It being Friday, there’s a new article in Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/a-vital-resource-for-understanding-lds-perspectives-on-war/     Read more

    Matthew 23:37-39  Compare Luke 13:34-35   “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!  Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate.  For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”   If Jesus is, as... Read more

    You were probably expecting this to be a post about certain (typically Evangelical Protestant) critics of Mormonism, who keep repeating the same discredited arguments year after year after year.  (My friend Bill Hamblin and I have joked for a long time about someday doing a film entitled Bill and Dan’s Excellent Adventure in Anti-Mormon Zombie Hell.)   But no, it’s a Halloween-related piece by Taylor Halverson:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640253/Why-are-zombies-everywhere.html     Read more

    Matthew 23:1-36 Mark 12:37-40 Luke 20:45-47 Compare Luke 6:39; 11:39-44, 46-52; John 13:4-5, 12-17   There are many observations that might be made about these substantial passages of scripture.  I’ll offer just a few, briefly.   1.   It’s striking that, while Christ’s statements here indicate a very negative estimation of the character of the scribes and the Pharisees — for, among other things, greed and hypocrisy — they show considerable respect for their “office,” as it were,... Read more

    It’s time, I think, to repost something that I’ve put up a few times before:   I’m sometimes contacted by people who’re experiencing doubts about the claims of Mormonism or whose spouse or father or daughter has lost faith.  I always ask what the specific issues might be, and I then try to address those or to locate colleagues or printed resources that might help resolve their concerns. I think that such efforts are extraordinarily important.  Elder Neal... Read more

    Science is hard.   Sometimes scientists make mistakes.   http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151028-planet-disappears-alpha-centauri-astronomy-science/   (Cue attacks on religion.)     Read more

    Here’s an exhibit that I would very much like to see, about specific places that I know well and dearly love:   http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/oct/27/egypt-faith-after-the-pharaohs-review-british-museum   But, alas, I have no plans of getting to London while it’s there.   Dang.   And again, dang.     Read more

    “Reason is itself a matter of faith.  It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all.” G. K. Chesterton      Read more

    Martin Marty is, very possibly, the most important Protestant church historian in America.  Thanks to Kevin Taylor for bringing his article to my notice:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-marty/mormon-options-on-church_b_8392602.html     Read more

    Matthew 22:41-46 Mark 12:35-37 Luke 20:41-44 Compare Mark 12:34; Luke 20:40   The Jews of Jesus’ day expected a mortal messiah, of the lineage of King David (as Jesus was), who would deliver them from earthly bondage.  In these passages, he’s trying to get them to see that he’s much, much more than a political savior.     Read more