Dave's Mormon Inquiry WeblogCommentary and links to news, events, books, and articles.2 Nephi 4 - Nephi's Psalm- February 27, 2004 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,...http://radio.weblogs.com/0128987/2004/02/26.html#a177 Looking for Brother Shakespeare- February 26, 2004 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...http://radio.weblogs.com/0128987/2004/02/25.html#a176 Are You Ready For Post-Evangelicals- February 25, 2004 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..http://radio.weblogs.com/0128987/2004/02/24.html#a175 Dead Sea Scrolls at the LA Temple- February 25, 2004 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.http://radio.weblogs.com/0128987/2004/02/24.html#a174 General Authority Recovering- February 25, 2004 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.http://radio.weblogs.com/0128987/2004/02/24.html#a173 Who Built the Conference Center Organ- February 25, 2004 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...http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/22/BUGD855B411.DTL Here's A Name That Rings A Bell- February 24, 2004 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...http://radio.weblogs.com/0128987/2004/02/23.html#a171 Dude, That Was Graphic- February 24, 2004 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..http://radio.weblogs.com/0128987/2004/02/23.html#a170 |