Continued from Part I III. Mapping the Positions Thus far this article has summarized the historicity question as if it were a two-party debate: arguments for versus arguments against. But in fact, writers have adopted a wide array of positions around this issue. William Hamblin (1994) organizes views on historicity into five categories: evangelical, …
Tag: mapping mormon issues
Mapping Book of Mormon Historicity Debates: A Guide for the Overwhelmed–Part I
By John-Charles Duffy Art by Jeanette Atwood Book of Mormon “historicity” refers to the claim that the Book of Mormon is an authentic translation of an ancient volume of scripture. Whether or not one believes the Book of Mormon to be historical in this sense is maybe the most fundamental question affecting one’s relationship to …
Biological Evolution: Toward A Reconciliation of the Science and Our Faith
By William S. Bradshaw “Do you believe in evolution?” In my experience, the chance for positive dialogue to take place among Church members following such a beginning is not very good. The problem is that the word evolution elicits such a wide range of reactions that the discussants are rarely able to focus on a …
Approaching the First Vision Saga
By Stephen C. Taysom Art by Galen Dara Or right-click to download audio file here: Approaching the First Vision Saga Joseph Smith’s First Vision stories constitute a key element of contemporary Mormon self-conception. Anyone seeking to understand Mormonism will have to grapple with the complexities surrounding this event and the stories told …
SL09251 Mapping Mormon Issues: Conspiracy, Delusion or Revelation? The 180-year Controversy Over the Book of Mormon Witnesses
Did Joseph Smith hypnotize the Book of Mormon witnesses? Did he palm off copper or tin plates on them as gold? Were their experiences visions, physical perceptions of ancient artifacts, or the fabrications of a conspiracy? Each of these explanations has been proffered since the witnesses laid down their challenge in the summer of 1829. …