Clarification

October 28, 2014 By William Hamblin

Some people seem to have misunderstood part of my concerns. I have no objection whatsoever to classes on thematic classes such as “Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel,” “Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon,” “Foundations of the Restoration,” or “The Eternal Family.” My concern is that such thematic classes should supplement and complement, rather than replace rigorous text-based, contextual courses on scripture. There is room for many type of courses in religious education, but the core focus should be to... Read more

My Fifteen Minutes?

October 28, 2014 By William Hamblin

After decades of being ignored when critiquing anti-Mormons, apostates, and liberal Mormons, I finally make it in the Tribune for critiquing CES. http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/1754786-155/mormon-lds-scripture-church-courses-curriculum Read more

Rejecting Historicity?

October 27, 2014 By William Hamblin

The fundamental problem of rejecting the historicity of the Book of Mormon is that it requires rejecting the historicity of the prophetic claims of the Restoration. As illustrative of what has changed at the MI, a reader sent me the following: Classic FARMS The Review 3 (1991): 81: “Without a real Lehi colony, how could there have been a real resurrected Nephite angel who later visited with Joseph Smith, or real plates, all of which are part of the controlling... Read more

The Dehistoricizing Impulse

October 27, 2014 By William Hamblin

It seems to me what is happening in both the “new” CES/BYU curriculum and at the “new” Maxwell Institute (better known as “Sunstone South”) is manifestation of parallel dehistoricizing impulses in the study of LDS scripture, though for precisely opposite reasons. The liberal impulse, reflected in the new direction of the Maxwell Institute (MI), seeks to dehistoricize LDS scripture by ignoring (they say “bracketing”) the claimed ancient context of LDS scripture. This means, for the new MI, the BOM should be... Read more

This in From Sunstone South

October 27, 2014 By William Hamblin

After two and a half years, the “New” Maxwell Institute has finally decided to try to explain “what’s changed at the Maxwell Institute.” See here: http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/mi-what-changed/ If anyone can make any sense of this verbose and meandering statement, could you please explain it to me? It seems to me the plan is to archive the classic-FARMS stuff, and publish new stuff that is different from classic-FARMS stuff largely because it is has “greater scholarly rigor, responsibility” which classic-FARMS publications... Read more

New BYU Religious Education Curriculum

October 27, 2014 By William Hamblin

BYU’s College of Religious Education has accepted a new curriculum. They plan to replace the old curriculum of courses focused on the books of scripture (Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) with four new “thematic” classes. The older scripture-based classes will be phased out over the next few years. Apparently this curriculum will also be initiated in all BYU campuses, and throughout CES. 1. Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel: A study... Read more

M&E 23 Gnosticism and Mysticism

October 26, 2014 By William Hamblin

Discussion of the relationship between Christian mysticism and esotericism with ancient Gnosticism, the veneration of Mary, Solitude, Silence, Stillness, Jesus Prayer, Philokalia Read more

Temple Studies Feast!

October 23, 2014 By William Hamblin

This week brings a real feast for Temple Studies. First, the Interpreter Foundation has just published three new temple-related books: Second, this weekend the Interpreter Foundation will be sponsoring the Temple on Mount Zion conference. Read more

Temple: Medieval Veils

October 20, 2014 By William Hamblin

Some Orthodox and Eastern Christian churches still have traditional veils (once found in all Christian Churches–now generally replaced by the iconostasis) dividing the nave from the Bema/High Place/Holy of Holies where the eucharist is prepared. This example is from the Syriac Church of St. Mark, in Jerusalem. Read more

M&E 21 New Testament and Mysticism

October 20, 2014 By William Hamblin

Discussion of the New Testament background to medieval Orthodox and Catholic mysticism Read more