Blake Ostler reflects and responds to the theological issues discussed in How Wide the Divide -- ... more Blake Ostler reflects and responds to the theological issues discussed in How Wide the Divide -- a give and take by a Mormon and an Evangelical scholar.
Mormons have historically rejected any form of universal causal determinism because it appears to... more Mormons have historically rejected any form of universal causal determinism because it appears to conflict with its basic commitment to free agency. However, Rex Sears has recently argued that (1) free agency and causal determinism are compatible; and (2) Mormon commitments square better with causal determinism than the opposing view of libertarian free will.1 He further argues that metaphysical conceptions of moral accountability are misguided and suggests an alternative which views accountability as a feature of demands arising in interpersonal relationships. It is my purpose to show that Sears has sold out to a view that is difficult at best to reconcile with fundamental Mormon commitments. I intend to argue that none of his arguments in favor of determinism are compelling and that his answer to arguments against determinism are weak or simply miss the point.
Sterling M. McMurrin has been a leading philosopher and educator for many years. Among his public... more Sterling M. McMurrin has been a leading philosopher and educator for many years. Among his publications pertaining to the philosophy of religion are Religion , Reason , and Truth (1982) and The Theological Foundations of the Mormon Religion (1965). He served as United States Commissioner of Education under President John F.
A tendency of account fraud is frequently happened and became continuity problems. There are some... more A tendency of account fraud is frequently happened and became continuity problems. There are some fact have already proved the tendency of accounting fraud is not only occur in private sector but also in public sector. It needs a serious attention toward the accounting practice from whom worked by public institution, public company or local and other public organization. This attention aims to explain whatever the internal controlling system, compensation, information asymmetry and accounting rule obedience toward the tendency of accounting fraud. The result of analysis showed that the internal controlling system, information asymmetry and accounting rule obedience have an influence on the tendency of accounting fraud. While the appropriateness of compensation did not have influence on the tendency of accounting fraud. Key words : the influence of internal controlling system, information asymmetry, accounting rule obedience and the tendency of accounting fraud.
a range of divergent explanations of its origins. At one extreme are those who are skeptical of t... more a range of divergent explanations of its origins. At one extreme are those who are skeptical of the book's claims to antiquity who generally conclude that it is a pious fraud, written by Joseph Smith from information available in his immediate environment. At the other extreme are those who accept the book as scripture and suggest that it can be explained exclusively by reference to ancient sources either not available to Joseph Smith or available only if he were capable of the most recondite research and near-genius ability in com-parative literature and ancient studies. It is my purpose to demonstrate that both extremes are too limited and to offer a theory of the Book of Mormon as Joseph Smith's expansion of an ancient work by building on the work of earlier prophets to answer the nagging problems of his day. In so doing, he provided unrestricted and authoritative commentary, interpretation, explanation, and clarifications based on insights from the ancient Book of Morm...
not reject the importance of grace. Indeed, he developed a profound and novel view resolving many... more not reject the importance of grace. Indeed, he developed a profound and novel view resolving many problems presented by the grace-freedom dichotomy in classical Christian thought. Moreover, Joseph's concept of grace was consistent through his lifetime, even though it underwent a major shift from Pauline to Johannine categories of thought. The notion of grace presented in the Book of Mormon is essentially the same as Joseph Smith taught in the Nauvoo era. How-ever, some early assumptions underlying the Book of Mormon scheme of grace were abandoned in Nauvoo: notably, the ideas of "original sin " and "regenerating grace. " Despite continuity in the underlying concept, the Mormon notion of grace developed from a theology grounded in static states of being to one seeing grace as an ongoing process of growth throughout life and eternity. For this discussion, I will adopt the following definitions. (These definitions embody concepts about the workings of grace dev...
Review of The Mormon Concept of God: A Philosophical Analysis (1991), by Francis J. Beckwith and ... more Review of The Mormon Concept of God: A Philosophical Analysis (1991), by Francis J. Beckwith and Stephen E. Parrish
arl Mosser’s thoughtful essay suggests that if God is free in the morally significant sense, as L... more arl Mosser’s thoughtful essay suggests that if God is free in the morally significant sense, as Latter-day Saints believe, then God can freely choose to do something less than what is perfectly good or indeed even choose something genuinely evil.1 But if it is even merely logically possible that God can choose to do something evil, then Mosser suggests that God is not trustworthy. Mosser argues that if God is morally free in this sense, then we have no logically guaranteed way to trust God. He also goes beyond this logical assertion and argues that since some of the gods have indeed fallen according to Mormon thought, it follows that this possibility is not merely a logical possibility, but is an actual possibility that must affect how Mormons relate to God. His essay gives Mormons much to ponder. While I agree with Mosser that the God revealed in Mormonism is not logically guaranteed to always do what is perfectly good, I deny that absence of logical guarantees is a reason to distr...
1.0 Introduction. In their contribution to The New Mormon Challenge, entitled “Craftsman or Creat... more 1.0 Introduction. In their contribution to The New Mormon Challenge, entitled “Craftsman or Creator: An Examination of the Mormon Doctrine of Creation & a Defense of Creatio Ex Nihilo,” Paul Copan and William Lane Craig argue that the notion of creation ex nihilo is both biblical and required by modern cosmology and logic. They begin by examining Mormon scripture. They suggest that Mormon scripture itself is susceptible to a reading consistent with creation out of nothing. In the next section they argue against the vast majority of biblical scholars that the Bible requires the doctrine of creation out of nothing. They add for good measure that this doctrine was not an invention of the philosophers but has always been the well-established “Christian” doctrine. They next offer two deductive arguments to show that it is absurd that there could be an infinitely old universe based on: (1) the supposed impossibility of an actual infinite; and (2) the supposed impossibility of successive f...
he conflict between the God of religious worship and the god of philosophical inquiry has plagued... more he conflict between the God of religious worship and the god of philosophical inquiry has plagued Judeo-Christian theology since the union of Greek philosophy with Hebrew religion in the first centuries of the Christian era. The conflict in this union arises from the most basic religious needs. In response to our finitude, we refuse to worship anything less than the absolute, yet we employ modes of worship such as prayer that presuppose a personal, finite being as the object of our devotion. Understandably, this conflict remains even in Mormon thought. For while Mormonism espouses an unrefined finitist theology, it is tempted to return to the Catholic/Protestant understanding of an absolute God, against which it rebelled in its origins. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that such an absolutist concept of God entails insuperable difficulties while the finitist concept of God avoids these problems and is more adequate to the Judeo-Christian understanding in general and essen...
blake T ostler is is an attorney in in private practice he wishes to thank john W welch and rober... more blake T ostler is is an attorney in in private practice he wishes to thank john W welch and robert F E smith for comments on an earlier version of this paper distributed by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies he would also like to thank don norton for editing suggestions
Blake Ostler reflects and responds to the theological issues discussed in How Wide the Divide -- ... more Blake Ostler reflects and responds to the theological issues discussed in How Wide the Divide -- a give and take by a Mormon and an Evangelical scholar.
Mormons have historically rejected any form of universal causal determinism because it appears to... more Mormons have historically rejected any form of universal causal determinism because it appears to conflict with its basic commitment to free agency. However, Rex Sears has recently argued that (1) free agency and causal determinism are compatible; and (2) Mormon commitments square better with causal determinism than the opposing view of libertarian free will.1 He further argues that metaphysical conceptions of moral accountability are misguided and suggests an alternative which views accountability as a feature of demands arising in interpersonal relationships. It is my purpose to show that Sears has sold out to a view that is difficult at best to reconcile with fundamental Mormon commitments. I intend to argue that none of his arguments in favor of determinism are compelling and that his answer to arguments against determinism are weak or simply miss the point.
Sterling M. McMurrin has been a leading philosopher and educator for many years. Among his public... more Sterling M. McMurrin has been a leading philosopher and educator for many years. Among his publications pertaining to the philosophy of religion are Religion , Reason , and Truth (1982) and The Theological Foundations of the Mormon Religion (1965). He served as United States Commissioner of Education under President John F.
A tendency of account fraud is frequently happened and became continuity problems. There are some... more A tendency of account fraud is frequently happened and became continuity problems. There are some fact have already proved the tendency of accounting fraud is not only occur in private sector but also in public sector. It needs a serious attention toward the accounting practice from whom worked by public institution, public company or local and other public organization. This attention aims to explain whatever the internal controlling system, compensation, information asymmetry and accounting rule obedience toward the tendency of accounting fraud. The result of analysis showed that the internal controlling system, information asymmetry and accounting rule obedience have an influence on the tendency of accounting fraud. While the appropriateness of compensation did not have influence on the tendency of accounting fraud. Key words : the influence of internal controlling system, information asymmetry, accounting rule obedience and the tendency of accounting fraud.
a range of divergent explanations of its origins. At one extreme are those who are skeptical of t... more a range of divergent explanations of its origins. At one extreme are those who are skeptical of the book's claims to antiquity who generally conclude that it is a pious fraud, written by Joseph Smith from information available in his immediate environment. At the other extreme are those who accept the book as scripture and suggest that it can be explained exclusively by reference to ancient sources either not available to Joseph Smith or available only if he were capable of the most recondite research and near-genius ability in com-parative literature and ancient studies. It is my purpose to demonstrate that both extremes are too limited and to offer a theory of the Book of Mormon as Joseph Smith's expansion of an ancient work by building on the work of earlier prophets to answer the nagging problems of his day. In so doing, he provided unrestricted and authoritative commentary, interpretation, explanation, and clarifications based on insights from the ancient Book of Morm...
not reject the importance of grace. Indeed, he developed a profound and novel view resolving many... more not reject the importance of grace. Indeed, he developed a profound and novel view resolving many problems presented by the grace-freedom dichotomy in classical Christian thought. Moreover, Joseph's concept of grace was consistent through his lifetime, even though it underwent a major shift from Pauline to Johannine categories of thought. The notion of grace presented in the Book of Mormon is essentially the same as Joseph Smith taught in the Nauvoo era. How-ever, some early assumptions underlying the Book of Mormon scheme of grace were abandoned in Nauvoo: notably, the ideas of "original sin " and "regenerating grace. " Despite continuity in the underlying concept, the Mormon notion of grace developed from a theology grounded in static states of being to one seeing grace as an ongoing process of growth throughout life and eternity. For this discussion, I will adopt the following definitions. (These definitions embody concepts about the workings of grace dev...
Review of The Mormon Concept of God: A Philosophical Analysis (1991), by Francis J. Beckwith and ... more Review of The Mormon Concept of God: A Philosophical Analysis (1991), by Francis J. Beckwith and Stephen E. Parrish
arl Mosser’s thoughtful essay suggests that if God is free in the morally significant sense, as L... more arl Mosser’s thoughtful essay suggests that if God is free in the morally significant sense, as Latter-day Saints believe, then God can freely choose to do something less than what is perfectly good or indeed even choose something genuinely evil.1 But if it is even merely logically possible that God can choose to do something evil, then Mosser suggests that God is not trustworthy. Mosser argues that if God is morally free in this sense, then we have no logically guaranteed way to trust God. He also goes beyond this logical assertion and argues that since some of the gods have indeed fallen according to Mormon thought, it follows that this possibility is not merely a logical possibility, but is an actual possibility that must affect how Mormons relate to God. His essay gives Mormons much to ponder. While I agree with Mosser that the God revealed in Mormonism is not logically guaranteed to always do what is perfectly good, I deny that absence of logical guarantees is a reason to distr...
1.0 Introduction. In their contribution to The New Mormon Challenge, entitled “Craftsman or Creat... more 1.0 Introduction. In their contribution to The New Mormon Challenge, entitled “Craftsman or Creator: An Examination of the Mormon Doctrine of Creation & a Defense of Creatio Ex Nihilo,” Paul Copan and William Lane Craig argue that the notion of creation ex nihilo is both biblical and required by modern cosmology and logic. They begin by examining Mormon scripture. They suggest that Mormon scripture itself is susceptible to a reading consistent with creation out of nothing. In the next section they argue against the vast majority of biblical scholars that the Bible requires the doctrine of creation out of nothing. They add for good measure that this doctrine was not an invention of the philosophers but has always been the well-established “Christian” doctrine. They next offer two deductive arguments to show that it is absurd that there could be an infinitely old universe based on: (1) the supposed impossibility of an actual infinite; and (2) the supposed impossibility of successive f...
he conflict between the God of religious worship and the god of philosophical inquiry has plagued... more he conflict between the God of religious worship and the god of philosophical inquiry has plagued Judeo-Christian theology since the union of Greek philosophy with Hebrew religion in the first centuries of the Christian era. The conflict in this union arises from the most basic religious needs. In response to our finitude, we refuse to worship anything less than the absolute, yet we employ modes of worship such as prayer that presuppose a personal, finite being as the object of our devotion. Understandably, this conflict remains even in Mormon thought. For while Mormonism espouses an unrefined finitist theology, it is tempted to return to the Catholic/Protestant understanding of an absolute God, against which it rebelled in its origins. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that such an absolutist concept of God entails insuperable difficulties while the finitist concept of God avoids these problems and is more adequate to the Judeo-Christian understanding in general and essen...
blake T ostler is is an attorney in in private practice he wishes to thank john W welch and rober... more blake T ostler is is an attorney in in private practice he wishes to thank john W welch and robert F E smith for comments on an earlier version of this paper distributed by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies he would also like to thank don norton for editing suggestions
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