Quite a number of years ago, my late friend Bill Hamblin and I published the article below in the Provo Daily Herald. The first-person voice is Bill’s: The Transformative Power of Religion Although this column generally focuses on the history and importance of world religions, we occasionally examine aspects of our own LDS faith. Two months ago one of the authors had the opportunity to visit Mexico. While visiting the ancient Zapotec site of Monte Alban, I... Read more
I’ve been asked by a reader to substantiate my lack of admiration for the 2007 bestseller god is Not Great, by the late Christopher Hitchens. It’s been years since I’ve paid any attention to that unfortunate offense against the world’s forests, but here are a couple of abbreviated specimens of my take on it: The first comes from the 2007 FairMormon conference, where I spoke on the subject: “God and Mr. Hitchens” (video) “God and Mr.... Read more
We’re just back from a performance of the Jeff Hamilton Trio in the Concert Hall of the Noorda at Utah Valley University (Jeff Hamilton on drums, Tamir Hendelman on piano, and Jon Hamar — whose appearance curiously reminded me, just a bit, of the young Clayton Christensen — on bass). Of late, our neighborhood has been improving in remarkable ways: The Noorda is even closer to us — considerably so — than are BYU’s theaters and concert venues. The... Read more
“UV Light On Airplanes Could Prevent Spread Of Coronavirus And Other Infectious Diseases” “An ancient galaxy grew massive — then oddly stopped making stars: Something abruptly tossed star-making gas from this galaxy or stopped it from falling in” *** The pizza company Little Caesars has been running an amusing commercial based on the common expressions that “x is the best thing since sliced bread”: “Little Caesars Super Bowl Commercial 2020 Rainn Wilson Best Thing Since... Read more
Every once in a while, I think it appropriate to remind Latter-day Saints and others of this very important and quie remarkable document from the First Presidency — which is to say, from the presiding authorities — of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a statement that has been of great significance to me in my teaching and other work regarding Islam: Statement of the First Presidency Regarding God’s Love for All Mankind... Read more
One argument that has recently been raised against Senator Mitt Romney’s vote to convict President Donald J. Trump on the the first article of impeachment runs as follows: A majority of Utahns — perhaps in the low to mid-50% range — favored the acquittal of President Trump. Congressional representatives should follow the wishes of those they represent. Mitt Romney failed to comply with (2). Therefore, Mitt Romney failed in his responsibility as a senator. And surely... Read more
A new piece has been posted on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Science & Mormonism Series 1: Cosmos, Earth, and Man: Who Is Adam? Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article by Trent D. Stephens originally appeared in Science & Mormonism Series 1: Cosmos, Earth, and Man (2016). Abstract:Trent Stephens, retired professor at Idaho State University, describes his personal views on pre-Adamic people. After a review of the plan of salvation, he wonders whether the Fall could... Read more
I continue in the spirit of another very recent blog entry: Arthur Brooks, who served for a number of years as the president of the conservative/libertarian American Enterprise Institute and who is now a professor in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, was the keynote speaker at the recent National Prayer Breakfast. He is a particular hero of mine. I’ve met him, briefly, and I’ve written enthusiastically about his work (e.g., here... Read more
The once-famous poem “Thanatopsis” (roughly, “a reflection on death,” from the Greek thanatos (“death”) and opsis (“view,” “sight”), by the American poet William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878), concludes as follows: So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan, which moves To that mysterious realm, where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed By an unfaltering... Read more
I continue with thoughts that are more or less in the vein of my immediately previous post (“An apostle makes a political move”): I make a pretty serious effort — largely successful, though not invariably so — to avoid politics on my blog during the Sabbath. I believe that Sundays (or whatever the Sabbath might be where one happens to live) should be reserved for more important things, for a more significant and fundamental loyalty, than partisan... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In