Does FARMS Still Matter?

Last updated on: September 8, 2007 at 6:06 pm By vineripetomato

The latest issue of the FARMS Review offers useful insight into the past, present, and possible futures of FARMS. The issue (19/1) is a hodgepodge of topics, themes, and approaches. It addresses ancient scripture, Mormon history, debates with evangelicals, tributes to a recently deceased Mormon historian, reflections on a Joseph Smith biography, an essay on Mormon studies, book reviews, a lecture by Terryl Givens, and a BYU lecture on theology by Jim Faulconer. The FARMS Review is, indeed, a many-sided... Read more

Bushman Takes the Claremont Position

Last updated on: September 6, 2007 at 2:38 pm By TT

Ever since the chair of Mormon Studies was announced at Claremont, there has been a wave of speculation about who would fill it. Well, that speculation is now over. The following announcement has been passed around in certain circles (though I don’t find anything on the CGU website yet): (more…) Read more

Ten Tidbits about the Old Testament

Last updated on: September 6, 2007 at 11:52 am By jupiterschild

This post joins the previous ones of similar title on the New Testament and Book of Mormon. I make no claims that these are the biggest nor the most tantalizing, but here are ten tidbits about the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) that receive little attention (in my experience) in Church settings. I’m intentionally leaving out the better known biggies, such as JEDP, two or three Isaiahs, or the fact that “history” in the modern sense wasn’t an operative category for... Read more

(Anti-)Intellectualism in the Church

Last updated on: September 6, 2007 at 10:18 am By jupiterschild

A very good friend of mine, MantiHigh, wrote me recently to suggest that I include in some future post a discussion of some issues of (anti-)intellectualism arising in recent General Conference talks. I thought s/he spelled out things nicely, and in a different way than is usually done (I’m sure the commenters will let me know if I’m wrong.) In any case, with MantiHigh’s permission, I copy the following for your discussion: Anti-intellectualism in the Church is a favorite concern... Read more

What Makes New Yorkers Love New York?

Last updated on: August 30, 2007 at 7:41 am By nitsav

An off-topic post. My wife and I are visiting New York in the next little while, and contemplating a potential move there in a year. I’ve only been to NY once, and it was quite short. Since visiting as a tourist is quite different from living there, my question is this: What do locals do in New York that makes them love New York? Convince me. Read more

A Review of Terryl Givens, People of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture

Last updated on: August 25, 2007 at 4:30 pm By vineripetomato

Terryl Givens’ new book is an important and welcome addition to Mormon studies and will be required reading for understanding the evolution of Mormonism as a distinct culture, especially where Givens moves out of the much-explored territory of the nineteenth century and ventures into the less-explored twentieth century. However, the book is not without flaws. (more…) Read more

A Disappointment

Last updated on: August 24, 2007 at 9:22 pm By nitsav

I posted recently about a little Iraqi boy who had been doused in gasoline and lit by fellow Iraqis. I did so to call attention to his plight, to mourn the evil in the world, and try to counteract it with good by bringing it to light. Two Evangelical bloggers decided that it was an appropriate time not to sympathize, not to speak of action or support, not to mourn, but to take swings at LDS theology. One of them,... Read more

Hell is Too Good for People like This

Last updated on: August 24, 2007 at 11:06 am By nitsav

Words fail me. Follow-up, and some goodness left in the world. Edit: It looks like less than 1/4 of those who have read this post today actually follow the links, so I’ll summarize. A happy intelligent 5-year old boy in Iraq is playing in the park, then is randomly seized by fellow Iraqis, doused in gasoline, and set ablaze while his attackers flee. He survives, but what kind of life can he lead? What kind of twisted evil people do... Read more

Learning to Love Apostate Christianity

Last updated on: August 22, 2007 at 11:51 am By vineripetomato

One sign of our institutional and historiographical maturity is the increasing attention that the “Great Apostasy” has been receiving (see for example Noel Reynolds, ed., Early Christians in Disarray, 2005). Since the oppositional pairing of apostasy and restoration is so fundamental to our view of ourselves and proximate others, understanding its potential and realized meanings and implications will remain, I think, one of the more significant tasks of those who think and write on our tradition. This task is all... Read more

The Divine Council and its Doctrinal Implications: an EV-Mormon Discussion

Last updated on: August 21, 2007 at 10:35 am By nitsav

Several months ago, I mentioned Mike Heiser’s paper, “ You’ve Seen One Elohim, You’ve Seen Them All? A Critique of Mormonism’s Use of Psalm 82 .” Heiser wrote his dissertation on the topic of the Divine Council, and runs a website entitled The Divine Council which is aimed somewhat at Evangelicals, who tend to misunderstand the Old Testament text on this topic. He also works for Logos, which provides excellent Bible resources and study tools. Heiser, an Evangelical, “feel[s] more... Read more