Has the Mormon historian Richard Bushman renounced his faith?

Has the Mormon historian Richard Bushman renounced his faith? 2016-07-16T14:46:58-06:00

 

Bushman at 2011 JWHA
In a Wikimedia CC photo by John Hamer, Richard Bushman speaks to the John Whitmer Historical Association in 2011.

 

No, I don’t think so.  I doubt it very, very much.

 

Yet that’s a suggestion that’s making the rounds in certain circles.

 

We’re not close pals and drinking buddies, but I’ve known Richard for many years now, and the Richard that I know is a believer.

 

I would be enormously surprised if that has changed — and (although I think his wording was unfortunate), I don’t think that there’s really anything in his recent comments to suggest that it has.

 

Neal Rappleye helpfully considers the matter here:

 

“’The Dominant Narrative is Not True’: Some Thoughts on Recent Remarks by Richard Bushman”

I don’t particularly want to pester Richard, but, if the claim gets much more circulation, I suppose I’ll just write to him and seek clarification.

 

Postscript:  The comment above now needs to be supplemented by “Richard Bushman and the fundamental claims of Mormonism.”

 

 


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