FARMS wants you to beef of its apologetics...
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:07 pm
"Joseph Smith and His Critics"
I take the following to be non-controversial conclusions, based on the notice:
(1) "Anti-Mormon" critics, via book and web-publishing, have adversely affected the faith of many Latter-day Saints.
(2) Current LDS apologia isn't always effective in answering the questions of Latter-day Saints ("the materials supplied by our apologetic institutions have not always met their needs").
(3) Inquirers need to be served with better apologetic arguments (The chosen LDS scholars are to "formulate replies that serve inquirers more satisfactorily").
(4) The emphasis of the program is less on directly answering ("all") specific questions than on placing potentially-negative information in a better light.
(5) Negative information exists.
(6) Negative information can be used for a positive apologetic end.
(7) Providing a positive way to view negative information can garner one $3000.
I appreciate the fact that LDS apologists are going to attempt to better their apologetic wares. But, for LDS MDB participants, do you personally think that the "apologetic institutions" of the LDS church are really currently failing some of their constituents? Do you believe that better apologetic answers will result in greater member retention? Or, as one recent MADB thread had it, isn't the real reason folks leave the LDS church sinfulness, rather than objective interpretation of the available evidence?
CKS
"Joseph Smith and His Critics"
June 16-July 31, 2008
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
The annual Joseph Smith summer seminar, sponsored by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship, will take as its theme in 2008 "Joseph Smith and His Critics." The theme has been chosen in response to the growing number of critical attacks in books and on the web. Many Latter-day Saints have been affected adversely by these criticisms, and the materials supplied by our apologetic institutions have not always met their needs.
The purpose of the seminar is to bring together a dozen experienced LDS scholars to review the arguments on both sides of a number of these issues and formulate replies that serve inquirers more satisfactorily. The emphasis will be less on providing answers to every question than on putting the adverse evidence in a new light. Our aim is to persuade readers that the facts do not compel them to discard Joseph Smith. In fact, negative information can sometimes illuminate his cultural situation and mission.
Dean Terry Ball of the College of Religious Education and Andrew Skinner of the Neal a. Maxwell Institute have approved this approach and authorized me to extend this invitation. The seminar will meet for six and a half weeks and require full-time participation. Participants will receive a $3000 stipend. Each participant will write one or more papers to be presented at a symposium for the Religious Education faculty.
To apply to participate in the summer seminar, click here. Applications are due January 15, 2008, and announcement of successful candidates will be made February 15.
Richard Lyman Bushman
I take the following to be non-controversial conclusions, based on the notice:
(1) "Anti-Mormon" critics, via book and web-publishing, have adversely affected the faith of many Latter-day Saints.
(2) Current LDS apologia isn't always effective in answering the questions of Latter-day Saints ("the materials supplied by our apologetic institutions have not always met their needs").
(3) Inquirers need to be served with better apologetic arguments (The chosen LDS scholars are to "formulate replies that serve inquirers more satisfactorily").
(4) The emphasis of the program is less on directly answering ("all") specific questions than on placing potentially-negative information in a better light.
(5) Negative information exists.
(6) Negative information can be used for a positive apologetic end.
(7) Providing a positive way to view negative information can garner one $3000.
I appreciate the fact that LDS apologists are going to attempt to better their apologetic wares. But, for LDS MDB participants, do you personally think that the "apologetic institutions" of the LDS church are really currently failing some of their constituents? Do you believe that better apologetic answers will result in greater member retention? Or, as one recent MADB thread had it, isn't the real reason folks leave the LDS church sinfulness, rather than objective interpretation of the available evidence?
CKS