FAIR (Faithful Answers, Informed Response), formerly known as FairMormon and the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR), is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that specializes in
Mormon apologetics
Mormon studies is the interdisciplinary academic study of the beliefs, practices, history and culture of individuals and denominations belonging to the Latter Day Saint movement, a religious movement associated with the Book of Mormon, though not ...
and responds to
criticism of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has been subject to scholarly and religious criticism and public debate since its inception in the early 1800s. The discussion encompasses a wide range of issues from the church’s l ...
(LDS Church). FAIR comprises volunteers who seek to answer questions submitted to its web site. It was founded in November 1997 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who wanted to defend their faith on
AOL
AOL (formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City, and a brand marketed by Yahoo! Inc.
The service traces its history to an online ...
message boards. The members of FAIR are international volunteers. FAIR holds an annual conference where topics of current apologetic issues are presented. The organization also publishes a monthly electronic newsletter.
FAIR is not officially affiliated with the LDS Church, though its members are "all committed to defending the Church".
Name
At its inception, FAIR was known as the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR).
However, because of widespread unfamiliarity with the meaning of apologetics as reasoned argumentation, in August 2013 the organization announced it would change its name from FAIR to FairMormon.
Steven , vice-president at the time, explained:
“We have changed our name and are updating our websites in order to make them more easily accessible. The name has been simplified. Instead of The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, it is now simply FairMormon. Hopefully this will be easier to remember and will allow us to spend more time doing apologetics rather than spending our time explaining what apologetics is. Our mission has not changed, but hopefully, with the name change and the changes with the websites, our organization will be more effective."
In February 2021, the organization announced an official rebranding effort, including a new name, website, and logo, in response to requests from church president
Russell M. Nelson to avoid using the colloquial term "Mormon" to refer to the church or to Latter-day Saints.
The group returned to the name FAIR, though it changed the acronym to stand for "Faithful Answers, Informed Response".
Websites
''Mormon Voices'' is a website run by FAIR which seeks to defend representations of the LDS Church in the media.
''Mormon FAIR-Cast''
FAIR also sponsors a podcast called the ''Mormon FAIR-Cast''. In 2011 and 2013, it won an award for best podcast in the Religion Inspiration category of the
People's Choice Podcast Awards
The People's Choice Podcast Awards, better known as the Podcast Awards, are global awards given annually to the best podcasts as voted by the general public. Founded in 2005 by Todd Cochrane of Podcast Connect Inc., the Podcast Awards changed han ...
.
See also
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''Interpreter''
*
Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS)
*
Mormon apologetics
Mormon studies is the interdisciplinary academic study of the beliefs, practices, history and culture of individuals and denominations belonging to the Latter Day Saint movement, a religious movement associated with the Book of Mormon, though not ...
*
Mormon blogosphere
The Mormon blogosphere (often referred to as the Bloggernacle) is a segment of the blogosphere focused on issues related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The term "Bloggernacle" was coined by individuals within th ...
*
Mormon studies
Mormon studies is the interdisciplinarity, interdisciplinary list of academic disciplines, academic study of the beliefs and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, beliefs, practices, Latter Day Saint movement#History, histor ...
References
External links
FAIR's websiteFAIR's blogFAIR's WikiMormon Voices(a site run by FAIR)
Black LDS(a site run by FAIR)
{{DEFAULTSORT:FairMormon
1997 establishments in the United States
Book of Mormon studies
*FairMormon
Latter Day Saint organizations
Mormon apologetics
Mormon studies
Christian organizations established in 1997