Ben Park has posted a response to the controversy. It can be found here. It includes a statement from David Holland, the author of one of the books Park reviewed. Also “Smallaxe” posted his critique of my reading of Park’s essay. I generally don’t post anonymous statements on my blog, nor do I argue with anonymous people on the web. If “Smallaxe” would like to reveal his real name, I might respond to him. In describing how he thinks I have misrepresented... Read more
Grant Hardy and I have been corresponding concerning my interpretation of Ben Park’s essay. I offered to explain his concerns and explanation on my blog. Ben Park also has an open invitation to correct my misunderstandings if he’s like. Here is Grant’s response. ======================= I appreciate Bill allowing me to respond to his concerns about a book review by Ben Park in the most recent Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. Unlike many who have commented here and at Dan... Read more
My critics are much exercised because they believe I am trying to force someone to publicly bear their testimony. This is a mere obfuscation. I am criticizing his published position on an intellectual issue of interest to the Latter-day Saints. If he want’s to further explain his position, he’s welcome to post on my blog, or elsewhere. I am not asking him to bear his testimony. I am asking him to clarify and explain the cogency and coherence of his ideas... Read more
Went to see “Exodus” today. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1528100/My review:–Worst movie biblical theophany EVER! God as petulant 10-year old simply doesn’t work … at any level.–Christian Bale mumbling = best depiction of Moses being “slow of speech and of tongue” (Ex 4:10) EVER! (That was intentional, wasn’t it?) –Christian Bale beard = worst Moses beard EVER! –John Turturro as pharaoh Seti = worst casting decision EVER! –Great special effects and production values. Chariots were cool. However, everything was WAY to huge. –Many gross... Read more
Some of my critics have claimed that I have taken Ben Park’s statements out of context, and misrepresent his real position. Rather than isolated ambiguous statements taken out of context, there are seven clear statements in Park’s essay of as many pages, which I believe only make sense with the assumption that the Book of Mormon is a nineteenth century document. There is no statement in his paper that even remotely alludes to even the possibility of an ancient Book of Mormon.... Read more
Not many people will get this; but if they do, they’ll love it! I Am the Very Model of a Biblical Philologist Hat tip to Robert Boylan. Read more
“You’re a plague and we are the cure.” Agent Smith, The Matrix Benjamin Park, Ph.D. Cambridge, “teaches history at the University of Missouri,” and is “associate editor for [the new] Mormon Studies Review” (175), a publication of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University (http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/). Since the administrators of the Maxwell Institute have selected Park to serve as associate editor for their new flagship publication, his views on Mormon Studies undoubtedly reflect the “new direction” the... Read more
People should pay attention to the new Expand Blog. Unfortunately, those who really need to pay attention probably won’t. Read more
Neal Rappleye’s insightful comments. Read more
The local media has finally gotten wind of the open secret that some classrooms in Religious Education have been secretly bugged with voice activated recorders. See media reports here: Deseret News KSL SL Tribune The story may go national. Tonight I received a phonecall from a CNN reporter asking for a comment on the story; I laughed and said I had nothing to say. The BYU police are quoted as saying: “We have no idea who put that [digital voice activated... Read more
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