For many years now, my most devoted atheist commenter here (never a Latter-day Saint) has repeatedly (and repetitiously) asserted that religious claims can neither be examined, tested, nor investigated. (Which, I’m guessing, is intended to show — in what might perhaps be a kind of folk echo or pop version of once-fashionable logical positivism — that such claims are nonsense. He never actually formulates an argument, so I’m left to speculate. But that seems to be what’s in the... Read more
I agree with this article, which was written by a Roman Catholic: “Does Jesus Have a Sense of Humor? Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is like us in every way except sin. This includes having a sense of humor.” It reminds me of the review of a book from another Catholic thinker that I came across a couple of years ago: “Making God Laugh: A new book makes the case that humor is heavenly.” Alas, though, I... Read more
Cody Quirk has kindly called to my notice an article about an interesting discovery in Central America: “Archaeologists in Panama find ancient tomb filled with gold treasure — and sacrificial victims.” Although the site and the golden artifacts that were found by the archaeologists date to a period that is somewhat after the end of the narrative of the Book of Mormon, and although they were located in an area that, according to the Mesoamerican model that I find... Read more
I hope that I don’t offend or violate any confidences with the little story that I’m about to tell. I wasn’t asked to keep it confidential, and I won’t share the crucial personal name — not least because, having never known it, I’m unable to share it. Moreover, I hope that I’m accurately recalling what happened as it was told to me. I think that it’s worthy of reflection in the light of the transfer of ownership of the... Read more
Amidst the general rejoicing among Latter-day Saints at our church’s recovery of the Kirtland Temple (and other properties in Kirtland and in Nauvoo) — joy in which I enthusiastically share — we should probably not forget that the transaction has caused deep sadness among not a few members of the Community of Christ, including at least some (and maybe all) in its leadership. For example, please listen to the honest and touching statement on the matter from Lachlan Mackay,... Read more
For anybody who cares about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, today’s news is absolutely thrilling. I have been hoping for these developments for a many decades: “Responsibility and Ownership of Sacred Sites and Historic Documents Transfer to Church of Jesus Christ: Acquisitions include Kirtland Temple, historic buildings in Nauvoo and manuscripts of Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible” “Frequently Asked Questions Clarify the Transfer of Sacred Sites and Historic Documents: Appendix lists items... Read more
Interpreter Radio Show — February 25, 2024 For the 25 February 2024 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, Steve Densley and John Thompson spoke with their special guest, Kerry Muhlestein. They discussed Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 12 and Kerry’s new book The Easter Connection. Their conversation, shorn of commercial breaks and archived for your listening pleasure, is now freely available online. The “Book of Mormon in Context” portion of this show, for the Come, Follow Me... Read more
My wife and I have belonged for many years to a monthly reading group — its formal name is The Gadianton Polysophical Marching and Chowder Society — that I’ve mentioned here at least once or twice before. Tonight, we were the leaders of a discussion that was centered on a book that we had chosen for the group: Boris Johnson, The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History (2014). I enjoyed the book very much, and I thought that our... Read more
While going through and trying to organize some materials on my computer, I came across the following file, which was titled “Christ’s Resurrection (UCLA).” Evidently, it is a set of notes for some sort of undated presentation at or near UCLA that I can no longer recall. Their reliance upon an article by the Evangelical philosopher Gary Habermas is unmistakable. Anyway, I intend soon to clean them up and turn them into connected prose. In the meanwhile, I share... Read more
“Proper Names and Political Claims: Semitic Echoes as Foundations for Claims to the Nephite Throne,” written by Lyle H. Hamblin Abstract: The Book of Mormon contains examples of phonemes in character names that resemble Semitic root words. The possible meanings of the names and their timing in the Book of Mormon narrative provide a deeper level of context to the Nephite political challenges in the books of Mosiah through 3 Nephi. Specifically, the English phonemes for the Hebrew and Arabic... Read more
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