Dave's Mormon Inquiry Weblog

March 2000: Migrating to Typepad

Thu, 11 Mar 2004 06:07:03 GMT

I'm now in the process of moving this site to a new location: Dave's Mormon Inquiry at Typepad. Change is good. With the new platform I will be able to add fun things like comments, nice clean links that light up when you touch them, and other fancy Movable Type features. I will be posting new blog entries at the new site now, but this site will stay up through roughly August 2004. Over time I'll copy my archived posts from this site to the new site.

Denominational Views on Gay Marriage

Wed, 10 Mar 2004 08:00:51 GMT

Interesting story on Religious views on homosexuality and gay marriage from the Religion News Blog. Here are a few of the denominations listed in the article, along with a sentence from their short summarized statements:

Assembly of God: Homosexual orientation is not genetically determined. Ministers and psychologists are successfully treating homosexuality with success.
Southern Baptist: Homosexuality is not a valid alternative lifestyle and is a sin, but a forgivable sin.
Roman Catholic Church: The cause of homosexuality is unexplained. Members are asked to accept homosexuals with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Discrimination is to be avoided.
Episcopal Church: The church is committed to continuing discussions about homosexuality and recognition of committed relationships between members of the same sex.
LDS Church: Members are encouraged to love homosexuals as sons and daughters of God. If homosexuals violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the church, then they are subject to the discipline of the church. Church is actively opposed to same-sex marriage.
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel: Homosexuality is considered an abomination that excludes someone from the Kingdom of God. Homosexuality is a personal choice. Church members are to encourage homosexuals to cease those practices. Marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Interesting variety of opinion here--I'm kind of stunned that the LDS position is in the middle of the pack. Of course, it's really marvelous that Assembly of God ministers and psychologists are successfully treating homosexuality with success. That explains all the ex-gay Pentecostals we see in society, proclaiming how prayer and Christian ministerial guidance cured them. And the Church of the Foursquare is certain homosexuality is a personal choice--that's defininitely an easier position for the ICFG to adopt than to have to explain why God would allow some people to be born gay, isn't it? Somehow, I think such an explanation is a little beyond their powers of imagination.

Everyone Needs a Guardian Angel Biker

Tue, 09 Mar 2004 04:50:59 GMT

Gripping news story about an author who courageously told the story of her childhood kidnapping [link from LDS Newsline]. But what really touched me was the personal security provided by Bikers Against Child Abuse--no joke, they're for real, and they really do go the extra mile, as noted in the story. Let's hear it for a bunch of tough guys who work at making people feel safer.

Here's from their website (love the sound effects): We're part of a National organization that was started in 1995 in Utah by a licensed child therapist who saw a need for a group like BACA to help the innocent victims overcome the trauma of what they had been through and to be able to face their abuser in court.

LDS Most Likely to Stay Away From Passion

Fri, 05 Mar 2004 04:02:07 GMT

That's the headline from a recent Deseret News story. I'm pleased to report they are referring to the movie, leaving first place in the other category to some other, more deserving denomination.

LDS Missionaries Leave Haiti

Fri, 05 Mar 2004 03:57:21 GMT

This was reported on the LDS Newsline on February 24. Well no wonder those Haitians are so upset! I wouldn't have thought they were such a sensitive bunch.

Dead Goat is Suing the LDS Church

Fri, 05 Mar 2004 03:53:07 GMT

No, it's not what you're thinking. The sons of Levi have not finally offered up an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. Different kind of offering.

World Spiraling Down, Lawyers Told

Fri, 05 Mar 2004 03:47:32 GMT

That's the title of a Deseret News article reporting Elder Boyd K. Packer's remarks to a bunch of lawyers down at the BYU Law School. I had to read it twice to make sure it wasn't Lawyers Spiraling Down, World Told. Whew, what a relief. He talked about the devil, sin in all its varieties, and read a list of 21 vices Paul said would beset men and women in the last days and noted [each] with "check" as he read them off. Thus to the 7 Deadly Sins modern revelation adds a few more, giving us the 21 Modern Vices. He exhorted LDS attorneys to be defenders of the faith and to extend their lawerly services to members and ordinary people who need your professional protection.

Mormonism at the U

Fri, 05 Mar 2004 03:25:35 GMT

Today's story in the SL Trib editorializes a bit on the failure of Mormon Studies to flourish (or even limp along) at Utah's flagship public university. You would think a bunch of bright professors would be able to figure out how to study something so central to their geographical location without descending into ugly religious strife (which seems to be the straw man they hold up everytime someone suggests they get on the bandwagon).

Thomas Jefferson on Nephites

Thu, 04 Mar 2004 05:27:18 GMT

Thomas Jefferson may have been the best educated American of his generation, which informed the quality of his prose and the depth of his observations. Notes on Virginia (1787), his only book, makes clear what a fine observer he really was, guided by his broad education and clear thinking. In Query XI, he provides A description of the Indians.

He first notes the Barrows, of which many are to be found all over this country. These were also called Mounds, and gave rise to the myth of the Moundbuilders, a now-disappeared civilization of non-Indians who built the many sizeable earthen structures scattered all over the country. It couldn't possibly have been the ancestors of the Indians, early Americans figured. Jefferson didn't figure -- he dug. A hundred years before archaeologists standardized stratigraphical analysis, Jefferson headed out to a nearby "barrow" of about 40 feet in diameter and dug a trench clear through it, confirming it was a burial structure that contained a large assemblage of jumbled bones. They were seen to be in layers: a strata of bones, covered by stones and a deposit of dirt, then another layer of bones, and so on. He estimated about one thousand skeletons in total in the barrow. The bones nearest the surface were least decayed, and he noted this militate[s] against the opinion, that [the barrow] covered the bones only of persons fallen in battle. Jefferson noted no artifacts in his dig, but many mounds did yield copper ornaments and stone implements, as noted at this Minnesota State University museum site. He also noted the connection between the barrow he dug, the abandoned Indian village nearby, and living Indian groups he had observed reverently visiting the barrow.

Jefferson then addressed the key question: From whence came those aboriginal inhabitants of America? I quote his response:

Discoveries, long ago made, were sufficient to shew that a passage from Europe to America was always practicable, even to the imperfect navigation of ancient times. In going from Norway to Iceland, from Iceland to Groenland, from Groenland to Labrador, the first traject is the widest: and this having been practised from the earliest times of which we have any account of that part of the earth, it is not difficult to suppose that the subsequent trajects may have been sometimes passed. Again, the late discoveries of Captain Cook, coasting from Kamschatka to California, have proved that, if the two continents of Asia and America be separated at all, it is only by a narrow streight. So that from this side also, inhabitants may have passed into America: and the resemblance between the Indians of America and the Eastern inhabitants of Asia, would induce us to conjecture, that the former are the descendants of the latter, or the latter of the former: excepting indeed the Eskimaux, who, from the same circumstance of resemblance, and from identity of language, must be derived from the Groenlanders, and these probably from some of the northern parts of the old continent. A knowledge of their several languages would be the most certain evidence of their derivation which could be produced.

He then notes the great diversity of Indian languages, reasons that language dialects diverge over time, and concludes that A greater number of those radical changes of language having taken place among the red men of America, proves them of greater antiquity than those of Asia.

Summing up, twenty years before Joseph Smith was even born, Jefferson determined that there had been no "Moundbuilders," that it was the "aboriginal Americans," ancestors of the then-living Indians rather than an ancient white race or wandering Israelites, who constructed the Mounds. Furthermore, he used linguistic reasoning to correctly infer the deep antiquity of the Native American presence on the continent, sketched the two now-accepted routes of migration by which humans first came to the Americas, and surmised that Asia was the more likely direction from whence they came. What's amazing isn't just his thoroughly scientific approach to this question, but that he also laid out an entirely natural (as opposed to supernatural) explanation to what remained for many years a real puzzle to most Americans and to many scholars. All this in twelve pages of a book he wrote while taking a break in the countryside from his real job as a Founding Father (Governor of Virginia until 1781; afterwards delegate to Congress, Minister to France, Secretary of State, and President). Well done, Mr. Jefferson.

New Book on the Smoot Hearings

Wed, 03 Mar 2004 07:48:43 GMT

Selections in a post at A Soft Answer from a review of Prof. Kathleen Flake's new book The Politics of American Religious Identity: The Seating of Senator Reed Smoot, Mormon Apostle (UNC Press, 2004). She argues that the whole affair was a chapter in American religious history, and that Reed Smoot was the central figure in a key incident in the growth of religious tolerance in the United States. I don't imagine he felt that way at the time, but it's a nice way to look at things.

Gay Marriage in Scandanavia

Wed, 03 Mar 2004 07:24:15 GMT

Interesting post with this title at Christus Victor, linking to an article of that name by Stanley Kurtz. It suggests a link between the decline of conventional marriage in Scandanavia and liberalized marriage laws there, including same-sex marriage. Sample: The lesson of the Scandanavian experience is that even de facto same-sex marriage undermines marriage. Interesting reading, appealing to a natural (or unnatural, depending on your point of view) experiment. Kind of nice to see an empirical context for an argument on this topic.

They Came Here in Boats?

Wed, 03 Mar 2004 06:56:50 GMT

Cronaca has a short post entitled Early California Seafarers. Based on evidence from the Channel Islands (off the California coast), people in North America were voyaging by sea some 8,000 years ago, boosting a theory that some of the continent's first settlers arrived there by boat. Too early for Nephites, though, even Jaredites (besides, these early Californians travelled on top of the water). Ancient people knew boats and water travel, but navigation was always a problem. That's why they hugged the coast, navigating by familiar landmarks. They were always coasters, not ocean voyagers. Except the Polynesians, who followed island chains using wind, waves, and stars.

Creation Science Comics

Wed, 03 Mar 2004 05:57:43 GMT

Yes, it's even worse with pictures--go see Apes, Lies, and Ms. Henn, a little comic strip trying to teach grade school kids they know more than their science teachers (thanks to Pharyngula, a biology blog, for the link). Okay, I'll admit the cream of the science class doesn't end up teaching fifth graders and some of the kids probably DO know more than their teachers, but it's a nice showcase for the Creation Science mentality that fights its real battles contaminating high school curricula and hoodwinking believing college students. Let's hear it for BYU, a Christian university that doesn't teach Creation Science. At least until FARMS finds it lurking in some ancient piece of Egyptian papyrus.

Pharyngula also linked to this Creation Science spoof site that's so good you really have to read to catch it. Somebody put a lot of work into this one.

Poisoned Waters

Wed, 03 Mar 2004 05:38:33 GMT

An interesting post with this title at Movable Theoblogical (link on my sidebar), talking about how right-wing Evangelical and fundamentalist religion, which has come to define Christianity in America, has alienated the Democratic half of the country, at least to the extent of avoiding Christian associations in public discourse. Environmentally minded Dems especially seem to feel no connection.

Mormons and The Passion of The Christ

Tue, 02 Mar 2004 06:23:32 GMT

There are some detailed comments and samples of several reviews of the movie in this story at Christianity Today. The Christian world is abuzz over the movie; perhaps it's a sign of the times that this generation's cinematic treatment of Jesus is steeped in violent scenes. Comment on Mormon blogs touches on the problematic fact that the film is rated R, and Latter-day Saints have been counseled to avoid R-rated movies. This blog posting at Times and Seasons, with links and comments, is a sample of the mixed reactions Mormons are having. This Deseret News story covers the rating problem, along with some hearteningly reasonable comments by Prof. Millet of BYU. For me, it's the violence, not the rating, that bothers me; haven't seen it yet, don't plan to anytime soon.

Prof. Tom Smith at The Right Coast made comments that come closest to my feelings about the movie: To call the movie violent is a ridiculous understatement. It should have been rated NC-17, not R. . . . [T]here is a sense in which the crucifixion is meant to be contemplated in private, not shown on a screen, or so it seems to me. I felt a little violated by the movie. I know some Christians view the violence of crucifixion as integral to the Atonement, but I don't. I see the whole Jewish sacrificial parallel (Lamb of God, spotless offering to God stuff) as metaphor, and one which was most meaningful to the first generation of Jewish Christians. If Jesus had been made to drink the hemlock with his disciples gathered round him, would he have been any less The Christ? It hardly makes sense that the particular mode of execution employed by the pagan Romans played any necessary or soteriological role; if true, this suggests the violence truly is gratuitous and incidental rather than integral to the story. Besides, tens of thousands of people suffered crucifixion by the Romans, there was nothing unique or even exceptional about it. In that world, violence was common, not exceptional. We forget that, I think. After this movie, we'll forget it less, perhaps.

Locke v. Davey: Two Surprises

Tue, 02 Mar 2004 04:59:18 GMT

The US Supreme Court issued its opinion in Locke v. Davey, a Free Exercise Clause (FEC) case, on February 25; for a shorter summary, see the synopsis here. The path of Religious Clause jurisprudence has taken lots of zigs and zags the last fifty years, but Locke v. Davey seemed like a fairly straightforward case of facial discrimination (in the distribution of state scholarship grants to Washington State college students) on the basis of religious belief (expressed by a decision to major in theology at the college of their choice). This seemed to follow from Smith and Lukumi Babalu Aye without too much difficulty.

Yet, the Court ruled against the student and in favor of Washington (surprise no. 1) and it wasn't even a close case, decided 7-2 with only Justice Scalia and Justice Thomas in dissent. In doing so, it reversed the Ninth Circuit, which had earlier held that the state's exclusion of theology students violated the FEC. How often does the Ninth Circuit support an FEC claim, only to have the Supreme Court including three of the conservative justices reverse them? (surprise no. 2).

To simplify what could be lengthy comments, just see Tim's Freespace here and here (with several good links) for comments and analysis I'll generally second--that Smith was correctly decided but that Locke was wrongly decided, and why. To me, Locke seems to establish something like a "permissible de minimus infringement" exception, the latest zag for Free Exercise reasoning. It's like the Court sees whatever personal rights the FEC bestows through a 14th Amendment lens: since individuals who raise such claims are not insular minorities, they only get watered down protection from the FEC, not heightened protection like other personal rights, hence "permissible de minimus infringements." I'd like to think that over time, as state and local governments take the Locke decision and run with it, the Court will have the opportunity to revisit this decision under different facts.

The Ghost in the Machine

Mon, 01 Mar 2004 08:28:09 GMT

A short article entitled The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach is online at Scientific American. Three recent books examining the best present scientific understanding of consciousness are reviewed. The article is also a short introduction to the field of evolutionary psychology, a young field that merges brain science and psychology in a firmly evolutionary approach to consciousness. When the researchers in this field iron out the wrinkles in their theory, it will revolutionize more than psychology.

Consider how central altered states of consciousness are to religion generally and to Mormonism (as one example and as the primary topic of this weblog). Dreams and visions, demon possession and exorcism, feeling overcome by the Spirit or sorely tempted of the devil, even simple prayer confirmations--all these phenomena are amenable to study under the general banner "altered states of consciousness." The visions and other conscious sensory phenomena that often accompany epilepsy and even migraine attacks are a simple example of the link between the brain, consciousness, and sensory stimuli. The problem, of course, is that not all apparent sensory stimuli correspond to objective real-world objects or causes--the brain sometimes creates its own stimuli (e.g., dreams or psychotic perceptions) but as individuals we may have difficulty distinguishing authentic from self-generated sensory experience. As data and theory continue to advance, the range of experiences explainable by this field will continue to expand. As research and theory confirmation in this field move into the mainstream over the next couple of decades, expect as much religious push-back as was (and is) directed at organic evolution.

For a hands-on introduction to the field, go to the Center for Evolutionary Psychology website, including their Evolutionary Psychology Primer.

2 Nephi 4 - Nephi's Psalm

Fri, 27 Feb 2004 06:41:18 GMT

If there is a passage in Nephi's chronicle with an authentic, personal feel to it, Nephi's Psalm is probably it. In 2 Nephi 4:12, Nephi's father Lehi "died, and was buried." Not a word on funeral observances, a bit surprising. Then, after a falling out with his brothers, Nephi resolves to leave the group, taking with him those of the party who sympathized with him. The following verses represent his 'cri de coeur' at this difficult juncture, borrowing various biblical phrases, but touching, nonetheless (2 Nephi 4:17-35, selections with slight edits):

O wretched man that I am!
     My heart sorroweth because of my flesh,
          my soul grieveth because of my iniquities.
     When I desire to rejoice,
          my heart groaneth because of my sins,
     Yet I know in whom I have trusted.

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin.
            Rejoice, my heart! Give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
O Lord, wilt Thou encircle me around in the robe of Thy righteousness!
            Wilt Thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies!
            Wilt Thou make my path straight before me!
O Lord, I have trusted in Thee, and I will trust in Thee forever.
            I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh.
            My voice shall forever ascend up to Thee,
                        my Rock and everlasting God.

Looking for Brother Shakespeare

Thu, 26 Feb 2004 06:35:14 GMT

The Play's the Thing

There was an interesting discussion over at Times and Seasons a couple of months ago asking (more or less) why there aren't more Mormon superstars in the arts and sciences? Given the LDS stress on education and achievement, one might expect a bit more, although in certain fields -- business, law, sports, politics -- Mormons do seem to be well represented.

There's a nice article on this theme by John and Kirsten Rector over at Dialogue, entitled What is the Challenge for LDS Scholars and Artists? (There was a link to this in the earlier T&S post, but I missed it.) I thought the Dialogue article is a nice, balanced consideration of the question. The top three reasons they give for the alleged shortage are the LDS insistence on spending time with spouse and family; the LDS dedication to "conventionality, orthodoxy, and adherence to authority"; and the LDS weakness (not unique) for dogmatic thinking. I would add that these same factors go far toward explaining LDS success in the other areas I mentioned above. A conservative mindset stressing family, orthodoxy, deference to authority, and focused thinking will take you a long way on the road to success in business, politics, law, and sports. Nor does it hurt if you're interested in climbing the LDS priesthood leadership ladder, not generally known for elevating creative thinkers or iconoclasts.

On the other hand, how many of us would trade the average anonymous-but-happy Mormon life (first spouse and four kids in three-bedroom home with two-car garage) for one of academic or artistic celebrity (fourth spouse and one step-kid in two-bedroom condo three blocks from campus or studio)? Okay, you can fiddle with the numbers if you like, but stereotypes aside, I can't say I'd change my lifestyle choices, conventional though they may be, if some magic genie dangled before me the prospect of becoming a bona fide footnote to history. I have some sense of what one gives up to get there and I just don't think that's a choice I would make. I know where we all go in the long run, and I'm quite content to get there by my own little path. Anyway, here's a sample paragraph from the Dialogue essay:

To be sure, we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not have the market cornered on dogmatism or close-mindedness. Just as there can be dogmatic Mormons, there can be dogmatic philosophers, scientists, atheists, liberals, conservatives, and so forth. But because there is so much in the storehouse of insights the restored gospel provides, we as members of the church can easily be lulled into believing that we have all the significant answers. We may not feel any need to question or re-examine our viewpoints, nor approach the world around us in an open, self-questioning, inquisitive way. To the extent that we are dogmatic, we limit ourselves as artists and scholars.

Are You Ready For Post-Evangelicals?

Wed, 25 Feb 2004 06:15:25 GMT

Albert Mohler has an editorial on the emerging Post-Evangelical movement -- and he doesn't like it. Taking its cue from post-modernism, the new movement openly embrace this new worldview. Post-evangelicals . . . "are more comfortable with the mysteries, ambiguities, and paradoxes of faith," notes Dave Tomlinson, an Anglican pastor and author of The Post-Evangelical (Zondervan, 2003).

The publisher's blurb on the book makes Post-Evangelicals sound a lot like liberal Mormons. If you like the sound of the Post-E stuff, you might go have a look at Post-Mormons (nice photos) or possibly New Order Mormons. The NOM boards just kicked off an unofficial membership drive so they would no doubt welcome a few new faces. It would seem some of the energy that was once directed to community boards is now channelled to blogging. But I can't help thinking group blogs, which are springing up all over the place, are a sort of small, elitist bulletin board, with glass windows (you can watch the talking heads talk amongst themselves) and sometimes a public comment box. Not that there's anything wrong with that . . .

Dead Sea Scrolls at the LA Temple

Wed, 25 Feb 2004 05:26:12 GMT

Part of the Isaiah Scroll

The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles has this short article about the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit currently on display at the Los Angeles Temple Visitor's Center. As noted in the article, Mormons have a particular affinity for the Dead Sea Scrolls. Yes, the Church is always eager to associate authentically ancient manuscripts with the Book of Mormon. The exhibit contains a model of the Qumran community, models of the urns that the scrolls were found in and facsimiles of the scrolls themselves, including 24-foot long replica of the Isaiah Scroll, the largest of all the Dead Sea Scrolls. Sounds like it is worth a visit if you live near the City of Angels.

General Authority Recovering

Wed, 25 Feb 2004 05:15:42 GMT

As reported recently in the Deseret News, Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone continues his recovery from an automobile accident he was involved in earlier this month in Wyoming when his car struck two horses on a dark stretch of highway. A later story notes that he is now at home, having been discharged from the hospital on or about February 16th.

Who Built the Conference Center Organ?

Wed, 25 Feb 2004 05:07:55 GMT

According to today's story in the San Francisco Chronicle, these guys did -- a small but experienced organ-building firm located in downtown San Francisco. This is not the first big project for these fellows, and they are proud of their big organs. "No two organs are the same," of course, so projects are time intensive. But popular: "the waiting list for a new organ starts in 2008." Interestingly, these organs are first set up at the builder's workshop, in what is known as "the erecting room." After testing, it is then shipped and reassembled at the desired site. The Conference Center organ was the biggest they have handled thus far.

Here's A Name That Rings A Bell

Tue, 24 Feb 2004 06:29:49 GMT

Avraham Gileadi authored a short article on Isaiah over at the always entertaining Meridian Magazine. He was one of the September Six, and went through a roller coaster ride with the Church (up then down now up again). It's nice he's back and enjoying communion with the Saints. Interestingly, the short bio with the article notes that Hugh Nibley was the chair of his PhD dissertation committee. This lends support to my personal view that Hugh Nibley was "grandfathered in." If he were a young scholar trying to do today what he did 50 years ago, he would be a target instead of a venerable icon. What do you think would happen to a BYU prof who published a piece of social criticism like Zeal Without Knowledge today? Gone in 60 seconds, faster than you can say "faithful history." The five o'clockers now run the show.

Here's a memorable quote (from ZWK, not the Isaiah article): We think it more commendable to get up at five A.M. to write a bad book than to get up at nine o'clock to write a good one—that is pure zeal that tends to breed a race of insufferable, self-righteous prigs and barren minds. One has only to consider the present outpouring of "inspirational" books in the Church that bring little new in the way of knowledge: truisms and platitudes, kitsch, and cliches have become our everyday diet.

Dude, That Was Graphic

Tue, 24 Feb 2004 06:04:44 GMT

Headline of Christianity Today interview of Mel Gibson about his movie, The Passion of The Christ. Lots of blog chatter about this movie, but I have no plans to see it. No qualms about the R rating, I've just never been interested in commercial religion films. I never saw the Exorcist; I never saw the Damien flicks; I started but couldn't finish End of Days. So I think I'll just pass on this one. I have never gotten the good karma some Christians seem to draw from depictions of the Crucifixion. Perhaps my early positive connection of the term "Passion Play" with the Jethro Tull album of the same name, only belatedly expanded to include the orthodox meaning, explains my lack of ardor.