I continue to enjoy Andrew Steane’s new book Faithful to Science: The Role of Science in Religion. Below is another part of his book that I found particularly insightful. Faith is also central to science. This is not only in the obvious (and important) sense that scientists have to talk to and trust one another, but … Read more
Here is a collection of more quotes from Andrew Steane’s excellent book Faithful to Science. (See also here and here.) Miracles are events that break the rules, but not in an arbitrary way–––they are pointers to a larger set of rules (p. 95). Compare this with these remarks from the LDS Bible Dictionary. Miracles should … Read more
The British physicist Andrew Steane has this to say about questions. Questions should not be dismissed or discouraged, but sometimes answers have to be postponed, because the student has to first acquire the necessary conceptual apparatus in order to understand the very language of the answer. . . . [O]ne wants the student to . … Read more
As announced in various news outlets (here, here, and here) John Dehlin has been excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Below is the letter (taken from here; see also here) sent by President Bryan King to Dehlin, dated February 9, 2015. This letter details exactly why Dehlin has been excommunicated. (Click to … Read more
Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail by Liz Lemon Swindle. I have problems with people casually throwing out accusations of “unrighteous dominion” at Kate Kelly’s and John Dehlin’s priesthood leaders. The phrase, of course, comes from Doctrine and Covenants 121. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all … Read more
If you’re an active, faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are content with your membership in the Church, are happy to sustain Church leaders, willingly keep your covenants, and aren’t on a feminist crusade to tear down the patriarchy at any cost, then Kate Kelly has a message for you. … Read more
A phenomenon I’ve observed with some critics of the Church on the Internet is the propensity to “move the goalposts” when confronted with evidence that contradicts their arguments. For those who aren’t familiar with this metaphor, moving the goalposts occurs when someone in a debate “change[s] the criterion (goal) of a process or competition while still … Read more
This new item from Nathaniel Givens is worth reading. This paragraph, especially, is right on target. In sum, Dehlin has openly repudiated core teachings of the Mormon faith, condoned the work and opinions of anti-Mormons, and been instrumental (in his own estimation) in leading “many more people” to leave than to stay, and—while he has … Read more
[The following was written by a friend of mine who wishes to remain anonymous. It is posted here with my friend’s permission.] John Dehlin continues to spin his narrative that his support for same-sex marriage and ordain women are the central issues in his excommunication. Ironically, he explicitly denies this while simultaneously defending it. On … Read more
My friend, fellow Mormon blogger, and apparently heartless jerk who likes to compare people he disagrees with to Satan Neal Rappleye has written an excellent piece on his blog titled “Satan and Satire: On the Narratives of Excommunication and “Persecution”. I strongly recommend you read it. I heartily endorse what Neal said. Just one comment … Read more
Flavius Josephus, in the opening lines of his autobiography (probably written in the last decade of the 1st century AD), provides his genealogy in an apparent attempt to legitimize himself before his Roman audience. After describing his ancestry, Josephus concludes: Thus have I set down the genealogy of my family as I have found … Read more
I suppose now is as good a time as any to draw attention to Greg Smith’s “Dubious ‘Mormon’ Stories.” The coverage of this issue by the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune is also not bad. At the very least, these sources recognize what Dehlin is: a “Mormon critic” and a “podcaster” (and not a … Read more
For the record, this is the letter sent to John Dehlin by his Stake President Bryan C. King on August 7, 2014. In this letter, President King makes it clear why Dehlin was being placed on disciplinary probation and what Dehlin had to do to ensure he didn’t face a disciplinary council. (Click to images … Read more