Why BYU restricts scholarship on Mormonism

[ChinoCoug]

Benjamin Huff, head of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology spoke in DC today. He said that in addition to fears that scholarship might embarass the Church, BYU doesn't sponsor much scholarship on Mormonism because the rest of the world doesn't give a rat's tail about Mormons, so such scholarship does nothing to boost BYU's standing.

[MikeWaters]

I would agree that the larger world may not care about *BYU's* LDS research (because it would lack credibility as a dishonest broker), but at the very least it would improve BYU's standing among Mormons who care about LDS history and understanding Mormonism in general.

If we wanted to discuss all the short-sighted things BYU does, we could fill pages and pages.

[Archaea]

Those two points are spot on, and Mike's point is also valid.

BYU needs to be prominent in research on topics not necessarily germane to Mormonism so that when it turns its eyes to itself, it will have more credibility. Much of its theological focus is often quite simplistic and not sophisticated enough.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Those two points are spot on, and Mike's point is also valid.

BYU needs to be prominent in research on topics not necessarily germane to Mormonism so that when it turns its eyes to itself, it will have more credibility. Much of its theological focus is often quite simplistic and not sophisticated enough.

He also said a couple of BYU grads went on to Notre Dame to do PhDs in philosophy and became Catholic.

We were too busy building a new society in Utah that left us no time for theology. So when we go up against Catholic theology, which developed over two millennia, we get dwarfed and stomped on.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

He also said a couple of BYU grads went on to Notre Dame to do PhDs in philosophy and became Catholic.

We were too busy building a new society in Utah that left us no time for theology. So when we go up against Catholic theology, which developed over two millennia, we get dwarfed and stomped on.

Becoming Catholic is the last thing I would become. Becoming agnostic would be much more probable.

All I have to do is to think of the Great Borgia and the authority issue makes me laugh that God would still authorize such a church. Now I appreciate the Catholic Church being a repository of great knowledge and its humanitarian efforts but the Great Borgia of about 1492 makes believing in the institution impossible. Rodrigo was his name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Alexander_VI.

More interesting stuff on the papacy.

http://www.christianchronicler.com/h...al_papacy.html

[MikeWaters]

Our theology is kind of confusing about one very important thing--what does it to take to get to heaven?

Maybe our theology is that a person should always live in a kind of perpetual uncertainty and doubt about their worthiness to be in heaven, short of the miraculous even of ones calling and election made sure.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Becoming Catholic is the last thing I would become. Becoming agnostic would be much more probable.

All I have to do is to think of the Great Borgia and the authority issue makes me laugh that God would still authorize such a church. Now I appreciate the Catholic Church being a repository of great knowledge and its humanitarian efforts but the Great Borgia of about 1492 makes believing in the institution impossible. Rodrigo was his name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Alexander_VI.

More interesting stuff on the papacy.

http://www.christianchronicler.com/h...al_papacy.html

They made a video game out of him?

In Assassin's Creed II, Rodrigo Borgia is the main antagonist of the game. His character in the game is voiced by and modeled on Canadian actor Manuel Tadros. He also appears in the accompanying short film Assassin's Creed: Lineage.

[ute4ever]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Our theology is kind of confusing about one very important thing--what does it to take to get to heaven?

Jeez didn't you have the lesson on the beatitudes today? Eight short verses outline the blueprint for exaltation. The problem with intellectuals is their pride won't allow such a simple explanation. It's like watching Seattle Ute try to comprehend a Top 25 poll; it's the easiest damn thing in the world to read yet he still f***s it up.

[MikeWaters]

faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, endowment, sealing, endure to the end, etc.

[wuapinmon]

Originally Posted by ute4ever

Jeez didn't you have the lesson on the beatitudes today? Eight short verses outline the blueprint for exaltation. The problem with intellectuals is their pride won't allow such a simple explanation. It's like watching Seattle Ute try to comprehend a Top 25 poll; it's the easiest damn thing in the world to read yet he still f***s it up.

That's an inaccurate depiction of what it takes. I could say, "Just be good," but that doesn't really communicate all that's necessary for exaltation. The Beatitudes are certainly more detailed, but to say that they are the blueprint sort of denies the belief that Book of Mormon is necessary for clarification.