RadioWest 50 Years of Sunstone and the Mormon Intellectual Tradition
Jul 31, 2025
Lindsay Hansen-Park, the Executive Director of Sunstone, advocates for inclusivity and curiosity in Mormonism. Taylor Petrie, a religion professor, explores the intersection of faith and modernity. They discuss the historical emergence of Sunstone and its role in fostering dialogue within Mormon scholarship. Key topics include navigating the ideological divide in Mormonism, the tension between personal revelation and church authority, and Sunstone's commitment to embracing diverse voices, making it a pivotal space for intellectual exploration.
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Mormon Intellectual Tradition Emerges
- Early 20th-century LDS scholars studied modern religious criticism and science to intellectually engage their faith.
- This sparked conflict in the church, leading to suppression of liberal scholarship but an underground intellectual tradition survived.
Mormonism's Response to Modernity
- Mormonism had three responses to modernity: secularists, fundamentalists, and modernists.
- LDS modernists sought to reconcile faith with modern science while conservatives resisted these changes.
Coexistence of Views in LDS Leadership
- LDS Church leaders historically included both liberal intellectuals and conservatives in leadership roles.
- This allowed coexistence of diverse theological views longer than many other traditions.
