Religion, Feminism, and Freedom of Conscience: A Mormon/Humanist Dialogue [Paperback]

George D. Smith (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1994

In September 1993, a unique dialogue took place. Humanists from around the country gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah, to exchange ideas with Mormons on the topics of feminism, freedom of conscience, academic freedom in Mormon universities, and clashes between "dissent intellectuals" and Mormon church authorities. George D Smith has collected twelve essays, all but one presented at the Utah conference, for this thought-provoking volume.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Signature Books (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560850485
• ISBN-13: 978-1560850489
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,047,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Monologue that Ranges All the Way from A to B, June 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Religion, Feminism, and Freedom of Conscience: A Mormon/Humanist Dialogue (Paperback)

This book does not even begin to deliver what it promises. A genuine dialogue between humanists and believing Mormons could have been interesting. This "dialogue," essentially between humanists and unbelieving Mormons whom it is impossible to distinguish from humanists in any meaningful way, offers almost nothing of substance or real interest.

5.0 out of 5 stars AN INTERESTING DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO QUITE DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES, March 9, 2011

By 

Steven H. Propp (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Religion, Feminism, and Freedom of Conscience: A Mormon/Humanist Dialogue (Hardcover)

The Editor states in the Introduction to this 1994 book, "On September 24, 1993, a gathering of secular humanists and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) met for three days in Salt Lake City, Utah, to discuss freedom of conscience as it applies to academic freedom and to expressions of feminism. For years both secular humanists and Mormons have endorsed freedom of conscience. What is open to debate is whether principles of what Mormons refer to as free agency apply to feminists and to teachers at Brigham Young University, which is owned by the Mormon church... The present conflict in the Mormon community regarding academic freedom and feminists is addressed in the essays contained in this volume."

(The 1993 conference was held right after the excommunication/disfellowshipping of the "September Six"---such as D. Michael Quinn---by the LDS Church is September 1993.)

Here are some quotations from the book:

"One would expect, with all of its assets, that BYU would be one of the leading institutions of higher education in the country, if not the world. But despite its many advantages, BYU is not renowned for academic excellence... And it is by no means an unrelated development that the campus is beset with serious difficulties connected to its restrictive policies and limitation of freedom." (Pg. 44)
"The godhead Mormons think of now is entirely different in character than the divinity worshipped by early Mormons. Moreover, Mormonism's unchangeable doctrines are changing as we speak. The infusion of ideas from protestant neo-orthodox theology is a recent example." (Pg. 53)
"Earlier Mormons were confident in both the strength of their beliefs and the process of open discussion which leads to their discovery and refinement. This confidence has been replaced by the total elimination of dialogue between high-ranking leaders and questioning members." (Pg. 54)
"In sum, perhaps we secular humanists avoid the problems of academic freedom faced by Mormon academics at BYU by not having our own institutions in the United States." (Pg. 71)

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dated, April 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Religion, Feminism, and Freedom of Conscience: A Mormon/Humanist Dialogue (Hardcover)

This book was spurred by the excommunication of several church members in the early 90's. The specific issues addressed now appear dated. I read the book several years ago when it first came out. Even then, the discussions just did not capture my interest and did not cover any new ground.