08AR13-39

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Apologia Report 13:39

November 5, 2008

Subject: Mormon apologetics history, Evangelical debate

In this issue:

ARCHAEOLOGY - new book hailed as final analysis of the "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" ossuary fiasco

CULTURE - popular fiction title a "philosophical exploration of the role of violence and decadence in Western culture"

MORMONISM - a stunning collection of unexpected conclusions in review of Claiming Christ: A Mormon-Evangelical Debate

+ a major history of Book of Mormon historicity debate

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ARCHAEOLOGY

Unholy Business: A True Tale of Faith, Greed and Forgery in the Holy Land, by NinaÊBurleigh -- in her Library Journal review (Oct '08, p79), Melissa Aho writes that "In 2002, the James Ossuary, an ancient limestone box for bones with an inscription on it that said 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus' was publicized as the first real physical evidence of Jesus Christ's existence. The plot thickened when the ossuary went on tour, creating lots of publicity, a book by advocate Hershel Shanks, and a Discovery Channel documentary. Then the ossuary's owner, Oded Golan, and his antique-dealer associates were charged with forgery. The trial of Golan and a colleague has lasted years (and has also led to the uncovering of other important forgeries). Burleigh (staff writer, People magazine) does a fabulous job of tracking down and talking to the major players in what the Israeli authorities call the 'fraud of the century.'" Publishers Weekly (Sep 22 '08, p54) adds: "Along the way we meet an improbable cast of characters, including ... Andre Lemaire, an epigraphist who early on testified to the authenticity of the ossuary's inscription; Shlomo Moussaieff, a billionaire collector with a warehouse full of artifacts of uncertain value; and Israel Finkelstein, a maverick Israeli archeologist who questions the historicity of many biblical events."

See also <online.wsj.com/article/SB122446027022248721.html>

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CULTURE

On occasion we catch an example of cultural analysis in popular fiction. In this case, it comes at the conclusion of a brief Kirkus review (2008 October #1) of A Day and a Night and a Day, by Glen Duncan [2]. "Critically esteemed British novelist Duncan mixes memory and desire, Kafkaesque surrealism and straightforward narrative in a nightmarish story of love, terror and torture. At the center of the novel is the grim, violent and paradoxically elegant interrogation of Augustus, a terrorist who's being leaned on to reveal the members of his cell. The smooth interrogator is [efficiently cruel U.S. operative] Harper, a Gap-casuals-wearing, mid-30s American with Robert Redford good looks who specializes in torture, both physical and psychological. Harper is glib, smooth and terrifying. ... Throughout his agonizing interrogation, [Augustus] looks for ways to counter and overcome Harper's insistent cynicism that 'the world's not what we thought it was, the world's what it's always been.' Given the bleakness of Duncan's philosophical exploration of the role of violence and decadence in Western culture, readers will desperately hope this is not true. The prose is as merciless as the ghastly figure of Harper, whose shadow looms over the book."

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MORMONISM

Claiming Christ: A Mormon-Evangelical Debate, by Robert L. Millet and Gerald R. McDermottÊ[3] -- after explaining that Millet and McDermott are "good friends," reviewer Stephen H. Webb swings wildly back and forth, pro and con, about Mormonism. Early on he says that "coming to recognize how another religious movement truly recognizes your own savior in spite of differences in how that savior is described can be a powerful experience. I confess that this happened to me in reading this book, but when I have told this to other theologians, they have warned me about the potential treachery of engaging Mormons in theological debate. Part of the problem has to do with the complexity and secrecy of Mormon beliefs. Mormon apologists can pick and choose their beliefs, playing up or down ideas that others might find odd or offensive. Millet can be seen advocating this kind of strategy on a YouTube clip, yet he comes off in this book as both intellectually honest and sincere in his devotion to Jesus Christ. I trust him in part because McDermott trusts him."

Yet, Webb writes that "one of the amazing things about Mormonism is that it transgresses most theological categories as well as the standard account of theological history. Mormonism is like an alternative reality come to life....

"Millet argues that Mormons are not Arians because they truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but I think McDermott is right to insist that Mormons lapse into some kind of Arianism when it comes to the question of who Christ was before the incarnation. That is, the Mormon Christ is fully but not eternally God. ...

"Millet asks, 'To what extent does it truly matter whether Jesus was always God or at a certain point in the pre-mortal realm he became God? It matters a lot, which is why McDermott does not let him off the hook so easily. In fact, this debate raises fundamental questions about the limits of human thought and the significance of speculations about time. Reading this book has convinced me that arguing with Mormons about even the most obscure points of their theology would be more productive (and more fun) than arguing with liberal theologians about anything at all.

"So much of academic theology has drifted so far from orthodox doctrine that it seems peevish to pick on Mormons for their apparently confusing grasp of eternity. Why not take them seriously instead? ... There is fluidity as well as materiality in the Mormon concept of God. No theology has ever managed to capture the essential sameness of Jesus with us in a more striking manner. To McDermott, this means that the Mormons have an essentially limited view of Jesus. Millet's response to this charge is clear in explicating the Mormon rejection of the Trinity but a bit less clear on the implications of an eternally material divinity. Millet retreats a bit awkwardly on this Mormon idea that God was once a man like us."

Webb oversimplifies with exaggeration when he concludes that "At the heart of Mormon cosmic optimism is the idea that the incarnation of Jesus ... is the center of the cosmos.... Indeed, if Mormons err theologically, don't they err in taking this worship to an extreme, if such extremity is possible? Do orthodox Christians really want to say that Mormons make too much of Jesus?

"In sum, Millet demonstrates the depths of Mormon Christocentricity, even to the point of being theologically eccentric. ... When you add to this focus ... the fact that Mormons take the Great Commission more seriously than even most evangelicals, one can only conclude that the next great phase of ecumenical Christian dialogue with other religions has to begin with the conversation between orthodox Christians and Latter Day Saints. No other religious movement (and I include the contemporary varieties of Judaism) lies so close to traditional Christianity while speaking in such a vexing voice. To shut out this voice as more imaginative than revelatory is to deny the whispers of our own hearts' longing. It is time to listen and to learn, but first to forgive and seek forgiveness for all that has separated us in the past." Reviews in Religion and Theology, 15:3 - 2008, pp426-429.

"Mapping Book of Mormon Historicity Debates" by John-Charles Duffy -- this first of a two-part "Guide for the Overwhelmed" is lengthy enough to be considered an "overwhelming guide" instead.

"Book of Mormon 'historicity' refers to the claim that the Book of Mormon is an authentic translation of an ancient volume of scripture. Whether or not one believes the Book of Mormon to be historical in this sense is maybe the most fundamental question affecting one's relationship to Mormon faith and the LDS Church. Volumes upon volumes have been written on Book of Mormon historicity issues" - and Duffy appears familiar with all of it. His presentation is comprised of three parts:

"I. Mapping the History of the Debates: A summary of how the historicity debates have developed from the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830 to the beginning of the twenty-first century. This section throws light on historical forces that have shaped Latter-day Saints' views on historicity and that have affected the degree of tolerance in the Church for differing views.

"II. Mapping the Arguments: A highly condensed overview of the many arguments that have been made for and against historicity. Written like an encyclopedia entry or bibliographic essay, it may be most helpful as a reference source, pointing you to additional reading.

"III. Mapping the Positions: A guide to the many different positions that LDS and former LDS individuals have adopted toward Book of Mormon historicity and its implications for LDS faith and church activity. This section shows that Mormons' thinking about historicity has been much more diverse than a simple mapping of the issue as 'pro versus con' would suggest.

"In Part Two, to be published in the next issue, I map the historicity question sociologically - examining the social dynamics that sustain or alter people's beliefs about Book of Mormon historicity. There I suggest that arguments made for and against historicity are actually not the prime factor in forming a person's beliefs about historicity: relationships with other people are more decisive."

Duffy's inclusion of digital sources is especially valuable. "In an attempt to facilitate further study, links have been added to the bibliography. Links to articles from Dialogue, Ensign, FARMS Review, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, and Sunstone all lead to official sources. Other links may lead to unofficial sources. Many links to books, especially if they have been published in the last fifty years, lead to limited previews." Sunstone, 2008 (no other date credit detail). <www.tinyurl.com/5u6fod>

(Evangelical-LDS debate books started with How Wide the Divide? by Craig Blomberg and Stephen Robinson [4] in 1997. We also have Bridging the Divide by Millet and Gregory Johnson [5] Ð which, with Claiming Christ, results in the present trilogy of LDS-Evangelical dialogue books - all of which are produced by Christian publishing houses no less. What's next, LDS-Evangelical books from Mormon publishers? - RV)

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Sources, Monographs:

1 - Unholy Business: A True Tale of Faith, Greed and Forgery in the Holy Land, byÊNina Burleigh (Collins, 2008, hardcover, 288 pages) <www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061458457/apologiareport>

2 - A Day and a Night and a Day, by Glen Duncan (Ecco, January 2009, hardcover, 256 pages) <www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061239992/apologiareport>

3 - Claiming Christ: A Mormon-Evangelical Debate, by Gerald R. McDermott and Robert L. Millet (Brazos, November 2007, paperback, 224 pages) <www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1587432099/apologiareport>

4 - How Wide the Divide? A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation, by Craig Blomberg and Stephen Robinson (IVP, 1997, paperback, 228 pages)

<www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830819916/apologiareport>

5 - Bridging the Divide: The Continuing Conversation between a Mormon and an Evangelical, by Robert Millet and Gregory C.V. Johnson (Monkfish, November 2007, paperback, 160 pages)

<www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0976684365/apologiareport>

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