The Value of an Outsider’s Perspective

May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Several years ago I was asked to accompany an investigator to church.We showed up a few minutes early and sat in the chapel. On the way to church, this investigator explained that he had never been to a Christian service before. He seemed quite eager to take in the experience.

After I briefly introduced what takes place in a sacrament meeting service, we sat quietly in the chapel. Several moments went by as he looked around, and then asked, “What does that mean?” He was pointing to the organ pipes mounted on the front wall of the chapel. I quickly explained that they in fact didn’t mean anything; they were only the pipes of the organ. He seemed not fully satisfied with the answer, but went back to sitting quietly in preparation for the service. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mormon Studies, Studying Religion Leave a Comment

Breaking the Ivory Ceiling

March 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

As a LDS studying religion, it’s not uncommon to hear the claim that Mormons have a hard time getting hired in religious studies departments; especially if they study Mormonism.

Before 6 or so years ago there were 3 LDSs I am aware of that had a tenured (or tenure track) position in a religious studies (or theology) department:* [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Wheat and Tares Apologetics

March 1, 2013 By 65 Comments

Apologetics has obviously been on my mind recently. In previous posts I discussed how certain kinds of apologetics might be pursued at places such as BYU. Indeed, I believe that religious institutions such as BYU should produce apologetics in the sense of scholarship that explains, explores, and defends the truth claims of Mormonism. I also believe that this scholarship should be fit for a university, meaning that it should largely meet the criteria of scholarship within the broader academic community.

In this post, I’d like to discuss one kind of apologetics. An apologetics represented in pieces such as Greg Smith’s review of Mormon Stories. This kind of apologetics is one part of the classic FARMS approach to apologetics. And unlike other parts of the classic FARMS approach, this approach is inappropriate for places such as BYU. I might even go so far as to venture that a determination to pursue this approach, despite its shortcomings, is largely responsible for the desire to replace some of the leadership at the Maxwell Institute.

The kind of apologetics I want to discuss is what I call Wheat and Tares Apologetics. Wheat and Tares Apologetics is aimed at sifting the good guys from the bad guys. It aims to answer the basic question–is This Person/Organization a trusted source for learning about Mormonism? Or, more broadly, should LDSs trust This Person/Organization? Since apologetics tends to be done in defense of a perceived threat, most of Wheat and Tares Apologetics is geared toward showing why some individual or organization is a “tare” rather than a “wheat.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Apologetics, Mormon Studies 65 Comments

Apologists at War: Religious Studies is Not the Enemy

February 21, 2013 By 17 Comments

The Maxwell Institute’s removal of Daniel Peterson as editor of the Mormon Studies Review continues to raise the issue of the appropriateness of apologetics at institutions such as BYU (for a more recent discussion, see here)–on the one hand BYU has a mission to “build the kingdom” so to speak, and on the other hand BYU is working to establish a legitimate academic presence in fields such as religious studies. There are some that see these two goals as largely exclusive of each other. This comment left on William Hamblin’s blog is a prime example: [Read more...]

Filed Under: BYU, Uncategorized 17 Comments

Regional AAR Call for Papers

December 3, 2012 By 2 Comments

PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
AAR/SBL/ASOR

Regional Meeting
Seattle University
Seattle, Washington
May 3-5, 2013

SPECIAL TOPICS: MORMON STUDIES
Description of the goals and rationale
This special topic of Mormon Studies promotes the exploration of a wide range of topics relating to Mormonism. This section seeks to provide scholarly inquiry into Mormon history, culture, belief and practice, theology, scripture, and the role of Mormonism in contemporary politics. This section encourages the study of Mormonism from multiple disciplines and methodologies. This section will better equip those in the academy to teach on the subject of Mormonism and actively promotes opportunities for interfaith dialogue.

Co-Chairs
Kirk Caudle (Marylhurst University; mixlom@msn.com)
Susanna Morrill (Lewis & Clark College; smorrill@lclark.edu)

Call for Papers
Papers are welcome in any area of Mormon Studies. We encourage papers from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives and especially invite proposals on the following themes:
1) Papers that consider the history and culture of Mormonism, especially those that discuss the social and religious impact of women and minorities.
2) Papers on the development of Mormon beliefs and practices, scripture, ethics, and theology.
3) Papers related to interfaith dialogue between Mormonism and other Christian (and non-Christian) faith traditions.
4) Papers related to Mormonism and contemporary politics.
5) Papers that consider the place of Mormon Studies within the academic study of religion.

Paper Proposals will be submitted through Oxford Abstracts (OA) again this year as AAR continues to upgrade their system. You may need to copy and paste this link into your browser:

https://aareligionpnw.conference-services.net/authorlogin.asp?conferenceID=3409&language=en-uk

A link to the OA site is also posted on the PNW Region’s webpage (http://pnw-aarsbl.org/).

OA will be open for submissions October 1, 2012 and close on January 21, 2013. Acceptance letters will be sent by February 1, 2013.

Filed Under: Uncategorized 2 Comments

Apologetics in the Academy

August 8, 2012 By 13 Comments

In line with Daniel Peterson’s recent comments, I see significant points of congruence between apologetics and religious studies. I also see no reason why the same institution cannot pursue both endeavors—particularly a private religious institution such as BYU. I do think, however, that much of the apologetics advocated by Peterson is better off done at another venue (congratulations to those involved with the new Interpreter project). At the same time, a more appropriate kind of apologetics can (and should) remain at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute.

In this post I’d like to articulate a significant overlap between religious studies and apologetics. This overlap creates a shared space where apologetic efforts can be seen as appropriate or inappropriate for academic institutions such as NAMI. [Read more...]

Filed Under: BYU, Mormon Studies, Studying Religion 13 Comments

A Reponse to Hamblin on Mormon Studies

August 2, 2012 By 23 Comments

A few days ago William Hamblin posted his views on the issue of Mormon studies here. I believe his views are flawed in several respects. Any disagreement, however, is always cast against a backdrop of larger agreements. As such, I do not want to construe my criticisms such that it seems we do not largely agree on a few important issues. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mormon Studies, Studying Religion, Uncategorized 23 Comments

Why I Laud the Maxwell Institute’s Direction

June 25, 2012 By 159 Comments

I have nothing against Daniel Peterson, and I’m not a fan of John Dehlin. I’m not interested in the so-called “hit piece” that the Mormon Studies Review was supposed to publish, nor do I really care about who leaked what Maxwell Institute emails (for a chronology of sorts, see here). However, I am quite embarrassed by this whole event, and these feelings of embarrassment bring to the fore long-standing feelings of embarrassment that I’ve had about FARMS and its association with BYU. [Read more...]

Filed Under: BYU 159 Comments

Tips on Applying: Spotlight on the Catholic University of America

May 4, 2012 By 4 Comments

This spotlight features Carl Cranney, who did an MA at Yale’s Divinity School and is now pursuing a doctorate at the Catholic University of America. Carl is also doing an excellent series at Juvenile Instructor on teaching Mormonism. Thanks, Carl. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Spotlights, Tips on Applying Series 4 Comments

Dear BYU Religious Education (Part 2)

April 5, 2012 By 7 Comments

Dear BYU Religious Education,

It’s now been over a year since our last correspondence. I’ve had some time to formulate my thoughts a little more constructively. I’d like to speak to you about the hiring process, and how you might adjust it to the mutual benefit of the candidates and yourself. I realize that some of these may be more applicable to one of your departments rather than both; but I hope this provides you some insight from the other side of the table. I also realize that some of these points are parts of on-going discussions within RE, so a lack of clarity on your part is not always intentional. It very well may be reflective of yet unfinished discussions.

Now, on to the recommendations, numbered for the sake of organization: [Read more...]

Filed Under: BYU 7 Comments