Christian Kimball
FRI, MAY 12, 2023 | 7:30-9:00 pm MDT
Who’s buying the book, Living on the Inside of the Edge: A Survival Guide? And Why? What themes and ideas about this approach to remaining (or not) a participant in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints resonate with you? Or don’t?
IN-PERSON GATHERING:
Home of Ed and Kristen Iversen
3582 Oak Rim Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
If there is no parking to be found near the home you can also park in the “park & ride” lot on the NW corner of 3900 South and Wasatch Blvd. Oak Rim Way is just east of the intersection on the north side.
Or join us at your home via Zoom.
Thanks to Kristen and Ed Iversen for sharing their home again with us. And thanks to Jana Spangler for continuing to host us via Zoom. Below is some helpful info for being part of a Zoom convo. I will also note below the Zoom address so that you can connect. The link is in large blue all caps. If you are not on my email list then either join at the bottom of this site’s home page or text or call me at 801-695-5036.
I’m delighted that those who can’t attend in person can join us via zoom. I’m sorry I can’t give you the same care and attention given to those in person. But if you ever can join us physically in the same space, then I hope you will. Research shows that being with people who are seen, felt, and heard in person reaps many benefits. We would be blessed by your presence.
THE CONVERSATION:
Christian Kimball’s Living on the Inside of the Edge: A Survival Guide, was published by BCC Press in early January 2023. It was published as a narrow-focus book, intended for a small, well-defined audience with a high level of interest. The book has received far more attention and sold far more copies than expected, and even hit #1 bestseller in Mormonism status (on Amazon) for a few days.
Our discussion will start with the elevator-pitch version of the book to provide context, and touch on reception in the original target audience. Then we will branch out to a discussion of who is in the broader audience, what issues the book speaks to, and why it seems to be of interest to more people than originally targeted.
ABOUT CHRISTIAN:
Christian Kimball is a ‘retired’ bishop, a ‘retired’ professor, and a ‘retired’ lawyer. Linda and Christian live in the mountains of Utah and travel frequently to visit their 11 grandchildren and the grandchildren’s parents.
EXPLORE BEFORE WE MEET:
From Christian:
- New from BCC Press: Living on the Inside of the Edge from Christian Kimball – By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog
- ‘Mormon Land’: The way forward for Latter-day Saints who aren’t all-in or all-out (sltrib.com)
- “I think Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward and Patrick Mason’s Planted are valuable references. They are not the same, not directly competitive, and directed at a slightly different audience and/or time in personal development. But they are valuable background, and very generally deal with the same kind of issues about relationship to an institutional church. People who know those works generally recognize a conversation happening.”
From Jay:
Having read some years ago Falling Upward and Planted, I heartily recommend both. I found these just as valuable:
- The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More Than Our “Correct” Beliefs, Peter Enns
- Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It, Brian D. McLaren
- The Challenge of Honesty, Frances Lee Menlove
- Go to Faith Matters for enlightening podcasts with Patrick Mason, Brian D. McLaren and Peter Enns
Another good interview with Christian is on Richard Ostler’s Listen, Learn, and Love
- Click on the Zoom link above for either last month’s recorded conversation (if the event date has passed) or the live conversation now. If you are participating in the live conversation keep reading.
- 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. OR tell me or others to speak 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.
