Symposium Day 1 Open Thread - Workshops and Smith-Pettit Lecture
It’s Day 1 of the Sunstone Salt Lake City Symposium, 2006. Throughout the Symposium we invite you to share thoughts on the sessions, workshops, and plenaries. In addition, regular contributors will be checking in to report on the events and share their thoughts.
This morning’s schedule includes in-depth workshops ranging from Mormon-related Book Collecting to Meditative Practice, while the afternoon features a session on Process Theology, one on Integral Theory, and one that explores homosexuality and familial relationships.
This evening is the Smith-Pettit lecture by Mark I. Pinsky, religion writer and senior reporter for the Orlando Sentinel. His lecture is titled Religion and Pop Culture: Shotgun Wedding, Marriage of Convenience, or Match Made in Heaven?
Check back for reports and reflections!
August 9th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
I attended the workshop on Process Theology. It was very enjoyable, but a little too introductory for my taste. It was billed as being “in-depth” and really wasn’t. Maybe a follow-up next year…
August 9th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
I attended the Process workshop as well (I was sitting behind you, I believe). Jim is a fun guy, and while I agree that it was introductory (only the last hour or so on actual process theology) I really liked the way he set up the foundations of Process as a reaction against both traditional theism and the enlightenment.
I wish we could have done more, it would have made for a great full day workshop (with the morning devoted to the historical context and the afternoon the “in-depth” exploration) - yes, maybe next year.
I wanted to attend the Book workshop this morning and had actually signed up, but due to work had to back out. I understand it was sold out, with several on the waiting list for the limited spaces. I have seen one report that had high praise for it. Hopefully someone else can give a first-hand account of the other workshops and the Smith-Pettit lecture.
August 9th, 2006 at 11:25 pm
Just wanted to thank Tom and Curt and John Lytle for
the great workshop.
Highlights Include:
-Rare Dust jacketed books shown by Curt, one of which
was with the only known dust jacket.
-Tom’s detailed and helpful explanation of the different states of books, even pre-publication states
-Discussion about “rare”, “scarce”, and “hard to find”
-Scot Denhalter was alotted 2 speaking opportunitites, the first of which he quickly squandered
-We uncovered a secret New Mexico liasan between a certain bookseller and a certain “Juanita”…ahem, a “Mr.” Juanita.
-We also, disturbingly, tried to come to terms with Scot’s obsession with Mormon Erotica
-John Lytle explained some common (and some not-so-common) book damage and how to repair it and after the workshop took time to evaluate books attendees brought
-John also showed us a forged 15th century document and how to tell it was forged with insight on Hoffman’s forgeries
-Scott D. won a ratty copy of Josephus
-Curt batted Tom’s hands away from his books multiple
times
-Mark Carter rightly pointed out that the first edition of the Book of Mormon is indeed “rare” given that the true first is The Gold Plates.
Those who went to lunch afterwards got to see:
-(Somehow) Both Scot and Tom eat their words about “Cognitive Dissonace Reductionism”
-Curt almost freaking out about having too much ice in his Diet Pepsi (which he accepted with dismay, given he is a Coke man) “It waters it down too much.”
-Roy’s joke about the stuttering men.
-Scot’s memorable “diet” joke, given standing up in the middle of the hotel resteraunt and gyrating his hips while Tom and half the table hid their faces in shame (or laughter, it was hard to tell-either way faces were red).
Ahh…it was a good workshop. I’m sure I missed some
stuff and some people. Good meeting everyone.
Anyway…any other musings?
Jared
August 9th, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Dallas over at This Mormon Life has some reflections on the Smith-Pettit lecture:
http://dallas.typepad.com/slant/2006/08/slss_2006_day_o.html
August 25th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Carol Lynn Pearson’s workshop “Circling the Wagons around our Gay Loved Ones” was worth the trip from New Mexico for at least two reasons:
1)it enabled me to better understand and interact with my own gay son and his friends;
2) for two off-the-cuff remarks from Community of Christ (RLDS) Apostle Susan Skoor who was present (impressive of itself) and spoke of her tradition’s recent radical transformation:
a. “We have learned to see Joseph through Jesus’s eyes rather than see Jesus through Joseph’s eyes.” Susan’s remark struck me forceably, since it was a clear, eloquent statement of my own presentation which was coming the following Saturday. However, her laser-like focus of that idea was by comparison far more powerful.
b. Equally impressive was her comment that if one has a strong conviction that is in disagreement with hers as a general authority of her church, then one must have the courage to oppose her. Wow! Can you imagine such a statement coming from any of the Salt Lake brethren?!!