One of the many reasons why, despite my disgust at Mr. Donald Trump, I’ll never, ever, vote for Hillary Clinton:   http://www.nationalreview.com/article/438911/hillary-clinton-opposes-religious-liberty   It would be really nice if there were a Republican in the presidential race this year.   “Ex-GOP lawmakers, party staffers urge Priebus to cut off Trump funding”   It would be especially nice if that Republican had at least some sympathy for religion and religious believers.  Consider Mr. Donald Trump’s real attitude toward Mormons, as... Read more

    Most tourists don’t think much about them, I expect, but Hawaii has antiquities, an ancient past, a fascinating linguistic history, and a very interesting pre-Christian religious tradition.  There’s a new reminder of that now, on the western coast of Oahu:   http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/09/us/petroglyphs-hawaii-discovery-irpt/?iid=ob_homepage_deskrecommended_pool     Read more

    Whenever you’re inclined to complain about the American economy, consider Venezuela.  Then go out on the streets and protest against free markets!   https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/08/08/venezuela-is-stuck-in-a-death-spiral-and-its-only-getting-worse/     Read more

    The first stanza of “The Second Coming,” by the great Irish poet William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), seems uncomfortably appropriate for our time:   Turning and turning in the widening gyre     The falcon cannot hear the falconer;     Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;     Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,     The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere     The ceremony of innocence is drowned;     The best lack... Read more

    Another Deseret News report — this one about my good friend Ralph Hancock’s presentation — from last week’s 2016 FairMormon conference:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659953/Scholar-discusses-conflict-between-gospel-and-secular-ideas-about-love-and-charity.html     Read more

    In Alma 59, Moroni begins to realize that there is a serious problem with supplies and support that must, necessarily, originate with the central government back in Zarahemla.   “And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government, because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.”  (Alma 59:13)   His anger is understandable.  Lack of reinforcements and supplies has cost both Nephite lives and Nephite land.  But he has misdiagnosed the problem, on the basis... Read more

        A nice little story out of Chicago:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659799/Hey-ISIS-You-Suck-Muslims-erect-billboard-with-a-tough-message-for-the-Islamic-State.html     Read more

    It turns out that mysteries remain:   http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/08/replication-of-big-bang-reveals-flaws-in-theory-of-atom-formation/   The origins of the universe remain at least partially shrouded from us, as do many other things.  There’s lots to explore!     Read more

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659951/Professor-says-he-cant-manage-to-disbelieve-in-the-Book-of-Mormon.html   That professor, who eagerly embraces fear (for others) and who positively delights in exclusion (the more mean-spirited the better), was presumably apoplectic during this presentation, which was given a bit earlier at the same FairMormon conference, and he probably refuses to speak with the person who gave it:   “LDS scholar calls for a more embracing Mormonism that rejects fear”   Moreover, that professor, a noted misogynist — I’ve read this online, so it can’t reasonably be... Read more

    “Let us . . . quietly accept our times, with the firm conviction that just as much good can be done today as at any time in the past, provided only that we have the will and the way to do it.” Étienne Gilson (1884-1978)       Read more