Just heard Teryl Givens speak

[ChinoCoug]

DC temple visitors center

Said faith should inform your intellect, not replace it. Said you need to wait patiently, with faith, until all truth comes out.

Said that David Paulsen is the only FARMS guy to publish in a peer-reviewed journal (Harvard Theological Review). FARMS should start by examining BoM as a literary piece. That doesn't presuppose any historicity. Then branch out from there.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

DC temple visitors center

Said faith should inform your intellect, not replace it. Said you need to wait patiently, with faith, until all truth comes out.

Said that David Paulsen is the only FARMS guy to publish in a peer-reviewed journal (Harvard Theological Review). FARMS should start by examining BoM as a literary piece. That doesn't presuppose any historicity. Then branch out from there.

I like that Givens dude. He's on the ball.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

DC temple visitors center

Said faith should inform your intellect, not replace it. Said you need to wait patiently, with faith, until all truth comes out.

Said that David Paulsen is the only FARMS guy to publish in a peer-reviewed journal (Harvard Theological Review). FARMS should start by examining BoM as a literary piece. That doesn't presuppose any historicity. Then branch out from there.

Interesting. I agree on faith and intellect.

Paulsen does seem to be a cut above much of what FARMS usually cranks out. His Mormonism in Dialogue book turned out to be quite good.

I think there are possibilities in a literary approach. A Jewish friend of mine has pondered the value of distinct markers of "prophetic literature" or scripture. Plenty of people have already started down this path, but he is intrigued by connections between the prophetic and poetic.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

Interesting. I agree on faith and intellect.

Paulsen does seem to be a cut above much of what FARMS usually cranks out. His Mormonism in Dialogue book turned out to be quite good.

I think there are possibilities in a literary approach. A Jewish friend of mine has pondered the value of distinct markers of "prophetic literature" or scripture. Plenty of people have already started down this path, but he is intrigued by connections between the prophetic and poetic.

is there that much poetry in the BoM though? D&C would probably be a better place to start.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

is there that much poetry in the BoM though? D&C would probably be a better place to start.

Indeed. I'd have to bring up the subject with my friend. He has read the BoM, and mentioned things like the repetive use of "and it came to pass."

I suppose the "psalm of Nephi" would be one place to go.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

Indeed. I'd have to bring up the subject with my friend. He has read the BoM, and mentioned things like the repetive use of "and it came to pass."

I suppose the "psalm of Nephi" would be one place to go.

And sure enough, there is a little something:

http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=jbms&id=145

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

And sure enough, there is a little something:

http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=jbms&id=145

that's neat. but the bad news is, this has been tried before and wasn't peer-reviewed. the author is a librarian; maybe someone with more credibility can get the job done. Givens is good in taking the lead on this.

[CardiacCoug]

It seems to me that if you examine the Book of Mormon as a literary work you only have two choices regarding discussion of the context and origins of the book:

1. You presuppose its historicity and examine it as an ancient text, which would probably not be approved for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, OR

2. You examine it as a product of Joseph Smith in the context of America in the 19th century (e.g. comparing King Benjamin's speech with things Joseph heard at 19th century revival meetings), which would be publishable, but is something FARMS is not willing to do.

I guess the third option is to ignore the context and origins of the book, focusing purely on the text while remaining mute on the authorship, which must be what Givens is suggesting. That doesn't sound like a very easy task -- you would be ignoring the elephant in the room (the true authorship of the book).

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

aha! the bad news is, this wasn't published peer-review. the author is a librarian; maybe someone with more credibility can get the job done. Givens is good in taking the lead on this.

Barbara Gordon is on her way to your house to kick your ass as we speak.