For my class on the Qur’an in English, I’m rereading M. A. S. Abdel Haleem’s translation in the Oxford World’s Classics series. I thought, therefore, that I would mention one of the passages that I intend to highlight in our class discussion on Thursday morning: If you have doubts about the revelation We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a single sura [chapter] like it — enlist whatever supporters you have other than God —... Read more
This is a fascinating bit of medical history: “The original anti-vaxxers: How the zeal of Edward Jenner contributed to today’s culture wars” It’s also a complex one. The black hats are pretty black, but the white hats aren’t entirely white. Edward Jenner does come across as a (flawed) hero, and as an example of how one person who is willing to, as the now trite saying goes, “think outside the box” can be importantly right while those... Read more
Filming of the dramatic portion of the Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses movie project began today. Our crew is at Ontario’s Upper Canada Village, south of Ottawa and Montreal and just over the border with the United States. I wish that I could be there, as well — I am, after all, one of the film’s executive producers — but, alas, being regularly employed in a quite unrelated job does have its downsides. (Today was also the first day of... Read more
Although most of us who have really thought about this issue concluded long since that genetics alone could not account for homosexuality — to say nothing of a specific “gay gene” — this is still a rather important study: New York Times: “Many Genes Influence Same-Sex Sexuality, Not a Single ‘Gay Gene’: The largest study of same-sex sexual behavior finds the genetics are complicated, and social and environmental factors are also key.” Science News: “There’s no evidence... Read more
I published the column below in the Deseret News back on 1 June 2017: Critics of the Book of Mormon often argue that no evidence exists for contact between the ancient Near East and the Americas. Accordingly, proof of such contact would demolish a principal objection to Joseph Smith’s prophetic claims. If the thesis of Brian Stubbs’ “Exploring the Explanatory Power of Semitic and Egyptian in Uto-Aztecan” is correct, he has furnished precisely that proof. I’ll draw here... Read more
“University of Kansas Faculty Protest Chick-fil-A on Campus in Fear of ‘Mental Well-being'” “Kansas University faculty wants Chick-fil-A banned from campus for fears of ‘safety,’ ‘mental well being'” Representing the university’s administration, the interim provost at the University of Kansas, Carl Lejuez, speaks grandly of “our commitment to affirm diversity and to be a welcoming and inclusive campus,” but it isn’t especially clear that the diversity, inclusivity, and friendly welcome to which he and his fellow administrators... Read more
“Church of Jesus Christ leader ends South American tour and looks forward to ‘exciting things ahead’: “This work is moving forward at an accelerated pace. I can hardly wait to bounce out of bed each morning and see what the day will bring,” said President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” “Church News video: Latter-day Saint youth leave an unforgettable impression on Latin America Ministry Tour” *** “Video: See... Read more
An ex-Latter-day Saint critic, having read my blog entry from yesterday entitled “Well? Does Qur’an 9:11 prophesy that “the wrath of the eagle” will cleanse the lands of the Arabs?”, lauds my demolition of the purported Qur’anic prophecy of the eagle that will clean out the Arab lands (or “the lands of Allah”). In his portrayal of me and my blog entry, I vehemently shout that it isn’t a prophecy. Well, I don’t know about the... Read more
Continued from “Anecdotal intimations of immortality (1)”: Dr. Peale tells of his own deep grief at the death of his mother, with whom he had been unusually close. She died in the summer, and yet, when autumn came, he was still inconsolable. So he decided to travel back to southern Ohio, where he had grown up and where she was buried, to visit her grave. The weather was blustery, cold, and dismal. Then all of a sudden... Read more
Does Qur’an 9:11 prophesy that “the wrath of the eagle” will cleanse the lands of the Arabs or “the lands of Allah” ? No! No, it doesn’t! No! I’ve encountered this utterly bogus claim many times before, and have just encountered it yet again. Several years ago, a member of the Church shared this alleged Qur’anic passage with me, wondering what I made of it. I pronounced it bogus. He looked at me... Read more
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