Ever wonder why so many atheistic critics seem unhinged?   Wonder no more!   http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/07/23/study-religion-is-beneficial-to-mental-health/   I’m joking, of course.  To a certain extent.   Posted from Erfurt, Germany Read more

    http://philosproject.org/isis-palmyra-israel-syria-islam/   “Whether education can foster and improve culture or not, it can surely adulterate and degrade it. For there is no doubt that in our headlong rush to educate everybody, we are lowering our standards, and more and more abandoning the study of those subjects by which the essentials of our culture—of that part of it which is transmissible by education—are transmitted; destroying our ancient edifices to make ready the ground upon which the barbarian nomads of... Read more

    Is it Friday?   Yes, it’s Friday.   So it’s time for another article from the Interpreter Foundation!   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/john-bernhisels-gift-to-a-prophet-incidents-of-travel-in-central-america-and-the-book-of-mormon/   My long-time friend and former Maxwell Institute colleague Matthew Roper continues his look at certain claims about the geography of the Book of Mormon.   I hope you enjoy it.   Posted from Erfurt, Germany     Read more

    Novelist Orson Scott Card provides a ringing endorsement for an essay by Cassandra Hedelius:   http://www.nauvootimes.com/cgi-bin/nauvoo_column.pl?number=102850&author=orson-scott-card#.VeC3ykvgMdu   Posted from Erfurt, Germany Read more

    “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.”   “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.”   Martin Luther   Posted from Erfurt, where he attended the university and then entered the local monastery Read more

    I don’t know.   I admit that I’ve wondered whether he might.   Right now, Donald Trump is successfully demagoguing it up, and the supposed “powerhouse” Jeb Bush — whose entry into the race may have been the factor influencing Governor Romney to stay out — hasn’t exactly been dominating the field.   I’m also not sure how things would turn out if he did.   But there are beginning to be rumors:   “Mitt Romney is thinking... Read more

    My friend and former Maxwell Institute colleague continues his reflections upon elements of the “Heartland” view of Book of Mormon geography:   http://etherscave.blogspot.de/2015/08/this-land-and-this-continent.html   Regarding one individual’s recent demand that non-“Heartlander” views be suppressed, see this, with its link:   http://fornspollfira.blogspot.de/2015/08/be-careful-what-you-wish-for.html   Posted from Erfurt, Germany     Read more

    People like this shouldn’t be permitted public employment anyway:   http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/08/28/calgary-bus-driver-will-quit-job-if-forced-to-take-the-wheel-of-rainbow-pride-bus_n_8052300.html?ncid=fcbklnkcahpmg00000004   Perhaps, indeed, they ought to be placed in camps.  Re-education camps, if you will.   Certainly they should be punished and marginalized for their offenses.  After all, we’re talking about a fundamental principle here — tolerance of differences — that society ought to enforce.   And what’s a Christian doing in Canada, anyway?   (Thanks to Eric Lopez for bringing this item to my attention.)   Posted... Read more

      http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/6812-jeb-rubio-compete-for-vital-mormon-vote-in-nevada   Of course, this will all be irrelevant if the 2016 president election turns out to be Trump versus Clinton.   (What a depressing thought.)   Or Trump versus Sanders.   At least a Trump v. Sanders contest would have the advantage of being entertaining:  Boorish capitalist swashbuckler versus dull socialist apparatchik.  Obnoxiously outspoken ideological opportunist against colorless and obsolete ideologue.   If it goes that way, the presidential election will be decisive and irrefutable proof... Read more

    The gravity of the situation cannot be exaggerated.   Is Christianity in the Middle East coming to an end?   Christian refugees in Middle East seek asylum in the United States   Posted from Erfurt, Germany     Read more