Charles Inouye

MON, JUNE 6, 2022   |  7:30-9:00 pm MST

Explore how viewing the Proclamation through the lens of yin and yang offer us new perspectives.

IN-PERSON GATHERING AND VIA ZOOM:

THE CONVERSATION:

We will talk about the Proclamation from the perspective of a Taoist model of ji (extremes) and wuji (no extremes). I’ll be arguing that it can shed light on the Latter-day Saint teaching of “opposition in all things.” Both propose a similar interaction of extremes that leads to their resolution. Why are both extremes and a state of no extremes necessary?

These days, many of us struggle with issues of gender identity, sexuality, marriage, and family life. How can the Taoist dialectic help us gain a better understanding of the following issues?

1. Why do we sanction romance, if we do?
2. Who are our models of gender identity?
3. Latter-day Saints are peculiar. But are we also queer? Is gender fluidity a good or bad thing?
4. Why didn’t our Mother in Heaven appear in this proclamation about the eternal family, of all places?

Read over the materials and listen to Johnny Matthis’ two songs. Think things through, then come prepared to have an honest, substantive yet kind, once-in-a-lifetime group discussion with friends and strangers about gender identity, sexuality, marriage, and about how being a Latter-day Saint helps you be your best self (or why you’re glad you aren’t a Latter-day Saint.)

ABOUT CHARLES:

Charles Shirō Inouye is the author of several books, including zion earth zen sky (Maxwell Institute). His first volume of short stories, Hymns of Silence, will appear in 2023 from By Common Consent. He is married to Rei Okamoto and has three children—Mie, Leif, Kan—and one dog, Rudee. A professor of Japanese Literature and Visual Culture at Tufts University, he won the Japan-US Friendship Commission Prize for his translations of Izumi Kyōka, and is also a recipient of Tufts’ Lillian and Joseph Leibner Award for Distinguished Teaching and Advising. He is a Compassionate Service Leader in the Arlington Ward, Cambridge Massachusetts Stake.

YOUR HOMEWORK:

1. Read the attached document (Essay, Proclamation, Questions). The Family Proclamation yin and yang
2. Look over 2 Nephi 2 and Mosiah 3
3. Listen to Johnny Mathis “Wonderful, Wonderful” and “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late”
4. Tell someone how much you love them

WATCH THE RECORDED ZOOM CONVERSATION

• Click on the Zoom link above.
• When you are connected you will either be waiting in a lobby and will let be in shortly or you will immediately be able to see other participants. Please make sure that you muted and that your video is on if you choose to have it on. (Love to see and hear you live, but we’ll take curious lurkers also.)
• If you can’t hear the host, me, or others, find your settings and make sure you have a working microphone and speaker selected. Also, make sure you have your volume up.

ZOOM ETIQUETTE: 

• Please mute your microphone before entering and when you are not speaking so noises are not heard by everyone else.
• Rather than have the whole group watch you try to get your camera or screen positioned, or play with funky green screen backgrounds, feel free to get that figured out prior to when we meet.
• Resist the urge to multitask—be with us fully if at all possible. But we’ll be grateful for whatever presence you are able to offer. Just knowing you are there is nice.
• If you are going to multitask, or wander around a lot, please turn off your video and make sure you are muted. No one wants to be distracted by you eating or using the loo.
• If you are having difficulty with the technology, don’t hold up the meeting by distracting other participants for solutions. Try Googling your problem. I do that with most of life’s problems.
• Speaking of distractions—just as when we used to meet in person in the good old days, let’s be cautious about using the chat for side conversations that may distract others. You can always ask for people’s contact info and continue your conversation—I’d love that to happen. Or, let me know, and I’ll do my darndest to give you a chance to share to the group.
• Please share air time and follow the guidelines under “Intentions” on this website.