DiscussMormonism.com

It's that time of year again... time for the Salt Lake Sunstone call for papers! Those of you who have never been to a Symposium before really ought to check it out. It's loads of fun. Those of you who have attended but never presented a paper before need to get over the stage fright and submit an abstract or a panel proposal. It's easier than it sounds, I promise. Got some interesting stories to share? A devotional? A unique perspective on faith? Want to talk about how green jello is really an archetypal symbol with some arcane spiritual meaning? Want to get a panel of message board participants to talk about how the boards have (or haven't) changed their outlook on the Mormon faith? Make your abstract sound at least passingly intelligent, and they'll probably let you present. The more (and the more unique) the merrier, I say.

Here's the skinny. The Symposium takes place on 12-15 August 2009 at the Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel. There are special conference rates, just over a hundred bucks a night. The conference theme is Zion's Sisterhood: Celebrating Mormon Women's Contributions to Church and Culture. But you can submit an abstract on any subject, as long as it's Mormon-related. Act quickly, though. The deadline for submitting proposals is 20 May 2009. (Short notice, I know. Sorry about that. I just received the announcement in the mail today.)

All proposals must include:

A session title
A 100-word abstract
Name, brief bio/vita, and contact information for all proposed participants/presenters
A list of any audio/visual equipment needs
A brief summary of the topic's relevance to Mormon Studies
If possible, please include a preliminary draft.

Late or incomplete proposals will be considered on a time and space-available basis.

Send email proposals to MARY dot ELLEN at SUNSTONEMAGAZINE dot COM or mail proposals to 343 N Third West, Salt Lake City, UT 84103.

Here are the ideas I'm bandying around right now. I'll probably submit an abstract on one of these topics.

A source-critical analysis of the Book of Abraham
A response to alleged ancient parallels to the Book of Abraham
Mormon dispensationalism in the context of 19th-century evangelicalism
Mormon elements in the novels of Orson Scott Card
A reflection on my personal faith journey, and in particular how it has been influenced by my obsession with Mormonism and Mormon history

Feel free to vote for your favorite. ;-)

CaliforniaKid wrote:Here are the ideas I'm bandying around right now. I'll probably submit an abstract on one of these topics.

A source-critical analysis of the Book of Abraham
A response to alleged ancient parallels to the Book of Abraham
Mormon dispensationalism in the context of 19th-century evangelicalism
Mormon elements in the novels of Orson Scott Card
A reflection on my personal faith journey, and in particular how it has been influenced by my obsession with Mormonism and Mormon history

Feel free to vote for your favorite. ;-)

Either of the Book of Abraham ones gets my vote, though the last sounds interesting as well.

In order to do this, one must uncloak. Thus all can rest assured, no one is going to hear a presentation by harmony.

I too vote for a Book of Abraham topic.

Harmony- you don't have to uncloak unless you announce your topic here, get a paper accepted, and present it.

The one about Orson Scott Card sounds most interesting to me.

Or else the one about your personal journey of faith. (I guess it's not the kind of setting where someone is going to shriek from the back of the room No personal threads!)

The Dude wrote:(I guess it's not the kind of setting where someone is going to shriek from the back of the room No personal threads!)

LOL!

CaliforniaKid wrote:

The Dude wrote:(I guess it's not the kind of setting where someone is going to shriek from the back of the room No personal threads!)

LOL!

Just in case... maybe you could tweek the topic a bit to "A reflection on Mike Reed's personal faith journey, and in particular how it has been influenced by my obsession with Mormonism and Mormon history."

Just gonna throw that out there.



I will be submitting a proposal too. I'd rather keep my topic a secret though... I mean sacred.

Maybe those Sunstoners need a lesson on Licked Cupcakes?

"No, I don't need any audio/visual equipment, but sixty frosted cupcakes are required."

Or maybe I could make a presentation on the Mormon Relief Society's contribution to the culinary arts? I could discuss the delights of tater-tot casserole, mac-n-cheese with ground hamburger, and double-mayo potato salad. The pièce de résistance would be my display "Most Popular Jello Molds of the Mission Field".

Now a serious comment: CK, I agree that you should submit the Orson Card abstract, or your personal faith journey. Both of those sound quite interesting.

Mike, I'm sure whatever abstract you submit will be well-received.

KA

Thanks, everyone. I decided on the Orson Scott Card presentation.

Session Title: "Sacred Sci-Fi: The Fiction of Orson Scott Card as Mormon Mythmaking".

Abstract: Although most of it is not explicitly billed as Mormon, the science fiction of Orson Scott Card has often drawn on Mormon theology, history, and scripture for its inspiration. Card's fiction offers, among other things, a Mormon theodicy, a Book of Mormon allegory, an apologetic for Joseph Smith's use of magic, and a harmonization of Mormon cosmology with modern science. Card's project is not unprecedented. Certain elements in Mormon theology lend themselves to a sci-fi interpretation, and the sci-fi genre has been fairly accommodating of religious and spiritual themes. In recent years Card's writing has taken a more political turn. The nature of his project has not changed, but its emphasis has, and the new direction will be unsettling to many.

CaliforniaKid wrote:Session Title: "Sacred Sci-Fi: The Fiction of Orson Scott Card as Mormon Mythmaking".

Abstract: Although most of it is not explicitly billed as Mormon, the science fiction of Orson Scott Card has often drawn on Mormon theology, history, and scripture for its inspiration. Card's fiction offers, among other things, a Mormon theodicy, a Book of Mormon allegory, an apologetic for Joseph Smith's use of magic, and a harmonization of Mormon cosmology with modern science. Card's project is not unprecedented. Certain elements in Mormon theology lend themselves to a sci-fi interpretation, and the sci-fi genre has been fairly accommodating of religious and spiritual themes. In recent years Card's writing has taken a more political turn. The nature of his project has not changed, but its emphasis has, and the new direction will be unsettling to many.

Bummer. Oh well, it is an interesting abstract all the same. I hate to give Card any more attention than he gets, but maybe I am being petty.