Marcus Borg argued, “believing something to be true has nothing to do with whether it is true.”
Duke Divinity School graduate and Baptist Pastor, Rev. Dr Fatimah Salleh and Exponent II Chief Editor, Margaret Olsen Hemming team up to give the Book of Mormon a Social Justice Reading. The Book of Mormon for the Least of These is the result.
Refreshingly, and without making any origin or belief claims, Fatimah and Margaret offer a new perspective on the Book of Mormon arguing that there are yet spiritually useful things to pay attention to that goes beyond our squabbling about whether or not the book is what the church says it is.
Salleh and Olsen Hemming offer a much-needed commentary on the Book of Mormon that promises to move it from where it has been too long marooned in the dead space of religious point-scoring.
This was a really great podcast, thanks for producing it. I would love to hear more on the topic of reimagining or reinterpreting Mormon theology in this way. Hope it becomes its own thread on the podcast.
Could you or your guests comment on the relationship between a fundamentalist theology and a grace-based theology? One concern I have about this interaction is the way that the fundamentalist view often demands grace for its shortcomings and mistake, while at the same time ignoring or becoming hostile toward calls for change or repentance. Although it is laudable for us to extend grace toward the weaknesses and shortcomings of religious fundamentalism, when we are asked to turn a blind eye to those same limitations, it seems to violate a boundary line that makes it nearly impossible for grace and compassion to function adequately. The vices bully the virtues out of existence so to speak. I am really glad you are sharing this podcast because in a way it shows that fundamentalism doesn’t get to have the last word over grace.
Any thoughts you could share on the relationship between these two perspectives or maintaining an appropriate boundary between the two would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much and keep up the great work.
Here is a resource that brings out that Black/White Skin is a Hebrew Idiom, even to the point showing that the Nephites and Lamanites could not tell each other apart by sight aka by their skin color.
https://seekingyhwh.com/resources/black-skin/