I’ve been writing online for about 17 years, and now with my own site, I get the upside of controlling all my own content, presentation, and associations, and the downside of figuring out how to do the tech aspects, pay for it, etc. Continue reading “A quick note on the blog, Amazon, and compliance”
What I’m Doing Here, and What I Hope Others Will Do
I am not an “evolution apologist.” Although I suspect I have more scientific training than your average historian, I’m not a scientist. And more likely than not, neither is my average reader. For that reason, and because I don’t follow the specialized and technical literature, I don’t engage in scientific debate about evolution. Rather, in keeping with my own training and expertise, my approach is historical, scriptural, and theological. And historically, I understand how and why evolution has come to be the dominant way to make sense of mountains of data across multiple fields, and why 98% of scientists accept evolution as the best explanation of all that data. Continue reading “What I’m Doing Here, and What I Hope Others Will Do”
The 1909 First Presidency Statement in Its Historical Context
Some Latter-day Saints have touted the 1909 First Presidency statement as the definitive doctrinal repudiation of evolution for all time; Elder McConkie wanted it canonized and added to the 1978/82 scripture revisions, for example.
Continue reading “The 1909 First Presidency Statement in Its Historical Context”
Tales from the Archives: Mission President?!
Imagine coming off your mission, and later getting called back, but as Mission President. Oh, and it’s only a few years later, so… you’re a 26 yr-old Mission President. Also, your mission territory includes “China, India, Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and the Pacific Islands.” That was the experience of Grant Heaton. Continue reading “Tales from the Archives: Mission President?!”
Joseph Fielding Smith on Scriptural interpretation and Scientific Conflict
My dissertation involves a lot of President Joseph Fielding Smith, particularly the way he interpreted scripture, his influential assumptions, and conclusions. Continue reading “Joseph Fielding Smith on Scriptural interpretation and Scientific Conflict”
Quick Notes on a New Year’s Sale at Logos
Logos is my preferred source of electronic books. I’ve used it for 20 years. Continue reading “Quick Notes on a New Year’s Sale at Logos”
Mary and the Annunciation as a Model for Scripture Study
At the opening of BYU’s 2019 Reconciling Evolution workshop—which focuses on biology pedagogy with religious students— Associate Academic Vice-President John Rosenberg represented the University in welcoming the dozens of participants to BYU. He spoke on the pursuit of knowledge, using medieval depictions of Mary, Gabriel, and the Annunciation. I have adapted from my notes for this post, by permission.
Continue reading “Mary and the Annunciation as a Model for Scripture Study”
Canaanite Santa Claus, Handel’s Messiah, and the Real St. Nicholas
I’ve plugged Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) before, a great magazine (with pictures!) aimed at laypeople interested in the history, text, interpretation, and archaeology of the Bible. (Notably, there are some LDS in there from time to time!) It’s scholarly but accessible, includes multiple perspectives, and the letters to the editor are illustrative and amusing. Worth subscribing to. Continue reading “Canaanite Santa Claus, Handel’s Messiah, and the Real St. Nicholas”
Church History/ Doctrine& Covenants Resources (and the blog) for 2021
First, an update on my blog plans for next year.
Continue reading “Church History/ Doctrine& Covenants Resources (and the blog) for 2021”
Tales from the Archives 4: Science, Interpretation, and Bad Feeling in 1965
In June 1965, the LDS Sunday School presidency informally began a new series on science and religion, written by LDS scientists. Continue reading “Tales from the Archives 4: Science, Interpretation, and Bad Feeling in 1965”