1- The first thing I need to note is that my major comments will appear under the header “Jenkins Response” (that is Hamblin’s Response to Jenkins). Major comments from prof. Jenkins will appears as “Jenkins Rejoinder.” Keep that in mind to follow the argument properly. 2- I have lots of projects I’m engaged in. It may take a day or two before I post comments from prof Jenkins or others, and it may take a day or two before I... Read more
COMMENTS FROM JENKINS: This is a belated response to Dr. Hamblin’s opening column in his series of posts. He says that “Jenkins is woefully uninformed regarding ancient Book of Mormon studies…. [nothing] provides the slightest evidence that he understands ancient Book of Mormon studies, and is therefore qualified to engage the issue,” I respond that there is no such thing as “ancient Book of Mormon studies,” at least in terms of a vaguely credible field of academic study, any more... Read more
COMMENTS FROM JENKINS: I am puzzled by the directions that Dr. Hamblin’s columns are taking – or rather, not taking. Basically, why has he not yet addressed the critical issue of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon? Why has he not begun to address my “Rule of One” question, namely to produce from the New World one single object or site, one piece of genetic or linguistic evidence, that begins to support the historicity of that source. He is... Read more
What is peer review? It is a process by which recognized scholars in a field evaluate books or articles to determine if they meet academic standards for publication. When a journal or a university press receives a manuscript, the editor will generally make an initial evaluation, and then pass it on to two or three other scholars for their judgment. If everyone agrees that a paper should or should not be published, that evaluation is generally accepted by the editor. ... Read more
I’m not sure what happened, but this comment from Prof. Jenkins did get posted yesterday. It is a comment that should immediately follow my fourth response on scholarship. The subsequent comment won’t make a lot of sense if you don’t read this one first. Sorry about the inconvenience and confusions this might cause. Here is Dr. Jenkins’ comment first comment You mis-state my views. I have never suggested that LDS scholars in ANY field are inferior to their colleagues, whether... Read more
There are about a dozen professional LDS Mesoamericanists who accept the historicity of the Book of Mormon. A first glance that may not sound like very many, but we must remember that there are only a few hundred professional Mesoamericanists in the world—the annual Maya Studies meeting in Texas has an attendance of about 250—compared to 10,000 for the Society of Biblical Literature. Mormons are represented in the discipline at or above their percentage in the population at large. Furthermore,... Read more
Philip Jenkins recently sent several comments to my blog site. I’m collecting them all here so they don’t get lost in the comment section. Everything from this point are comments from professor Jenkins. ——— Good morning, Dr. Hamblin, I just came across this series – delighted to see it. Informed debate is always good! Excuse me if I do not respond to specific points you make. That does not indicate that I am not taking things seriously, but rather that... Read more
As Milton once insightfully said: A mind not to be changed by place or time. The Net is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. I have a couple of rules of engagement that I’m going to apply to the forthcoming discussion on my blog. 1- Jenkins is welcome to comment, or send longer posts. Anything he would like to say will be posted. I’m also happy to link to future... Read more
The story is told of a man who was never wrong in anything he said. Paradoxically, he only knew one thing for certain: when to keep his mouth shut. The reality is that Jenkins is woefully uninformed regarding ancient Book of Mormon studies. Of course, all of us are woefully uninformed on most topics. That doesn’t stop most of us from having opinions about almost everything. In the modern world, alas, there can no more Renaissance Men, who have... Read more
I have to admit that I’ve been playing a prank here on Patheos. (For those of you who are not familiar with me, I am a bit of prankster–humor impaired beware!) I am planning to write a series of responses to Jenkins’ attacks on the Book of Mormon. I said I wasn’t going to in order to goad the Maxwell Institute at bit. Classic FARMS would have organized a systematic response to Jenkins. The “New” Maxwell Institute will not. Enough said.... Read more
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