Patrick Mason

Alex Bass, a data scientist and author of the 'Mormon Metrics' blog, dives into his groundbreaking study analyzing the types of Mormons today. He identifies four groups, from Devout Traditionalists to Cultural Mormons, revealing trends like secularization and shifting beliefs. Historian Patrick Q. Mason adds depth by placing these changes in historical context and discussing the rise of Adaptive Believers. The conversation touches on declining devotion, growing acceptance of LGBTQ issues, and generational shifts, highlighting a rapidly evolving faith landscape.

In this engaging discussion, Patrick Mason, a Latter-day Saint historian and peace studies scholar, sheds light on the intricate relationship between peace and violence in Latter-day Saint history. He explores how personal and community efforts can promote goodwill, especially during the holiday season. Reflecting on the Book of Mormon, he emphasizes the role of love and understanding over aggression. Notably, he shares insights from Rwanda's reconciliation efforts, illustrating the profound power of forgiveness and hope in healing communities post-conflict.

Filmmaker Robert Reynolds and scholar Patrick Mason dive deep into the heart of faith with their discussions on the docuseries An Inconvenient Faith. They highlight the importance of addressing tough topics like women and authority, LGBTQ belonging, and race in the Latter-day Saint community. Robert emphasizes the need for empathetic conversations and listening to diverse perspectives. Patrick encourages honesty and humility in family discussions about faith, reminding listeners that real people are behind every belief, inspiring kindness amid complexity.

In this enlightening conversation, Patrick Mason, a peacebuilder and scholar, reflects on his recent transformative trip to Rwanda, confronting the legacy of the 1994 genocide. He discusses the duality of horror and healing present in the country’s recovery efforts. Patrick poses challenging questions about God's presence during suffering and the nature of evil. The dialogue emphasizes the power of reconciliation and individual actions for community change, urging listeners to cultivate compassion and understanding in a divided world.

We’ve been thinking and talking a lot recently about a phenomenon that sometimes happens and that we’ve occasionally felt ourselves — something you might call a “spiritual whiplash.” It can happen when we’re really uplifted by something: maybe a book we’ve read, an inspiring group of people we’ve been around, or even a transcendental experience in nature. We’re feeling fed, and our cup is full… but then, we come back down to earth. We’re faced with the realities of the mundane, and the imperfections and humanity of the people all around us, including ourselves. So — what are we supposed to do when this happens? Is it realistic to expect to stay in this spiritually uplifted state all the time? What about when even our Church meetings don’t feel like they’re recharging our batteries, but instead are draining them? When we’re feeling fed by something, how do we take that feeling with us to share in our everyday settings and communities, rather than resenting the contrast between them? How can we look at members of our communities as God might, rather than judging them for not meeting our standards — or even judging them for what we perceive as them judging us?To discuss these issues, we brought back a trusted friend and mentor, Patrick Mason. Patrick is the Leonard Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, and a frequent guest on this show and advisor to Faith Matters. He’s spoken and written quite a bit on this topic, including in his book Planted. He was an amazing conversation partner as we worked our way through some of these questions. We can’t thank him enough for coming back on.As a note, we referenced our recent Restore gathering several times in the conversation, including presentations that were given by Brian McLaren, Jared Halverson, and Jody Moore. We also reference a few faith development frameworks that you’ll hear, including Brian’s which you can learn more about in his book Faith After Doubt.Become a Friend of Faith Matters or a paid Wayfare subscriber by March 31 to get Issue 7 in the mail!