In “commemorating” the third year of the New Direction at the Maxwell Institute, I note that I can’t remember anything overtly and explicitly “apologetic” for any truth claim of the LDS church which has been published by the Maxwell Institute in the past three years, that was not already in press when the coup occurred. I’m sure I missed something. So, I invite people to correct me. I also note that this is not mere happenstance. Apologists for the New Direction... Read more
Three years ago today, the coup that inaugurated the “New Direction” at the Maxwell Institute occurred. By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered FARMS. When will there be a new king Cyrus? Read more
I had planned to respond to some of the more uninformed claims and criticisms of Philip Jenkins on the Book of Mormon. But then I thought, BYU and the Church have the Maxwell Institute and the Religious Studies Center with more than a dozen full-time people who could respond. Why should I? Read more
Word is that Jerry Bradford has retired as Director of the Maxwell Institute. He will remain as temporary director a while longer until the decision on the new Director is finalized. I have heard no rumors as to who that might be–some think the new director has already been chosen, but not yet announced. Some people at the MI are reportedly getting worried that there might be a “new” New Direction. Here’s a link to the official announcement: http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/byu-search-new-institute-director/ Read more
Philip Jenkins, a scholar I admire, has been critiquing Book of Mormon historicity on his blog. See: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2015/05/mormons-and-new-world-history/ http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2015/05/wandering-over-the-plains-of-the-nephites/ Needless to say, I believe he both misses the point(s), and is seriously mistaken and uninformed on a number of issues. (My suspicion is that his LDS informants were of the liberal persuasion.) I may take up responding to his specific claims at some point. We’ll see. At one point he says: The relationship of the official church to the more literal-minded... Read more
The ever insightful Neal Rappleye http://www.studioetquoquefide.com/2015/05/does-historicity-of-book-of-mormon.html Read more
On his blog David Bokovoy suggest that Latter-day Saints should adopt the views of Marcus Borg on the nature of the Bible in order to “save the Bible.” (One is reminded of the famous (though largely mythical) incident at at Ben Tre during the Vietnam War where the army “had to destroy a town to save it.”) He lists four specific claims made by Borg. (I believe these quotations given below are David’s words summarizing Borg’s position.) I’ll give a brief... Read more
In his latest blog David Bokovoy suggests that resistance is futile, and we should assimilate to the Borg. Not Locutus, but Marcus. David believes Latter-Day Saints should adopt Marcus Borg’s perspectives on Jesus and the New Testament. Remembering that the essential component of Borg’s position is that does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, nor does he accept the historicity of the resurrection, it leads one to wonder if David would have the LDS Church move in that direction... Read more
The latest Hamblin-Peterson Deseret News Column “Tree veneration in India and the Bible” Be sure to look at the attached photos for examples. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627745/Tree-veneration-in-India-and-the-Bible.html Read more
Rumor has it–and it is only rumor–that Jerry Bradford will be stepping down as director of the Maxwell Institute at the end of the summer. The BYU administration is selecting a committee to chose his successor. Read more
Enigmatic Mirror
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