A Thoughtful Faith - A Conversation with Philip Barlow

33 snips

May 17, 2025

Phil Barlow, author of 'A Thoughtful Faith for the 21st Century' and a prominent scholar on faith and intellect within the Latter-day Saint tradition, shares insights from his new book. He discusses the evolution of faith since 1986, emphasizing inclusivity and community. Reflecting on personal faith journeys, he addresses the importance of embracing uncertainty and confronting historical truths. Barlow advocates for compassion in navigating differing perspectives and highlights how love and creativity can connect human experiences to the divine.

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INSIGHT

Changing Times, Same Questions

The world context has dramatically shifted since 1986, but the challenge of aligning heart, mind, and spirit remains.
The newer edition includes more diverse voices, particularly women, enriching the conversation.

INSIGHT

Value of Divine Virtues Beyond Literalism

Belief in God is complemented by valuing virtues such as kindness and creativity regardless of literal truth.
The worth of divine qualities stands even if God's literal existence is uncertain to us.

ANECDOTE

Faith as Invitation and Relationship

Phil experiences the divine as an invitation to growth rather than fear or judgment.
He values Latter-day Saint culture of mutual help and relational focus in faith.

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This week, we’re sharing a conversation with Phil Barlow about his new book, published by Faith Matters, called A Thoughtful Faith for the 21st Century. If that sounds familiar, it may be because Phil published the first volume back in 1986. That original collection included essays by Eugene England, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Francine Bennion, Richard Bushman, and others—each exploring what it means to live a spiritually and intellectually honest life within the Latter-day Saint tradition.

As Phil points out, challenges to faith are not new. Thoughtful people were wrestling with difficult questions decades ago in ways that still have power today. But, as he says, “the world has turned some” since then. The 2025 edition brings in a new generation of scholars and voices—Thomas McConkie, Melissa Inouye, Fiona Givens, Ben Schilaty, among others—who speak to today’s distinctive challenges while honoring the wisdom and foundation of those who came before.

At the heart of both volumes is an urgent and beautiful question: How can we hold together the integrities of our minds and our hearts and our spirits? That question—its weight, complexity, and quiet hope—sits at the center of this conversation today.

Phil brings so much humility and clarity, and in this episode we get to hear a little about what’s changed in his own faith, about the wisdom of surrendering the need to know, and why he still finds the Latter-day Saint tradition compelling, human, and a spiritual home he continues to choose with both heart and mind.

We’re so grateful to Phil for this conversation, and we hope you love it as much as we did. With that, here’s Phil Barlow.

Links for the show notes:

Purchase the book through Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/a/108982/9781953677242) Amazon (https://amzn.to/4mgJsCf) or anywhere you get your books.

Get a free look inside the book on our website: https://www.faithmatters.org/s/a-thoughtful-faith-vol-2

Come to Raising Little Saints: A Faith Matters Family Night! RSVP here.