Expanding This Forum

[_DonBradley]

All,

In the recent time I've been participating here, I've been glad to also find on the forum Uncle Dale and Dan Vogel (especially in their Spalding thread) and CaliforniaKid, among others. There is great potential for scholarly discussion here. I'd love to see numerous discussions here on the level of the best of the old ZLMB "Controvers-e" forum.

In the spirit of promoting this evolution, I'd like to request suggestions for who else might be made aware of / invited to participate in this forum. I'd also be interested in seeing more discussion of the scholarship and ideas of those who presently participate. I'm hungry for serious discussion. If you have historical, scriptural, social scientific, or other ideas you'd like to bat around with likeminded others, please bring them here.

Don

[_Inconceivable]

All,

..I'd also be interested in seeing more discussion of the scholarship and ideas of those who presently participate. I'm hungry for serious discussion. If you have historical, scriptural, social scientific, or other ideas you'd like to bat around with likeminded others, please bring them here.

Don

No doubt, serious discussion means different things to different people.

I have a tendancy to desire discussing the more spiritual aspects of faith rather than what one man said of another man's work or intent.

I find there is a little bit of everything here and that is why I find myself drawn here for much needed therapy.

[_DonBradley]

Hi Inconceivable,

I would certainly welcome all types of serious discussion, and hope you find a great deal of the spiritual type for which you're searching.

My own (present) interests lie more in Mormon studies, and it is that which I'm asking for further contributions on. Of course, sometimes the two categories can overlap, or at least have ramifications for one another.

Best of luck,

Don

[_Blixa]

I like the idea of more substansive, "scholarly" discussion and I've meant to start some such threads, but:

1) I've gotten blind sided with health/domestic issues recently

2) I noticed the next lower kingdom gets read more, so I've been posting there and

3) putting longer posts in my board blog.

Also, while I'm currently working on a long term "Mormon history" research project (a book), I've been loathe to post bits and bobs because of past idea ripoffs (not here, on other boards). But I have plenty of extra curricular topics that lie outside of main work, so I'll try to post on those.

[_Valorius]

Also, while I'm currently working on a long term "Mormon history" research project (a book), I've been loathe to post bits and bobs because of past idea ripoffs (not here, on other boards). But I have plenty of extra curricular topics that lie outside of main work, so I'll try to post on those.

It's cricket to put a copyright notice on your post. I've read one's "real name" should be used, but I feel strongly that a 'cybernym' (c.Valorious 2007, or has someone already done that? :) ) should be acceptable. Whatever you use to indiciate proprietary rights, honest people will respect that whether you do it in strict compliance with the regulations or not; whereas dishonest will disregard your claim and rip it off anyway. But they do that from published books, too, I see.

[_Roger Morrison]

Hi Don, i like your idea... But as Bilixa said there's more action in the Ter-site. I sense that with some "Scholarly" equates with 'namby-pamby-rules' that can tend to discourage frank expression... You said:

If you have historical, scriptural, social scientific, or other ideas you'd like to bat around with likeminded others, please bring them here.

Don

How about throwing a couple of balls to see what happens. IF not here, some place else??? Warm regards, Roger

[_msnobody]

I'd like to see it, but I'd probably be more of a fly on the wall. It could be the HL of the CK forum.

[_Roger Morrison]

OK, Eagerones... How about, why does it seem neccessary to be a theist to abide the teachings of Jesus? Let's say as found in his "Sermon On The Mount"... Warm regards, Roger

[_harmony]

OK, Eagerones... How about, why does it seem neccessary to be a theist to abide the teachings of Jesus? Let's say as found in his "Sermon On The Mount"... Warm regards, Roger

It might help if you post what you think are the main ideas put forth by the Sermon on the Mount, and then how each could be accomplished as a theist, or how they could not be accomplished if the person is not a theist.

[_Roger Morrison]

OK, Eagerones... How about, why does it seem neccessary to be a theist to abide the teachings of Jesus? Let's say as found in his "Sermon On The Mount"... Warm regards, Roger

It might help if you post what you think are the main ideas put forth by the Sermon on the Mount, and then how each could be accomplished as a theist, or how they could not be accomplished if the person is not a theist.

A REALLY good suggestion Harmony! I'll skim Matt. 5, 6, 7 & pick out what i generally consider Universal salients that are nondenominational and not of a religious bend. I certainly don't mean, "...cut off an offending hand...pluck out an offending eye..." YIKES! (How does a "literalist" handle that one?:-) However...

Mat 5:6: Blessed are those who seek righteousness...7:... the merciful...8:..the pure in heart...9:...the peacemakers... 13:...ye are the salt of the earth... 14:...ye are the light of the world... 23:...reconcile with others...avoid courts... 38:...no more "eye-for-eye"... 39:...turn the other cheek... 44:...love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them who mistreat and persecute you... 45:..."God" sends the sun & rain to all, no favourites... 46 & 47: (paraphrased) ...do likewise, be 'charitable' to all... No exclusivity!

Mat 6:1-3:...don't do things to glorify yourself...let the left hand know not what the right hand doeth... 5-7:...avoid vanity... 19:...lay not up treasures on earth... 21:...where your treasure is, there is your heart... 24:...can't serve "God" and mammon... 25-34:...don't worry about sustinance...world resources are sufficient for all...use them wisely...don't focus on the extaneous, external stuff...rather attend to the inner/spiritual self...THEN all-things will unfold as intended by nature/"God"...

Mat 7:1-5:...judge not...clean up your own acts... 7 & 8:...ask...seek...knock...to find...opened to EVERYONE who goes through the process... 12:...do unto others as you would have them do unto you... 15-20:...beware of 'false prophets' (generalized) in sheep's clothing... by the fruit you will know of the tree's goodness... 21-23:...saying Lord, Lord will not get one into "Heaven"...actions speak louder than words in "God's" grand scheme of things...

I'm sure you can add more. But i hope i've demonstrated to some degree what i see as the humanity saving--individually & collectively--principles we often neglect in our relations with others AND with ourself... As i understand things... Warm regards, Roger