Overview
Compared to most issues, this issue
is rather small. It features only seven reviews/essays. Despite its size, this
issue has a lot to offer. Five of the seven articles are recommended, and each
was very good. A lot of emphasis seems to be on science this time around, with
one review and an essay discussing the relationship of science and Mormonism
(well, if you count intelligent design as a science). The others discuss pretty
standard topics for the Review, i.e.
theology, evangelical anti-Mormonism, apologetics, etc.
Recommended Reading
Daniel C. Peterson, “Editor’sIntorduction – The Witchcraft Paradigm: On Claims to ‘Second Sight’ by PeopleWho Say It Doesn’t Exist,” pg. ix-lxiv: In what is one of my favorite Ed.
Intro.’s by Peterson, he offers an “apology (defense) for apologetics,” and
also dispels several myths and rumors about FARMS (particularly their
peer-review process) that are frequently circulated by anti-Mormon’s and other
critics in an effort to dismiss and discredit the organization.
Robert R. Bennett, “Science vs.Mormonism: The Dangers of Dogmatism and Sloppy Reading,” a review of Duwayne R.Anderson, Farewell to Eden: Coming toTerms with Mormonism and Science (Bloomington, IN: 1st BooksLibrary, 2003), pg. 1-43: Bennett critiques Anderson’s approach to both
Mormonism and Science, and touches on each type of science Anderson compares to
Mormonism.
Richard Sherlock, “Mormonism andIntelligent Design,” pg. 45-81: Sherlock has actually recently converted to
Catholicism. What impact that may have had on the views he expressed in this
article, I do not know. I can’t imagine that his perspective on Design Theory
would change simply by switching from one religious belief to another (both of
which obviously believe in some sort of design behind the creation of the
world), though his views on Design Theory certainly could have changed for
other reasons (I’m not sure where ID and other forms of Design Theory stand in
the scientific community at this point; when this article was published,
proponents of the theory were fighting to win some scientific credibility for
the theory; as an aside, I can remember hearing/reading about this controversy
my senior year of high school). Despite all that may have changed, however, I
still found this to be an informative essay. Sherlock defines what ID theory
is, discusses its relationship to science, religion, God, and Mormonism.
Throughout, he argues for ID as a science, and he argues that it is something Mormons
should be open to and even accepting of.
David L. Paulsen and Cory G.Walker, “Work, Worship, and Grace,” a review of Dougles J. Davies, The Mormon Culture of Salvation: Force,Grace, and Glory (Aldershot, UK: Ashgate, 2000), pg. 83-177: Looking at
the page numbers, this seems like a daunting, 90-plus page review. The review
itself, however, actually ends on page 127. The extra 50 pages comprise
Appendices A-D, which contain several quotes from LDS leaders, hymns, and
scriptures regarding grace and salvation. Thus, these appendices are an
invaluable resource for those seeking to understand the LDS view on grace and
salvation. The review itself is pretty good as well, as Paulsen and Walker note
that they feel that Davies got a few things wrong about how LDS view and
understand grace and works, worship, and salvation. They layout how they
understand the balance between grace and works to function, and argue that
grace has always played an important role in LDS sortiology.
Louis Midgley, “Orders of Submission,”a review of essays on Mormonism published in the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 9/2 (Summer 2005): 1-81, pg.189-228: Midgley compares the SBC’s anti-Mormon campaign in 1998 to a
recent issue of their journal to see if any progress has been made. The answer:
not much, if any. He also uses this as an opportunity to comment on another
group of evangelicals (some of whom cast their lot with the SBC by publishing
some essays in the issue of SBJT
under review, while others were criticized in said issue) who have delusions of
“converting” the entire LDS Church into an evangelical group through the means
of “dialogue.”
Final Thoughts
Though lacking somewhat in overall
content when compared to other issues, I found this to be a very good issue.
Peterson’s introduction, Sherlock’s discussion of ID, and Paulson and Walkers
review of grace in LDS theology are all must-reads in my book. Midgley’s review
also provides a very important intellectual history on some of the development
in sectarian anti-Mormonism. One thing to note that, although I don’t recommend
all seven contributions to this
issue, there really wasn’t a single one not worth reading; an overall solid
issue.
Rating: 4/5
From reading Sherlock's bio it looks like he never was an active Mormon. Thus I'm happy for him that he's become a devout Catholic.
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