royer—First Things The petitioner and the Court accepted the premises of the contemporary grievance-oriented mode of the modern liberal order, rather than the premises of the American founding, which holds that truth should prevail over falsehood as the source of our political order. A new ‘Jesus movement’? Evangelist Nick Hall says Gen Z is hungry for ‘something supernatural’ Ian M. Giatti—Christian Post Today’s generation wants a movement of their own, and Hall believes it’s time to unleash them and commission them to see their friends come to know Jesus.
As we mourn with our Baptist friends, let’s take this chance to reassess our own efforts— considering ways children across faith communities might be better protected.
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: Is Putin Committing Genocide in Ukraine? Alexander J. Motyl—Tablet While this article starts with rather frank and graphic depictions of the war in Ukraine, it makes a strong argument that the war is not merely an exercise in taking territory, but is ultimately an attack on the Ukrainian people. Friendship > Politics Maya Rackoff—Common Sense Has a shift in politics over the last three years hurt the relationships most important to us? Maya Rackoff talks about her experience with her friend as they navigated different opinions, and then bonded over both being on the wrong side of campus scandals. 5 Ways to Stop Gossip in the Church Greg Gordon—Anglican Compass The problem of gossip in church spans denominations. This insightful piece from the Anglican tradition includes suggestions such as “Fast from gossiping” and forgiveness. The Key to a Good Parent-Child Relationship? Low Expectations. Arthur C. Brooks—The Atlantic Citing research about the importance of adult child-parent relationships, Arthur Brooks explores what makes these relationships most successful for both parties. Meet Elon Musk’s right-hand man, a Mormon ex-Morgan Stanley banker who is the polar opposite of the impulsive billionaire Hayley Cuccinelo—Business Insider Business Insider profiles one of the most important people in the world of business, who happens to be a Latter-day Saint.
“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” That sentiment by Winston Churchill has been deeply felt by many over the years. Do we feel it anymore today?
Despite lauding its own exquisite accuracy, there are many profound misrepresentations in the new series, which together paint a damning picture of not simply two deranged individuals, but of an entire faith community.
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: NPC Headliner Luncheon: Elder David A. Bednar Elder David A. Bednar, an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presents to the National Press Club about the Church and how it helps people both from the outside in, but especially from the inside out and fields questions on many controversial subjects in a Q&A including why people leave religion. The Q&A begins at forty-two minutes. Why do people abandon religion? Moshe Taragin—The Jerusalem Post While the conversation of leaving religion affects many denominations, this article from The Jerusalem Post looks at the question generally but from the perspective of Judaism. Certainly a worthy addition to the conversation. Is God a Therapist? Carl Trueman—First Things In his latest, Carl Trueman laments our “childish age” and the way it oversimplifies God. He relishes in the hard complicated God that is worthy of worship. Elder Perkins shares common values at a groundbreaking conference in Saudi Arabia Mary Richards—Church News The Muslim World League held its first-ever forum on Common Values of Religious Followers. The Church, which recently announced its first temple in the Middle East, has not had a leader speak in Saudia Arabia since the G-20 summit in 2020. How an Army ethicist works to mold moral soldiers Mary Beth McCauley—The Christian Science Monitor A fascinating deep dive into the Baptist chaplain who is a leading figure in war ethics. The article looks at his background, beliefs, and day-to-day work teaching ethics to new recruits.
As we are encouraged towards language like “pregnant person,” “birthing person,” and “menstruators” in the name of greater inclusivity, you have to wonder whether those identifying primarily as “woman” or “mother” are feeling included too?
Some of the charged responses to inexplicable tragedies like this are only understandable. And some are clearly standing in the way of both greater healing and more effective prevention of future violence.
Amidst legitimate concerns about what’s available online, let’s not miss the grace of a stirring democratization of knowledge unfolding right before our eyes.
God offered the children of Israel a direct encounter. That was too much. They wanted something safer. Do we sometimes do the same?
