An interesting new challenge has been issued to a vocal former Latter-day Saint:   How scientific research can become weaponized (despite intentions otherwise)   Thanks to Nathaniel Hancock for calling my attention to Dr. Hess’s essay.   Dr. Gregory L. Smith provided some useful background on John Dehlin back in 2013, accompanied by more than a little controversy:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/gregory-l-smiths-review-of-mormon-stories/     Read more

    People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character. Ralph Waldo Emerson   I strongly agree with Emerson on this point, and have held the same opinion since long before I noticed what he had to say about it.  Candidly, it’s sneering cynics — they exist everywhere, I suppose, but I personally encounter them most often in a particular strain of (typically secular apostate) anti-Mormonism (most recently in certain reactions to... Read more

    This situation doesn’t receive nearly the amount of news coverage that it deserves, and these people shouldn’t be forgotten:   http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WA17A19&f=WU17A07     Read more

    This is really quite amazing.  When I was growing up, the usual way of explaining the origin of life (which is still not understood) was simply to throw lots and lots of time at the question and then say, “Given long enough, all sorts of things happen.”   It now turns out that, speaking in geological and evolutionary terms, there just wasn’t all that much time:   http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2017/01/life-on-earth-may-have-started-almost-instantaneously-compelling-evidence-discovered-video.html     Read more

    Cody Quirk helpfully calls this item to my attention:   “Comcast won’t air ads pursuing Mormon church tax status, organizer says”   I have to admit that I can’t honestly muster much sympathy for poor Fred Karger on this point.   And here’s another item, from a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, relating to the Choir’s impending performance at the 2017 presidential inauguration:   “Choir members are goodwill ambassadors”   Incidentally, for those who have insisted... Read more

    You can scarcely be surprised, today being Friday, that a new article has been published in Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture.  After all, this is the 234th consecutive Friday on which such a thing has happened.  It’s almost begun to look like a pattern.   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/the-great-and-spacious-book-of-mormon-arcade-game-more-curious-works-from-book-of-mormon-critics/     Read more

    You might think that, after many years of experience with it, I could no longer be shocked by the way that some people, particularly online, turn disagreement about religion and politics into venomous personal hostility.   But, as a matter of fact, I am still very often shocked by it.   As I was falling asleep last night after yet another close encounter with such weird nastiness, the so-called “Peace Prayer” attributed to St. Francis of Assisi kept going... Read more

    If these incidents represent actual Russian or pro-Russian hacking, which they may or may not, they would seem counterproductively open and obvious:   http://dailycaller.com/2017/01/12/hours-after-rt-interrupts-cspan-msnbc-experiences-bizarre-russia-glitch/   If I were a Russian leader right now, at a time when many thoughtful people are concerned about Russian hacking and Russian electoral interference, as well as about a very Vladimir-Putin-friendly incoming presidential administration,  the last thing I would want would be to provide two or three more especially brazen examples of Russian hacking and Russian interference with... Read more

    Sheesh.  I almost forgot to post a note about the latest installment of my weekly Deseret News column:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865670923/Joseph-Smiths-doctrines-shed-light-on-evil-suffering.html   The usual cadre of critics showed up.  One has to admire their dedication.  They write as regularly for the Deseret News as I do.     Read more

    Orion Trunk has kindly called my attention to a 1979 conference address by President N. Eldon Tanner about “The Administration of the Church” that some, I think, might find of interest.  Especially given the current teapot-tempest about General Authority stipends.   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1979/10/the-administration-of-the-church?lang=eng     Read more