AuthorCast
Authorcast #130: Joseph M. Spencer, The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology, Volumes 1 and 2 December 19 2021
Show description: In this episode, we talk with Joseph M. Spencer, author of The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology, Volumes One and Two. We discuss how this project emerged, highlight some of the essays in the collection, and talk about the development of Book of Mormon studies over the past two decades as well as where Joseph sees the field going in the next ten years.
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Authorcast #128: Blake T. Ostler, Exploring Mormon Thought, Vol 4 God's Plan to Heal Evil November 05 2020
Show description: In this episode, we talk with Blake T. Oster about Exploring Mormon Thought, Vol 4: God's Plan to Heal Evil. We begin by giving an overview of the first three volumes in the Exploring Mormon Thought series, then move into the fourth volume, discussing the problem of evil. Blake gives us an overview of the problem, solutions proposed by Christian theologians throughout the centuries, and what Latter-day Saint teachings add to the discussion.
Exploring Mormon Thought, Vol 4: God's Plan to Heal Evil is available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook.
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Authorcast #122: Kofford Lecture Series - Charles R. Harrell and the Development of Mormon Theology, Part 4 May 01 2020
Show description: Part 4 of our lecture series with Charles R. Harrell, author of This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology. In this final installment, we discuss the developing theology of premortal existence within Mormonism examining early Christian and Second Great Awakening thought and Joseph Smith's teachings of spirit creation and spirit birth.
Part 1 - What is Doctrine?
Part 2 - Joseph Smith and Restoration
Part 3 - The Godhead
Part 4 - Premortal Existence
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This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology “Succeeds in providing a non-apologetic yet sympathetic interpretation of Mormon doctrine, warts and all.” —James McLachlan, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Western Carolina University |
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Authorcast #121: Kofford Lecture Series - Charles R. Harrell and the Development of Mormon Theology, Part 3 April 24 2020
Show description: Part 3 of our lecture series with Charles R. Harrell, author of This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology. In this installment, we discuss the developing theology of Godhead within Mormonism examining shifts through Joseph Smith's scriptural output as well as later developments in Utah under Brigham Young.
Part 1 - What is Doctrine?
Part 2 - Joseph Smith and Restoration
Part 3 - The Godhead
Part 4 - Premortal Existence
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This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology “Succeeds in providing a non-apologetic yet sympathetic interpretation of Mormon doctrine, warts and all.” —James McLachlan, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Western Carolina University |
Now available through Spotify!
Authorcast #110: Bradley J. Kramer, author of Gathered in One: How the Book of Mormon Counters Anti-Semitism in the New Testament September 24 2019
Show description: For devotees of Christian scripture, the suggestion that the New Testament contains anti-Semitic rhetoric is challenging. After all, how could the New Testament, largely written by Jewish authors about the Jewish Messiah contain any trace of disdain towards its own people? However, centuries of Christian hatred towards Jews demonstrates its roots in the New Testament portrayals of the Jews as a corrupt, conspiring, and murderous people. Take for example the near absolution of Pontius Pilate regarding the crucifixion of Jesus. The Gospels make clear that the blame for Jesus’s death rests upon the corrupt Jewish leaders and people who handed the Savior over to Roman authorities and, when given the chance to redeem him, shouted: “crucify him!” This New Testament depiction has led to the labeling of Jews as “Christ-killers.” Horrifically, this attitude has inspired pogroms against the Jewish people, the killing of Jews during the Crusades, and, in more recent times, the Jewish Holocaust. We are still dealing today with negative stereotypes of Jews that stem from early Christian attitudes.
For author Bradley Kramer, a scholar dedicated to interfaith studies and relations between Jews and Latter-day Saints, the Book of Mormon offers a different, decidedly pro-Jewish take while not undermining the authority of the New Testament. In his book, Gathered in One: How the Book of Mormon Counters Anti-Semitism in the New Testament, Bradley demonstrates how The Book of Mormon contains an intentionally pro-Judaic stance. For example, Bradley argues that the Book of Mormon minimizes Jewish involvement in the crucifixion of Jesus and rejects supersessionist claims by portraying the Jewish people as still being God’s covenant people. Taken together with the New Testament, the Book of Mormon smooths out the sharp edges of anti-Semitic imagery, settings, and language.
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Gathered in One: How the Book of Mormon Counters Anti-Semitism in the New Testament “His thesis is fresh, provocative, and rigorously argued. A signal contribution to Book of Mormon studies.” — Terryl Givens |
Authorcast #107: James McLachlan, editor of Element, journal for the Society of Mormon Philosophy and Theology March 11 2019
On this episode, we chat with James McLachlan, co-editor of Element: The Journal for the Society of Mormon Philosophy and Theology (SMPT). We discuss James's background, give a basic primer on a few schools of thought within philosophy and their relationship to Mormonism. We also discuss the origins of SMPT, the most recent issue of Element, and the upcoming 2019 SMPT Annual Meeting taking place March 14-17 at the University of Utah.
Click here for details about the 2019 SMPT Annual Meeting.
Subscribe through your podcast app by searching for the Greg Kofford Books Authorcast or watch the full interview at YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to our channel.
Element: The Journal for the Society of Mormon Philosophy and Theology
Volume 8, Issue 1
$9.95 paperback
Authorcast #103: The Expanded Canon August 24 2018
Episode 103: The Expanded Canon
Hosted by Brian Whitney
On this episode, editors Blair Van Dyke, Brian Birch, and Boyd Petersen discuss the development of the Mormon Studies program at Utah Valley University, their annual conferences, the new UVU Comparative Mormon Studies series with Greg Kofford Books, as well as the contributors and topics in the first volume: The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts.
For those in the Utah area, please join us for the following events with the editors:
Tue Sep 18 | Writ & Vision (Provo) at 7:00 PM | RSVP on Facebook
Wed Sep 19 | Benchmark Books (SLC) at 5:30 PM | RSVP on Facebook
The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts
Edited by Blair G. Van Dyke, Brian D. Birch, and Boyd J. Petersen
Part of the UVU Comparative Mormon Studies series
Pre-order your copy
AuthorCast #102: Interview with Charles Randall Paul July 25 2018
Episode 102: Interview with Charles Randall Paul
Hosted by Brian Whitney
In this episode, Charles Randall Paul discusses his forthcoming book, Converting the Saints: A Study of Religious Rivalry in America, as well as the interfaith organization he founded, the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, and offers a few suggestions for dealing with religious, political, and ideological conflict. Be sure to check out his recent article, "Contesting Truth through Mutual Openness."
Converting the Saints: A Study of Religious Rivalry in America
By Charles Randall Paul
Available August 7, 2018
Pre-order your copy
AuthorCast #101: Interview with Blake Ostler July 11 2018
Episode 101: Interview with Blake Ostler
Hosted by Brian Whitney
Blake T. Ostler is an independent scholar residing in Salt Lake City, Utah,and the author of the multi-volume Exploring Mormon Thought series. Volume 1: The Attributes of God has recently been re-issued in paperback. In this interview, Blake discusses his background, the series, some of the key philosophocal discussions in The Attributes of God, such as the nature of free will, God's existence within time, and Mormon Christology.
“These books are the most important works on Mormon theology ever written. There is nothing currently available that is even close to the rigor and sophistication of these volumes.” — FARMS Review, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University
AuthorCast #96: Gospel Doctrine Lessons 13–15 with David Bokovoy April 18 2018
Episode 96: Gospel Doctrine Lessons 13–15 with David Bokovoy
Hosted by Brian Whitney
(See the full list of Gospel Doctrine episodes here.)
We are back from our break! Brian and David discuss Gospel Doctrine lessons 13 through 15, which covers most of Exodus and begins Numbers. Topics discussed include the story of Moses, the ten plagues and the Passover, the Ten Commandments, and Israel's curse to wander the desert for forty years. This is a long episode that compresses three lessons into one. We hope you find it useful in your personal study and class preparation.
David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He is the author of Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis–Deuteronomy and the forthcoming Authoring the Old Testament: The Prophets, both part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series.
“This book should be basic reading for serious LDS students of the Bible.” — Eric D. Huntsman, Coordinator of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Brigham Young University
AuthorCast #87: Gospel Doctrine Lesson 6 with David Bokovoy February 06 2018
Episode 87: Gospel Doctrine Lesson 6 with David Bokovoy
Hosted by Brian Whitney
(See the full list of Gospel Doctrine episodes here.)
Topics Discussed: We cover the story of Noah as well as the Tower of Babel.
David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He is the author of Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis–Deuteronomy and the forthcoming Authoring the Old Testament: The Prophets, both part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series.
AuthorCast #85: Interview with James and Judith McConkie January 26 2018
Episode 85: Interview with James and Judith McConkie
Hosted by Brian Whitney
In this episode, we interview James and Judith McConkie about their new book, Whom Say Ye That I Am? Lessons from the Jesus of Nazareth.
James and Judith will be signing books and speaking at Writ & Vision in Provo on Tuesday, Jan 30th at 7pm, and at Benchmark Books in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb 7 at 5:30pm. Both of these events are free to the public.
You can follow Whom Say Ye That I Am? on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WhomSayYe
AuthorCast #84: Gospel Doctrine Lesson 4 with David Bokovoy January 23 2018
Episode 84: Gospel Doctrine Lesson 4 with David Bokovoy
Hosted by Brian Whitney
(See the full list of Gospel Doctrine episodes here.)
Topics Discussed: We cover lesson four from the Gospel Doctrine manual, “Because of My Transgression My Eyes Are Opened,” covering the life of Adam & Even in the Garden of Eden, the Fall, and expulsion from the Garden.
David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He is the author of Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis–Deuteronomy and the forthcoming Authoring the Old Testament: The Prophets, both part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series.
AuthorCast #81: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 32 December 13 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 32: Soteriology in LDS Thought (Pt 1)- The Problems of Theism & The Love of God Ch 5
By Corey Ostler
Topics Discussed:
• The Vision
• Faith unto Repentance
• Atonement
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #80: Exploring Mormon Thought, Grace vs Works December 06 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought: Grace vs Works short
By Corey Ostler
My father's voice is shot due to a cold so I wanted to share a talk I prepared a while back about Grace and Works in LDS thought. This talk is based closely on talks by Elder Uchtdorf and Brad Wilcox
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #79: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 31 November 21 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 31: Sin and the Uncircumcised Heart (Pt 2)- The Problems of Theism & The Love of God Ch 5
By Corey Ostler
Topics Discussed:
• Ego Maintenance, Self-Deception, and Authenticity
• The Bondage of Sin and Agency
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #78: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 30 November 21 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 30: Sin and the Uncircumcised Heart (Pt 1)- The Problems of Theism & The Love of God Ch 5
By Corey Ostler
Topics Discussed:
• LDS Light on Original Sin
• Epistemological Assumptions of Moral Obligation
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #77: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 29 November 07 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 29: The Implausibility of Original Sin - The Problems of Theism & The Love of God Ch 4
By Corey Ostler
Topics Discussed:
• The Traditional Paradigms of Original Sin
• Can We Be Guilty For the Acts of Another?
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #76: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 28 October 23 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 28: The Relation of Moral Obligation and God in LDS Thought (Pt 2) - Ch 3
By Corey Ostler
We discuss different ethical theories and evaluate if they fit with the LDS commitments and doctrine. We layout the positive and negative aspect of each theory and come up with a theory of ethics that is scriptural and consistent with the LDS world view and revelations.
Topics Discussed:
• The Possibilities of Ethics in LDS Thought
• An LDS Teleological Ethic?
• The Human Rights Objection
• The Distributive-Justice Objection
• The Genuine Friendship Objection
• A Duty-Based LDS Ethic?
• The Overbroad Rule Argument
• The Underinclusive Value Argument
• An LDS Agape Theory of Ethics in Alignment with the Gospel of Christ
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #75: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 27 October 16 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 27: 027-The Relation of Moral Obligation and God in LDS Thought (Pt 1) - Ch 3
By Corey Ostler
In his contribution to The New Mormon Challenge, Francis Beckwith argues that the LDS view of God(s) cannot explain the existence of objective moral obligation and that the “classical” view which he purports to defend can.
www.amazon.com/New-Mormon-Challe…ith/dp/0310231949
Topics Discussed:
• Beckwith's Argument
• Why Beckwith’s Argument Necessarily Unsound
• Are Moral Laws Logically Dependent On God’s Nature?
• Is God a Morally Perfect Being?
• Beckwith’s Equivocation in His Use of “God”
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #74: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 26 October 09 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 26: Providence & Prayer (Part 2) - The Problems of Theism & The Love of God Ch 2
By Corey Ostler
We discuss the problems with praying to a God who has All-Controlling power. We ask whether manipulation can ever be conducive to an authentic loving relationship. We overview the strengths of the Open Theism movement for relating to God through prayer. Finally, we discuss a Mormon view on the problem of prayer and what options are available and what unique solutions the LDS view of God can provide to this issue.
Topics Discussed:
• Prayer to an All-Controlling God
• Manipulative Love?
• Divine Openness and Petitionary Prayer
• Mormonism and the Problem of Prayer
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #73: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 25 October 03 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 25: Providence & Prayer (Part 1) - The Problems of Theism & The Love of God Ch 2
By Corey Ostler
We discuss the problem of prayer. I may speak to God, but how could I impart any information that He doesn’t already know? I may ask God, but how could I ask for anything that he isn’t already dedicated to offering for my greatest good? I may seek God, but how could I ever suppose that he hasn’t already sought me?
Topics Discussed:
• The Problem of Prayer
• A Relational Solution
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #72: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 24 September 25 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 24: Mormonism and the Nature of Divine Love - The Problems of Theism & The Love of God Ch 1
By Corey Ostler
Topics Discussed:
• Mormonism and God's Love
• The Logic of Love
• The I-Thou Relation
• Unconditional Love and Fellowship
Links: Elder Nelson Article- www.lds.org/ensign/2003/02/divine-love?lang=eng
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
AuthorCast #71: Exploring Mormon Thought, episode 23 September 18 2017
Exploring Mormon Thought, Episode 23: The Book of Mormon as a Modern Expansion of an Ancient Source
By Corey Ostler
The Book of Mormon has both obvious 19th century influences and anachronisms as well as very strong evidence for having ancient origins. The Expansion theory, introduced in an article by my father in 1987, looks at all the evidence and tries to come up with a solution that preserves both. I wanted to find out the nuances of the view and see if it still held up. Enjoy!
Links:
Original Article: www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/up…V20N01_68.pdf
Update: www.timesandseasons.org/harchive/2005…nsion-theory/
Response to Criticism: blakeostler.com/docs/criticexpansionth.pdf
Learn more about Blake Ostler’s book series, Exploring Mormon Thought.
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