Apologetics | Sacred Symbolic

Ignorance of Christ, Ignorance of Gospel Scholarship

Posted on: 31-01-2012

Category : Apologetics, Faith, Jesus Christ, Knowledge, Scriptures

Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus

I posted the following today on Facebook & Google Plus. But because Facebook won’t allow people to reshare a post, I’ve decided to post it here, so people can reshare it, and hopefully to get the message outside of my circles of friends & followers.

I’m saddened & troubled today by ignorance.

On the one hand the ignorance and un-Christian attitudes of some members of my LDS faith troubles me deeply. If people leave our Church, are gay, or otherwise live in a way we don’t believe is right, we should still treat them with complete respect and love. It’s what Christ would want us to do.

On the other hand, I’m saddened by the ignorance that seems to surround Mormon scholarship. This recent article, written by somebody who left the Church states “While many faiths’ irrational claims are obscured by centuries of myth and rubble, the LDS church lacks the moderation and scholarship of its older peers.” This is simply untrue! When it comes to historical research, apologetics, etc, Mormons are at the very top.

FAIR Conference: Apologetics, Kirtland Papers, More

Posted on: 07-08-2010

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Category : Apologetics, Church History, Joseph Smith, Scriptures

The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR – fairlds.org) held a conference Thurs., and Fri., in Sandy, UT. They had an impressive lineup of speakers. Some that were previously unknown to me, but gave as powerful—or more powerful—presentations than those that were known to me.

All in all, it was a great conference and held many amazing insights and explanations. For me it was a powerful spiritual boost and increased my desire to improve in various ways including studying the gospel with more focus and dedication. I also found it very accessible. Some might think I’m something of a scholar because of this blog, but that’s not the case, I’m nowhere near the level of scholarship that many of these presenters are. Yet most seemed very accessible, even to those who don’t study the kinds of subjects they spoke of, on a regular basis. I’d like to share notes and some links from the conference.

Why Apologetics?

Before you stop reading because you don’t like apologetics, you should read some of my notes from Daniel C. Peterson’s closing presentation on Friday:

Faith Before Evidence

Posted on: 13-06-2010

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Category : Allegory & Parable, Apologetics

Apple seeds

Jesus said, “Faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe” (D&C 63:9). In short: believe first, then see the sign.

Many who don’t believe in God claim that there is no evidence of him. But if what Jesus said is true, they’ll never find this evidence until they believe.

I’m holding an apple seed in my hand. It came from inside an apple.

If you take this seed and plant it in the ground, and if you nurture it for a long time, years perhaps, with water and sunlight, then it will produce apples. Real apples, with seeds in them like this one I’m holding. But it’s a long process.

A sign seeker is one who picks up the seed and says, “If you show me an apple from this seed, THEN I’ll know it works, and THEN I’ll make the effort to help it grow into a producing apple tree. I will be completely willing to do what it takes. But just show me an apple from this seed first.”

In the real world, nobody would ever ask to see the apple before the seed. It goes contrary to logic.

Maybe that’s why God responds this way when people expect that from him. He said, “Signs come by faith, unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleaseth God; …wherefore, unto such he showeth no signs, only in wrath unto their condemnation” (D&C 63:11).

An apple really can grow from this seed. But there’s only one way to find evidence of this.