Patrick Mason & Matthew Harris - Devotional Literature v Academic Scholarship - How Both Aid Faith

Patrick Mason, Ph. D is an theologian, author and scholar. He holds the Leonard J Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University.

He has written and/or edited several books, including "Restoration: God's Call to the 21st Century World" and "Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt." He has also spoken on several podcasts and firesides on the topics of faith, LDS church history and faith crisis.

Matthew L. Harris is Professor of History and Director of Legal Studies at Colorado State University-Pueblo. He received a B.A. and M.A. in history from Brigham Young University and an M.Phil. and Ph.D., also in history, from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

Much of Harris’s teaching and scholarship explores the intersectionality of religion and law, race and religion, civil rights, and right-wing extremism, particularly among religious groups.

Dr. Mason and Dr. Harris come on the podcast together to discuss faith, their approaches to scholarship, and Dr. Mason's relationship with John Dehlin.

They also discuss the differences between devotional literature (such as what you find at Deseret Book) versus Academic Scholarship and their roles in learning about church history.