More on a Moral Argument for the Existence of God

November 9, 2020 By Dan Peterson

Still drawing on Douglas Groothuis, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (Downers Grove: IVP and Nottingham: Apollos, 2011), 338-341: Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that moral standards are simply a function of culture — that is, that moral “truths” are relative to particular societies. Such an assumption renders the concept of moral “progress” quite empty. Moral standards or ideals may change — e.g., with regard to slavery or the treatment of women, or... Read more

Science, Knowledge, and Sticking to Solid Fact

November 8, 2020 By Dan Peterson

I often encounter religious skeptics who declare that, unlike theists, they live in “the fact-based universe” — as if there exists only one such place and as if they hold a monopoly on reason and objective fact. And they commonly point to science as not only a paradigm for knowing “just the facts, ma‘am,” but as the ideal or even as the only genuinely valid avenue to knowledge or — a rather distinct concept, though its distinctness sometimes... Read more

Abraham Lincoln on civil discord and fierce political disagreement

November 8, 2020 By Dan Peterson

It has been a long-standing policy of mine to refrain from political posts on the Sabbath Day. Some may be unaware of that, so I’m restating the policy now. I intend to maintain it. I firmly believe that there are things that are far more important than partisan politics, important as I consider those to be — and this is very much a part of what motivated me to post my blog entry on charity, civility, and community... Read more

President Biden’s success will be our country’s success. We should all root hard for him, and pray for him.

November 7, 2020 By Dan Peterson

I share with you here the concession speech that Mitt Romney offered following his lamentable loss in the 2012 presidential election: I also found this note, which I received yesterday (Friday) afternoon from my friend Tom Pittman, of considerable interest. I share it with his kind permission: Ready for two ironies? (1) In electoral votes, the most likely scenario is President Trump will lose by the same number of electoral votes that he beat Hillary... Read more

Revision 8.3 “On Early Apostles and Missionaries in the Holy Land and the Near East”

November 7, 2020 By Dan Peterson

This was, however, not the last time that apostles of the Lord would visit Palestine in this dispensation to dedicate the land for the return of the Jews. Altogether, there seem to have been at least ten separate dedications of the Holy Land under apostolic authority. (No clearer illustration than this could possibly be provided of the urgent interest with which the prophets and apostles of this dispensation have watched events in the Holy Land.) Elder Anthon H.... Read more

Saturday’s Temple Conference

November 6, 2020 By Dan Peterson

This is a last-minute reminder of the Interpreter Foundation’s imminent next conference. As we commonly do, we offer this to all who are interested The Fifth Interpreter Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference Saturday, November 7, 2020 Presented by The Interpreter Foundation Brigham Young University College of Humanities Due to the COVID-19 situation, this will be a live-streaming-only conference. The conference is free and open to the public, with no RSVP or entrance fee. Saturday November 7,... Read more

Was the Book of Mormon the product of Joseph Smith’s own thinking?

November 6, 2020 By Dan Peterson

A new article — this one by the notoriously vicious and always angry proprietor of Sic et Non hisself, one Daniel Peterson — has appeared in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: “It Came from Beyond” Abstract: The early Latter-day Saints viewed the Book of Mormon not only as a symbol of Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling but also as the most powerful evidence for that calling. However, perhaps because they were ardent believers in the Bible who had been... Read more

Hagia Sophia, Tenochtitlan, the Incas’ Golden Temple, and Jerusalem’s Temple Mount

November 5, 2020 By Dan Peterson

The latest installment of my bi-weekly column has appeared in the Deseret News, and this one is accompanied by some especially nice illustrations: “When a religious building has been repurposed by another faith: From the ancient Aztec in Tenochtitlan, modern Mexico City, to the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, to the Hagia Sophia in Turkey, there are many religious sites that have been repurposed by another faith with a conquering army” ... Read more

A moral argument for the existence of God

November 4, 2020 By Dan Peterson

Please note that “The Temple on Mount Zion,” the Fifth Interpreter Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference — jointly sponsored by the Interpreter Foundation and the Brigham Young University College of Humanities — will be held this coming Saturday, 7 November 2020, and will be streamed online, accessible at no charge: 2020 Temple on Mount Zion Conference *** Also now available from the Interpreter Foundation: Interpreter Radio Show — October 18, 2020 The 18 October 2020 broadcast... Read more

The Book of Mormon: Focus and Coherence

November 3, 2020 By Dan Peterson

I’m a bit behind on my self-assigned task of keeping you informed of new publications from the Interpreter Foundation. Yesterday, we were driving back from St. George, and we took our time to do it. We spent some time in the always-glorious Snow Canyon State Park, paid our sobered respect at the various Mountain Meadow Massacre National Memorial sites, and visited with friends in Cedar City. So I’ll try to catch up. Here are the new articles: ... Read more