Don’t take it all for granted.

Last updated on: January 24, 2024 at 5:03 pm By Dan Peterson

I’ve been reading a small collection of essays by the late Edward O. Wilson (1929-2021), the Harvard biologist, ecologist, and entomologist who is best known for developing the field of sociobiology: Every Species is a Masterpiece (London: Penguin Books, 2021). Wilson was also, by the way, an outspoken advocate of “scientific humanism” (a term that, indeed, he is said to have coined) and a vocal critic of religious belief, although he denied being an actual atheist. The principal theme... Read more

A chink in the armor of reductive materialism?

Last updated on: January 23, 2024 at 5:30 pm By Dan Peterson

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I read an interesting paper this morning — Stephan A. Schwartz, “Nonlocality and Exceptional Experiences: A Study of Genius, Religious Epiphany, and the Psychic,” Explore 6/4 (July/August 2010): 227-236 — from which I’ll share a few quoted passages. At the time that he published his article, Stephan Schwartz was Senior Samueli Fellow for Brain, Mind, and Healing at the Samueli Institute, in Alexandria, Virginia. First, the abstract: Two hundred years of reductive materialism has failed to explain the extraordinary... Read more

Something that Christians don’t need to believe

Last updated on: January 22, 2024 at 2:42 pm By Dan Peterson

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Spencer Kraus, Martin Tanner, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt came together for the 7 January 2024 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, which focused on Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 5 and on evidences for the Book of Mormon. Their conversation is now archived, freed from commercial interruptions, and made available for your listening pleasure. The “New Testament in Context” portion of the 7 January 2024 show, for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 5, will... Read more

The Lord’s new temple in Orem

Last updated on: January 21, 2024 at 8:04 pm By Dan Peterson

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We participated in the first dedicatory service for the new Orem Utah Temple this morning. Elder Hugo E. Martinez, whom we came to know just a bit during a tour of Israel many years ago (prior to his call as a General Authority), conducted the meeting, which featured a pre-recorded video message from President Russell M. Nelson. Elder Kevin R. Duncan led those assembled in the “Hosanna Shout.” Elder Patrick Kearon, who was ordained an apostle just last month,... Read more

Is morality “findable”?

Last updated on: January 21, 2024 at 12:09 pm By Dan Peterson

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We held our quarterly Interpreter Foundation board meeting today — technically, it’s our annual board meeting (so, among many other things, we voted to continue our officers as they had been constituted) — and our book committee met this afternoon. There are, I’m happy to report, some very good things on the horizon. I’m so grateful for all of those who contribute time and effort to make Interpreter work — notably including the members of our board — and... Read more

Heavenly Ascent in 2 Nephi?

Last updated on: January 19, 2024 at 6:27 pm By Dan Peterson

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Newly published on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: “Heavenly Ascent in Jacob’s Writings in Second Nephi: Addressing the Question of What the Plan of Salvation is in the Book of Mormon,” written by Skyler R. Smith Abstract: Heavenly ascent describes the process of an individual (or community) returning to the presence of God. Though various elements exist within heavenly ascent literature, general patterns can be discerned. This project uses one such pattern as a hermeneutical tool to examine... Read more

On Religious Involvement and Health

Last updated on: January 18, 2024 at 10:34 am By Dan Peterson

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Conference Talks: Bearing Testimony in Hebrew: A Comparison of Ancient Israelite Temple Worship with Modern Latter-day Saint Testimony Meetings, presented by Ryan Davis at the Interpreter Foundation’s 2018 Temple on Mount Zion Conference The fourth “Temple on Mount Zion” Conference was held on Saturday, November 10, 2018 in the Tanner Building at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. The presentations were filmed, and both video and audio recordings of each presentation are available. The videos are currently available both at... Read more

Some reasons to be religious?

Last updated on: January 17, 2024 at 3:32 am By Dan Peterson

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I want to remind you of Steve Densley’s rapidly approaching fireside in the greater Houston area. (See here for details of time and place and topic.) In one exceptionally weird corner of the internet, of course, the reviews of his remarks are already pouring in, days before those remarks will be delivered. I can’t help but think of Proverbs 18:13. And to think that some people actually deny the existence of prophecy! I now offer you a larger-than-usual tranche... Read more

“If you seek his monument, look around”

Last updated on: January 17, 2024 at 12:34 am By Dan Peterson

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These three items went up today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 3 “Come and Partake of the Fruit”: 1 Nephi 6-10 During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to listen to and valuable to... Read more

Thebes of the Hundred Gates

Last updated on: January 15, 2024 at 11:57 am By Dan Peterson

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We left our boat this morning and headed over the great temple complex of Karnak, where we spent a couple of hours and could easily have spent many, many, many more. We had a very Egyptian lunch at a restaurant in Luxor called Sofra, and then our group began to split up. Six of our number headed off in a small van to Hurghada, while the rest of us proceeded to the airport for a flight back to Cairo.... Read more