SMPT Events

The Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology has a few upcoming events. 

First up this Sunday (the 19th) there will be a SMPT session at American Academy of Religion in Boston. The sessions dealing with Mormon themes are the following:

M19-204
Books under Discussion
Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology
Theme: Open Theism and Mormon Theology: A Discussion of Tom Oord’s Uncontrolling Love of God
Sunday – 2:00 PM-3:30 PM
Marriott Copley Place-Maine (Fifth Level)
.

J. B. Haws, Brigham Young University
“Seeing through a Glass Darkly”: Scriptural and Historical Reflections on the Question, Do We “Know Enough”?
Michael Lodahl, Point Loma Nazarene University
Besides Uncontrolling, What is it that Oord’s God is Doing – and How?
Keith Lane, Brigham Young University, Hawaii
On the Concept of Divine Providence: Should I thank God for Bears?

Responding:
Thomas Oord, Northwest Nazarene University

Keith Lane in particular is someone I always enjoy listening to. If you’re in the Boston area I’d suggest checking it out.

In addition the 2018 SMPT Conference is announced. It’ll be at Utah State again on March 15-17. I’m going to do my best to attend this year given how I’ve missed more than I wish.

This year’s theme is “The Exaltation Revelations” although they’ll consider any paper on Mormon belief. Quoting from the Call for Papers

Many of the most distinctive Latter-day Saint teachings appear in a series of revelations received in 1832-33, and recorded in Doctrine and Covenants sections 76, 84, 88, and 93. Richard Bushman has called these the “exaltation revelations,” in reference to the state of the righteous in the celestial kingdom. These revelations clarify the nature and basis of salvation and exaltation, the order of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, the eternal nature of humankind, and the role of the church in the last days. While they draw continually on themes and language of the Bible, the exaltation revelations establish Mormonism as a dramatic departure from the prevailing Christian theology of the time.

The submission deadline in January 15th so if you plan on submitting a paper I’d get to work on it. I’m sure we’ll discuss it more as we get closer to the conference.