The Creation of American Ignorance

Posted on January 27, 2012 by mogget

Over on BCC, Steve P has posted a nice summary of an article in New Scientist which attributes the decline in scientific literacy in the US to three factors:  relativism in the academy, unserious journalism, and the illiteracy of Congress.

Amen to the third one!  In fact, amen to all of them!   However, speaking as someone who has taught both science and religion at the undergraduate level, there is at least one discipline in which student ignorance exceeds that of science:  religion.  Just sayin’ that when we’re passin’ round the cryin’ towels, I want one…  Not really.  I get paid for this, and I quite like it, except when I have to grade essay questions.

Anyway, as I prepping for my science and religion class next week, it occurred to me that some rejection of science arises specifically from religious venues and if Steve’s article mentioned that, he didn’t bring it up.  Unfortunately, some scientists must themselves accept some level of responsibility for the ease with which their results can be ignored or downplayed by those who do not wish to engage them in a meaningful manner.

Continue reading →

Posted in Metaphysics, Scripture, Studying Religion | Leave a comment

Christianity 101, Book of Mormon Style 3

Posted on January 24, 2012 by mogget

So in this last week we, that is me and the 17-18 year old gentlemen I teach, were looking at the Tree of Life vision and Nephi’s interpretation.  As you know, our goal is to read the BoM and look for foundational Christian doctrine – hence the title “Christianity 101:  BoM Style.” This time we started with that mysterious man who pops up in front of Lehi and declares his intent to lead Lehi to the Tree of Life (1 Ne 8:5-7).

Who is that guy and what is the Bat Signal that brings him out?  I vaguely remember reading that someone thought he might be the Holy Spirit, although I can’t remember who or why.  Myself, I thought it might be the Spirit because the whole scene reminds me of this passage (Rom 5:3-5 NRS):

And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

In Lehi’s vision, the Tree of Life and the Water of Life both represent the love of God.  And in fact, so important is this symbol that when Nephi’s interlocutor wants to test Nephi’s response to his father’s narrative, he asks Nephi whether or not he believes that his father saw this tree! (1 Ne 11:4)  So the man in Lehi’s vision is responsible for linking Lehi to the love of God, which is precisely what Paul suggests is the role of the Holy Spirit.

Continue reading →

Posted in Book of Mormon, Scripture, Studying Religion | 2 Comments

Mr. Speaker! FPR live thread of the 2012 State of the Union

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Chris H.

Welcome! I am watching the SOTU address with my kids and thought that I might see if the bloggernacle wanted to join us.

Feel free to share in the comments any thoughts you might have.

Be nice. I will try my best. :)

The State of the Union address is a function required of the President by the Constitution.. Last year, I watched the SOTU with my Tuesday night class. No night class this term. I hope you will join me.

Posted in Uncategorized | 36 Comments

100 Years of Seminary. And BTW Gay Marriage

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Bored in Vernal

In 1971, Elder Boyd K. Packer gave a talk in which he stated:

The gospel might be likened to the keyboard of a piano—a full keyboard with a selection of keys on which one who is trained can play a variety without limits; a ballad to express love, a march to rally, a melody to soothe, and a hymn to inspire; an endless variety to suit every mood and satisfy every need.

How shortsighted it is, then, to choose a single key and endlessly tap out the monotony of a single note, or even two or three notes, when the full keyboard of limitless harmony can be played. (BKP, The Only True and Living Church, Ensign, Dec 1971) Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Sexuality | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

If the Book of Mormon is dull, the New Testament is duller

Posted on January 20, 2012 by TT

One recent, sympathetic critic called the Book of Mormon “dull.”  This is not a new accusation.  Mark Twain famously called it “chloroform in print,” and I don’t deny the charge.  Trust me, I’m quite aware of the boringness of the Book of Mormon. Mormons are aware that the Book of Mormon can be difficult reading, and often make jokes about it.  It’s characters are one-dimensional, there isn’t much plot to speak of, only some of the content is occasionally moving, and even many of the theological debates just seem not particularly pressing anymore.  But is an aesthetic appraisal the best way to evaluate sacred literature?  Is dullness really relevant at all?   Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Book of Mormon, Scripture, Studying Religion, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Rick Perry is out. WIll endorsing Newt matter?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Chris H.

Texas Governor Rick Perry is dropping out of the presidential race. This is not a surprise. His poll numbers quickly crashed after his initial splash in August. This was largely due to disastrous debate performances.

As the high profile governor of a large state with both social conservative and Tea Party cred, it was assumed that the well-financed Perry would be a strong contender against Mitt Romney and an otherwise apparently weak GOP field. Particularly given that he had money, I think we will be using Perry as an example of a poor presidential bid for a while to come. Heck, he was out done by supposed “has-beens” like Gingrich and Santorum.

The interesting thing about Perry’s departure is not the departure itself, but his endorsement of Newt Gingrich two days before the South Carolina primary. Newt has surged in South Carolina. While he is still behind Mitt Romney, he appears to be the main contender.
Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Am I bugging you? I don’t mean to bug ya.

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Chris H.

I thought about sharing “Pride (In the name of love)” with you today because it is about Martin Luther King, Jr.

However, I think Silver and Gold might be more in the spirit of Rev. King.

I also love to hear Edge play the blues.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Faith without Works is Dead. Which Works?

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Chris H.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17 ESV)

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14-17 KJV)

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

9-0: Hosanna!!?

Posted on January 13, 2012 by mogget

In a 9-0 decision the U.S Supreme Court has declared that the government may not second-guess a religious community’s decision about who should serve as ministers, teachers, or leaders even when employment discrimination issues are at stake.  Why did the government even try this?  Beats me.   The unanimity of the decision, though, shows just how unreasonable the Court found the Obama administration’s argument.

Now you might ask, “Why do you care, Mogs?”  Well, I teach the sole religion class my students take, so if they don’t “get religion” from me, with all its modern facets, they probably don’t get it at all.  And since civics seems not to be as vital to those who create and execute high school lesson plans as, say, what kind of light bulbs Americans should use, my students generally have no idea how American courts work.  So I try to clear up several mysteries with one stone, so to speak.  This specific case interests me because it reinforces the idea that religious communities are different from other organizations.  Had the Obama administration’s argument prevailed, the government could potentially insert itself into a variety of what we might think of as “EO issues,” such as an all-male priesthood, if it so desired.

Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics, Studying Religion | 1 Comment

Chris H on Rawls and Mormonism in Audio

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Chris H.

This is the audio of my 2010 SMPT presentation back in March. It might be good for putting your kids to sleep. I think I sound nicer in audio than I do in my comments on the ‘Nacle.

I am introduced by Blake Ostler.

Listen:

Rawlsian Themes in Mormon Thought

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments