DiscussMormonism.com

I just finished listening to this:

http://mormonstories.org/?p=1787

First I want to say I enjoyed it very much. Quinn is interesting, knowledgeable, seems likable and it a bit of a Greek tragedy as well.

And he is an enigma to me. He seems to maintain a literal belief and faith (calling faith a gift which the scriptures indicate it can be as such) in gold plates, Joseph Smith vision and so on. However, he is quite NOMish in how he interprets much of this. Yet so much of what he has written has led many to question, doubt and abandon their LDS testimony. I would say much of what he wrote in part was responsible for some of my current positions. Yet it is encouraging to me that he does maintain his faith in spite of it all. Maybe he has real bad cog dis. Who knows. All I know is all this it tough stuff and making it through life is hard. Each person needs to decide how to make it work for them.

Anyway, I have three of his books-the Bio on Clark which is fabulous, and the two Hierarchy books. And I have read a few of his articles.

Interesting and dynamic man.

Just in case you haven't read it: The Rest is History.

In there Quinn reveals one of the most important sources of his religious faith.

Thanks Ray. I will read it with interest.

I enjoyed the podcast, too. I was struck by his comments regarding getting shut out of job opportunities at, If I recall correctly, ASU and U. of Utah. He said, "I was the only candidate," and yet the powers that be essentially blackballed him. Additionally, I think he presented what ought to be "cased closed" evidence concerning his excommunication. I can still remember reading the old FAIRboard, on a thread begun by rcrockett, where some of the more naïve TBMs were asking why he was ex'ed. Rollo Tomasi reiterated what Quinn has said all along--that it had to do with his publications, and with his refusal to obediently submit to Church authority. In response to this, Dan Peterson jumped in to say, "Well, this is only one side of the story. We don't know what happened at Quinn's Church Court. And moreover, I believe Quinn's homosexual orientation was known to his then-Stake President." For heaven's sake, Quinn has the documentation showing the reasons for his disciplinary court.

But like you, Jason, one of the main things I come away with from the interview is a kind of gratitude over Quinn's accomplishments and contributions. As Dehlin points out, a lot of his books are absolutely vital to the way that we currently understand Mormonism.

Hello,

Did we ever conclude decisively whether or not Mr. Peterson was central, or even at the heart of a Whisper Campaign waged against the estimable Dr. Quinn?

When it was suggested Mr. Peterson had blackballed Dr. Quinn the former went nuts and started insinuating litigation for slander claiming he had to protect his professional reputation. That, in my opinion, was an odd stance since he himself had no issues with undermining Dr. Quinn's reputation when given the opportunity.

V/R
Dr. Cam

I listened to the first hour and a half so far. He really is a remarkable person. You can really see the intense emotional basis for his testimony, which is what compels him to cling to it beyond all reason.

But more than that, he strikes me as an intensely honest, intelligent, ethical, humble and sincerely faithful man. No wonder the apologists and apostles like Boyd K Packer hate him.

RayAgostini wrote:Just in case you haven't read it: The Rest is History.

In there Quinn reveals one of the most important sources of his religious faith.

Hey, thanks for this. I haven't read this article either. Looking forward to doing so.

Regards,
MG

Jason Bourne wrote:I just finished listening to this:

http://mormonstories.org/?p=1787

First I want to say I enjoyed it very much. Quinn is interesting, knowledgeable, seems likable and it a bit of a Greek tragedy as well.

And he is an enigma to me. He seems to maintain a literal belief and faith (calling faith a gift which the scriptures indicate it can be as such) in gold plates, Joseph Smith vision and so on. However, he is quite NOMish in how he interprets much of this. Yet so much of what he has written has led many to question, doubt and abandon their LDS testimony. I would say much of what he wrote in part was responsible for some of my current positions. Yet it is encouraging to me that he does maintain his faith in spite of it all. Maybe he has real bad cog dis. Who knows. All I know is all this it tough stuff and making it through life is hard. Each person needs to decide how to make it work for them.

Anyway, I have three of his books-the Bio on Clark which is fabulous, and the two Hierarchy books. And I have read a few of his articles.

Interesting and dynamic man.

I listened to part two while out on a run this morning. Part one was amazing. I knew that Quinn had retained his testimony through all that he has been through, but these podcasts (at least pt. 1 and 2) make this quite clear. Very intelligent and articulate man.

Regards,
MG

Buffalo wrote:You can really see the intense emotional basis for his testimony, which is what compels him to cling to it beyond all reason.

But more than that, he strikes me as an intensely honest, intelligent, ethical, humble and sincerely faithful man.

I think Dr. Quinn's comments make it clear that a testimony does require a spiritual component to it. If one relies simply on intellectual means to retain a testimony, then when the storms rage the testimony will wither on the vine. I'm sure that most of us have had what we could refer to as "anchor experiences" in our lives where we have felt something akin to the "burning in the bosom" that at the time sure felt like something other that heartburn or a warm fuzzy. After disaffection many tend to reinterpret/replace these experiential spiritual anchors in preference/favor to becoming coldly rational/logical.

After all, others that aren't Mormons have spiritual experiences that lead them along their own paths that don't seem to lead to Mormonism so how can I trust my own experience? And that's that.

Yes, I was impressed with what appeared to be his honesty and humility. He is someone to be reckoned with as it becomes apparent that regardless of everything he's experienced and learned throughout his life, he remains a true believer in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pretty cool.

Regards,
MG

Jason Bourne wrote:
...Quinn is interesting, knowledgeable, seems likable...so much of what he has written has led many to question, doubt and abandon their LDS testimony.

For those that have been around any length of time, how many considered Quinn to be somewhat a "hero type" of new Mormon history in regards to his publications of the books dealing with the Mormon Hierarchy- Origins of Power and The Magical World View which placed the Smith family right smack dab in the middle of magical practices of the time?

I have a sneaky suspicion that as time has moved on and Dr.Michael Quinn has remained secure in his literal testimony/belief in the restoration, that the critics have either moved his books and him to the back shelf, or at least him. I remember that years ago he seemed to be referenced a lot more than he seems to be nowadays, but maybe that's just my active imagination or faulty memory.

I'm sure that just as Jason Bourne alluded to in his original post, Quinn should be in a different place. It's almost as if he is an untouchable in regards to the attention the critics pay to him anymore.

But then again, I could be wrong.

Regards,
MG