Free Inquiry: Special issue on Mormonism

Free Inquiry: Special issue on Mormonism.
Items from the Table of Contents

• America's Peculiar Piety: Why Did Mormonism Grow? Why Does It Endure? (Introduction) Tom Flynn
• My Journey into 'Formonism' Brian Dalton
• Joseph Smith: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord? Robert M. Price
• Obadiah Dogberry: Mormonism's First Critic Tom Flynn
• The Price of Free Inquiry in Mormonism Michael Nielsen and Ryan T. Cragun
• What Is So Strange about Believing as the Mormons Do? James Alcock

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Computers Piece Together Scattered Medieval Scrolls

Computers Piece Together Scattered Medieval Scrolls by Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience
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It's like something out of "The Da Vinci Code": Hundreds of thousands of fragments from medieval religious scrolls are scattered across the globe. How will scholars put them back together?

The answer, according to scientists at Tel Aviv University, is to use computer software based on facial recognition technology. But instead of recognizing faces, this software recognizes fragments thought to be part of the same work. Then, the program virtually "glues" the pieces back together.

International Journal of Mormon Studies Vol 4 (2011)

International Journal of Mormon Studies Vol 4 (2011)

Contents:

Dirty feet and the role of women

Excerpts of Mormon Women Get Upper-ity: This Week's News & Commentary by Jana Riess , BeliefNet

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The intrepid Cynthia L., who had that great BCC post a couple of weeks back raising the issue of why Mormon women don't pray in General Conference, posted this snippet from the Provo Daily Herald article  "Authorities break ground for new LDS temple in Payson":

"Following his remarks and the closing exercises, Oaks invited the four general authorities in attendance to shovel a scoop of dirt from the shallow trench, followed by the 26 stake presidents in the Payson Utah Temple District, then local government officials, and lastly, any 12-year-old ordained deacons.
Oaks noted that he purposefully excluded women from the ceremonial shoveling out of respect for them because of the muddy conditions in front of the podium. He didn't want their shoes to get soiled."

Attraction Research Foundation Conference (church sponsored conference on homosexuality)

A Conference "Foundation for Attraction Research Conference," co-sponsored by AMCAP and LDS Family Services, and will be held Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the LDS church owned Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Attendees will receive a copy of the book, Understanding Same-Sex Attraction, authored by some of the presenters.

A review of this book published in BYU Studies notes:

"Readers looking for a book that supports the idea of homosexuality being an innate part of one's identity will not be interested in Understanding Same-Sex Attraction: Where to Turn and How to Help. Instead, the authors of this book assert the unpopular opinion, backed by scientific research, that same-sex attraction can be lessened or eradicated in those who desire change and are willing to try.

Mormons fired for being Mormon?

Taiwan school fined for sacking Mormon teachers
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TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan has fined a school for firing two Mormon teachers over their faith, marking the first time that religious discrimination in the workplace has been punished on the island, officials said on Wednesday.

Gloves coming off in Mormon/Cult debate?

Discussion about whether Mormonism is a cult continues in the media at a strong pace.  The following goes beyond typical differences in views on the trinity, or grace -- instead mining some aspects of Mormon history and practice that can appear strange to some.  This New York Times article continues non-believers Christopher Hitchen's and Bill Mahr's escalating argument for Mormonism as a cult.

Excerpts of Anne Frank, a Mormon, by MAUREEN DOWD, New York Times

Apostle Dallin Oaks testifies on tax reform

Excerpts of Mormon apostle to Senate: Keep charitable deductions, By Matt Canham, The Salt Lake Tribune
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Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the high-ranking Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, addressed the Senate Finance Committee on Monday at the invitation of Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. He spoke for a group of religious leaders that included a representative of the Catholic and Baptist faiths.

Perry Campaign, anti-Mormon strategizing?

Excerpts of Perry Camp's Anti-Mormon Message, by McKay Coppins, Daily Beast
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Emails obtained by The Daily Beast show an operative with close ties to Rick Perry's campaign engaged in anti-Mormon cheerleading.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has publicly distanced himself from the anti-Mormon rhetoric of a prominent Baptist minister who has endorsed his presidential campaign. But new evidence suggests that Perry's team may be quietly advancing the notion that Mitt Romney's faith should disqualify him from the White House.

The Daily Beast has obtained a series of emails that show an influential evangelical activist with close ties to the Perry campaign stressing the political importance of "juxtaposing traditional Christianity to the false God of Mormonism," and calling for a "clarion call to Evangelical pastors and pews" that will be "the key to the primary" for Perry.

Southern Baptist President declares Mormonism a cult

Excerpts of  Mormonism is more like Islam, says Southern Baptist president by jgalloway, Political Insider
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The Rev. Bryant Wright ... president of the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination.
Denis O'Hayer of WABE (90.1FM) has posted this interview with Wright. Some excerpts:

"It is a cult, in the sense that it does not adhere to what would be traditional or orthodox biblical teaching. It's really been kind of comical at the outrage of some folks when it's called a cult….

SiriusXM Radio series "Mormon Monday"

THE BOOK OF MORMON and SiriusXM launch Mormon Mondays
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THE BOOK OF MORMON, the Tony Award winning musical from the creators of "South Park," Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and the co-creator of Avenue Q, Robert Lopez will be featured on SiriusXM's new series, Mormon Mondays, a limited series of weekly specials. Mormon Mondays begins airing on Monday, October 17 at 8:00 AM ET and 8:00 PM ET on On Broadway, channel 72 and new installments will run weekly.

Mormon Mondays features THE BOOK OF MORMON cast members introducing songs from the show's original cast recording on Ghostlight Records, sharing backstage anecdotes and offering listeners a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the creative process for the critically acclaimed production. The cast will also play some of their favorite show tunes, selected from shows they've performed in, admired or found inspiring.

Survey for those who have lost their faith

From John Dehlin, Mormon Stories
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Mormon Friends: Please help. I can't discuss specifics, but a meeting is being held in less than 2 weeks with a high level leader in the LDS church. We are gathering data to present to this leader. Can you please help me share this survey with anyone who once believed, but no longer believes the LDS church is true? Thanks in advance.

Is Mormonism a Cult, and Does It Matter?

Excerpts of Is Mormonism a Cult, and Does It Matter in 2012? by Dr. James Emery White, Pastor, Ranked Adjunctive Professor of Theology and Culture Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
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The answer is both "yes" and "no," and understanding why is an important discussion.

Review: Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today

"...Writing a book about the Bible is like building a sandcastle in front of the Matterhorn.  The best you can hope to do is to catch the eye of those who are looking down instead of up, or those who are so familiar with the skyline that they have stopped noticing its peculiar beauty...."

Review

Title: Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today
Author: N. T. Wright

Review: The Oxford Handbook of the Dead Sea Scrolls

"....To a Mormon audience (just as with a New Testament readership), these essays serve as a reminder not to pound square proto- Mormon pegs into the round holes of history. ...."

Review

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Title: The Oxford Handbook of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Editors: Timothy H. Lim & John J. Collins
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Genre: Ancient Near East Studies, Biblical Studies

Lecture: Patty Bartlett Sessions, Mormon Midwife

Patty Bartlett Sessions, Mormon Midwife

October 13, 2011, 7:00 p.m., Donna Toland Smart

Midwifery was an important profession in Maine, where Patty was raised. Unexpectedly having to assist in a birth, she was later told by the local doctor that "she must attend to that business, not to have any fear, for she would prosper in it." Her skill in delivering babies would become critical to the well-being of fellow members of the Church. As a Mormon, Patty received further confirmation of her decision to follow an obstetrical career.
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Lectures will be held

Is Mormonism a Cult? News selections

Excerpts of FAIR's Front Page, fairlds.org.  Below are a sampling of news items regarding Rick Perry's introducer calling Mormons a cult and the ensuing fallout.
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How do Mormons answer 'not Christian' claims? By Michael Otterson [a spokesperson for the LDS Church] Washington Post

Huntsman tells evangelical pastor what Mormons were thinking

Huntsman: Pastor is a 'moron'
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(CNN) – GOP presidential hopeful and Mormon Jon Huntsman had some choice words on Monday for the Dallas pastor who's repeatedly described Mormonism as a "cult" and a "false religion" this weekend.

"The fact that, you know, some moron can stand up and make a comment like that, you know, first of all, it's outrageous," Huntsman said on "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." "Second of all, the fact that we are spending so much time discussing it makes it even worse."

Republican candidates Gingrich and Cain refuse to state Mormons are Christians

Bob Schieffer asked Republican presidential candidates Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich whether Mormons were Christians on Face the Nation
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Schieffer: ...  I want to ask both of you -- You both spoke to the big conservative values conference last week but the preacher who introduced Rick Perry kind of stole all the headlines because he told reporters that Mormonism is a cult and that Mitt Romney is not a Christian. Mr. Gingrich, should that be a part of the discussion?
Gingrich: No, I think that none of us should sit in judgment of somebody else's religion and I thought it was very unwise and very inappropriate.
Schieffer: Do you think that Mitt Romney is a Christian?
Gingrich: I think he's a Mormon and Mormons define themselves as a branch of Christianity.
Schieffer: How about you, Mr. Cain. What's your thought on this?
Cain: I feel the same way. We're not running for theologian in chief. We're running for president of the United States of America. What I believe is that the American people want to know: what are your values? What are your principles? Because your values and your principles may impact how you make decisions. But not get into the specifics of your chosen religion.
Schieffer: Do you think Mormons are Christians?
Cain: I believe that they believe that they're Christians based on their definition but getting into whether or not they're more Christian than another group, I don't think that's relevant to this campaign.
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Background,

1841: The Illinois Roots of Utah Polygamy

George D. Smith, "1841: The Illinois Roots of Utah Polygamy" Date: Sunday, October 9, 2011 Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Books and Authors Series Featuring George D. Smith, "1841: The Illinois Roots of Utah Polygamy" George Smith's latest book, "Nauvoo Polygamy . . . but we called it celestial marriage" (Signature Books, 2010), is a study, not only of what happened in a boomtown along the Mississippi River in the 1840s, it is a study about what plural marriage does to the early Latter-day Saints Church.

Evidence for the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Abraham

Excerpts of the October 2011 FAIR Journal

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FAIR has produced a new DVD on the Book of Abraham titled: "A Most Remarkable Book: Evidence for the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Abraham"

The Book of Abraham has been a source of inspiration and edification for its readers for many generations.  However, critics of the LDS Church have relentlessly attacked the authenticity of the Book of Abraham and the credibility of Joseph Smith as an inspired prophet and translator.

Church studying blog sites, news sources and podcasters

Excerpts of Church asks Mormons: Which websites, writers do you read? by Tony Semerad, The Salt Lake Tribune
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The LDS Church is surveying its members about their readership of key websites and Mormon writers, a move that reflects the faith's growing interest in managing its public image.

Church officials confirmed this week that the survey on a range of social, political and doctrinal matters — including the trustworthiness of specific journalists — is partly intended to gauge how and where Latter-day Saints get their information on LDS-related issues.

"This kind of survey is one way church leaders have to hear from members,'' church spokesman Scott Trotter said in a statement. He declined to say specifically what would be done with the results.

Meet the authors: Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism by Terryl. Givens and Matthew Grow

From Benchmark Books: Spend an Evening with the Authors

            We are excited to announce the arrival of Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism by Terryl L. Givens and Matthew J. Grow, published by Oxford University Press. We will have both authors at our store to speak about and sign their book on Friday, October 14. They will be here from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., speaking at 6:00, and will answer questions and sign books before and after that time.

            After Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt was one of the most influential figures in early Mormon history and culture. Missionary, pamphleteer, theologian, historian, and martyr, Pratt was perennially stalked by controversy--regarded, he said, "almost as an Angel by thousands and counted an Imposter by tens of thousands."

Review: Joseph Smith Papers: Revelations and Translations volumes

H. Michael Marquardt, author of The Joseph Smith Revelations: Text and Commentary has reviewed two volumes from the Joseph Smith Papers: Revelations and Translations series  in the John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 31, no 2 (Fall/Winter 2011):152-56. Below are excerpts from his review of "Revelations and Translations, Volume 2: Published Revelations" below.  The full review of both volumes including volume 1 is available at the Mormon PDF Web Site.

Boyd K. Packer: The end isn't near

Excerpts of Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer: The end isn't near by peggy fletcher stack, The Salt Lake Tribune

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... The end is not near, senior LDS apostle Boyd K. Packer said Saturday

Today's youths can look forward to "getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren," Packer told more than 20,000 Mormons gathered in the giant LDS Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City. ...

Utah No. 1 in growth by whites

Excerpts of Utah No. 1 in growth by whites during past decade, census says by Lee Davidson, The Salt Lake Tribune

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Few states saw fast growth among non-Latino whites over the past decade. But Utah was different, leading the nation with 16.7 percent growth by that group, a new U.S. Census report says.

The 2010 Census shows that Utah's growth among non-Latino whites was a whopping 14 times higher than the national average growth of 1.2 percent, according to a Census Bureau report released this week on the population of whites.

Wikileaks and the LDS Church

Excerpts of WikiLeaks files: U.S. envoys helped Mormons worldwide by Tony Semrad,The Salt Lake Tribune

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Thankful for the opportunity, an LDS Church official in Kazakhstan presented tenets of his faith to the central Asian nation's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, a tough former Communist labeled by detractors as corrupt and ruthless.

General authority Paul Pieper, who represents the area for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke in both Kazakh and Russian