Things are constantly in flux in the world of science. Here are two examples of revised dates in the history of primitive humans: “Homo erectus arrived in Indonesia 300,000 years later than previously thought” “Wasp nests provide the key to dating 12,000-year-old Aboriginal rock art: The technique involved dating mud wasp nest remnants found both beneath and on top of the paint” These items are more geological in character: “Geologists Dig Into the Origins of Plate... Read more
I received a message today from one Katie Witt, who is evidently the mayor of Kaysville, Utah, and a Republican candidate for a seat in Congress. Ms. Witt invited me to join her in a campaign to recall Mitt Romney from the Senate of the United States. I replied to Ms. Witt, indicating that I would not join her campaign and that, now, I would certainly not be supporting her candidacy for Congress. I am, I said,... Read more
“Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Present and Past Church Leaders Teach and Testify of the First Vision” (Part Six of a Series Compiled by Dennis B. Horne) Also available via the website of the Interpreter Foundation: “The First Vision,” with Spencer W. McBride And this, too: Interpreter Radio Show — January 26, 2020 The hosts for the 26 January 2020 edition of the Interpreter Radio Show were Steve Densley, Craig Foster, and Matthew... Read more
“There is no music in hell, for all good music belongs to heaven.” (Brigham Young) We’re just back from a fantastic, really wonderful, concert in BYU’s Madsen Recital Hall by the Dublin Guitar Quartet. I thoroughly enjoyed it. They are the first classical guitar quartet entirely devoted to new music. Since its formation at the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama, the Quartet has made an effort to expand the limited repertoire of contemporary “classical” guitar... Read more
I published this article in the Provo Daily Herald back at the end of January 1999: When the typical American thinks of Christianity, he or she usually visualizes a religion of western Europe and the New World. If we consider the issue for a moment, however, we must realize that Christianity is actually a Near Eastern religion. Its spread into Europe and especially into the New World came relatively late. Indeed, Christian missionaries were preaching in Africa,... Read more
I published this column in the Provo Daily Herald back in March 2001, but I remain skeptical still today of theories that purport to explain everything on the basis of scientific reductionism: Of the three thinkers who have most influenced the modern world – Darwin, Freud, and Marx – only Darwin has entered the twenty-first century with his reputation more or less intact. Indeed, an ambitious new movement claims to have explained all the patterns of human... Read more
Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, is often mocked and derided as gullible. But there are clear indications in his biography that he could be rather skeptical, just as we would expect from the respected, successful frontier farmer and businessman that he was. A few more notes from Susan Easton Black and Larry C. Porter, Martin Harris: Uncompromising Witness of the Book of Mormon (Provo: BYU Studies, 2018). Professors Black and Porter are occasionally... Read more
I would like to call your attention to an upcoming visit to Egypt that will run 20-30 November 2020: “Ultimate Egypt Interpreter Foundation Tour” The Interpreter Foundation and Cruise Lady are pleased to present this ULTIMATE EGYPT tour! It includes Old Cairo and the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel as well all the main highlights of Egypt. We have THE top Egyptian guide, HANY TAWFEEK to provide the history of Egypt and elaborate on all the sites.... Read more
But, first, a new item on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Science & Mormonism Series 1: Cosmos, Earth, and Man Questions and Comments about Evolution Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article by David M. Belnap originally appeared in Science & Mormonism Series 1: Cosmos, Earth, and Man (2016). Abstract: David Belnap, professor of biochemistry and biology at the University of Utah, answers questions about evolution that commonly come up in discussions among Latter-day Saints. *** ... Read more
I published this column back in the late 1990s, in the Provo Daily Herald: In a world filled with violence, poverty, suffering, illness, accidental death, disappointment, frustration, and hatred, pessimism is an ever-beckoning possibility. And, for some, pessimism shades eventually into utter despair, hopelessness, and cynicism. In the long term, the secular or naturalistic worldview actually has little else to offer. As one American philosopher put it, the things that matter most will ultimately be at the... Read more
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