One of the arguments that Drs. Royal Skousen and, more recently Stanford Carmack are making in their remarkable work on the text of the Book of Mormon is that, in most if not all cases, what seems to be “bad” English (especially in the Original Manuscript) turns out to be English that was perfectly good at an earlier stage in the history of the English language – earlier than Joseph Smith’s day and, sometimes, considerably earlier than that.... Read more

    An interesting Jewish perspective on a topic that is increasingly under discussion — including, very much, by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:   http://mosaicmagazine.com/essay/2016/08/whos-afraid-of-religious-liberty/   Posted from Oslo, Norway     Read more

    http://www.ldsliving.com/What-One-Louisiana-Flood-Survivor-Had-to-Say-About-Mormons/s/82903   I might add, too, that Rod Dreher isn’t just any old “flood survivor.”  He’s a significant writer whom I’ve been reading fairly frequently for years.  Lately, he’s been provoking conversations with a suggestion that he’s labeled the “Benedict Option.”   Posted from Oslo, Norway   Read more

    The transcript of Brian Stubbs’s presentation at the 2016 FairMormon conference is now up:   http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/fair-conferences/2016-fairmormon-conference/changes-languages-nephi-now   While I do a number of languages — including the professional teaching of a Semitic one — I don’t consider myself a linguist in the strict sense of the word.  Moreover, apart from the words tomato and chocolate, I know nothing of the Uto-Aztecan language family.   Thus, although I find the evidence plausible, I’m in no authoritative position to pronounce... Read more

    Very much like other disciplines involving humans, science is influenced by fashions, traditions, assumptions, and personalities.  The reception of Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity isn’t necessarily the best illustration of such influences, but it, too, plainly shows their effect:   http://daily.jstor.org/why-no-one-believed-einstein/   Posted from Oslo, Norway     Read more

    There is much to admire about the Vikings, my ancestors — and very, very much not to admire.  One valuable text from the Viking age is a collection of gnomic sayings in verse called the Hávamál.  Here’s one specimen:   Cattle die. Kinsmen die. All men are mortal. Words of praise will never perish, nor a noble name.   It’s inspiring, and it almost sounds true.   Consider, though:  If you can name five actual historical Vikings from... Read more

    http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2016/08/20/why_doesnt_the_public_trust_science_109728.html   Permit me to suggest another factor that, in my judgment, sometimes plays in:   Some evolutionists have advanced conclusions that go far beyond biological science, arguing that Darwin’s discovery proves the universe meaningless, life pointless, intelligence and personality mere chance occurrences, and the cosmos Godless.   Some Christians object to evolution, obviously, because it conflicts with their literal reading of Genesis.  The more visceral reaction though, I think, comes from the sense that it devalues human... Read more

    I’ve seen massive changes myself since I first lived in Jerusalem back in 1978.   I’m horrified to think that that’s been nearly four decades now.  I never imagined being so old.   On the other hand, in historical terms, let alone from a geological perspective, forty years is nothing.   Come with me to Israel in early May 2017 and see the Dead Sea while you still can.   In the meantime, if you want to understand why... Read more

    I meant to call attention to the newest issue of SquareTwo the other day, but I became distracted and forgot.  So here’s the Table of Contents:   “Editors’ Introduction, Summer 2016,” by Editorial Board, SquareTwo Journal “Female Genital Cutting and Mormons,” by Chad F. Emmett “What’s in a Name? SquareTwo Poll Survey Results on the Naming of Women’s Positions and Organizations in the LDS Church,” by V.H. Cassler and Neylan McBaine “Cultural Excavation of the Divine Feminine: My... Read more

    When I posted my little piece the other day about what titles to give women who serve in the Church, I (of course) hadn’t yet seen this article, which has just been published in the Salt Lake Tribune:   “Mia Maids? Mission prez’s wife? Please, in the name of all that is holy, change these outdated Mormon monikers, LDS women plead”   Nor, although I was aware of the new issue of SquareTwo (which, contrary to the Tribune... Read more