The Theological Foundations of the Mormon Religion: And, the Philosophical Foundations of Mormon Theology (Signature Mormon Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Hands down the best book on LDS Theology
Review: Sterling is comprehensive in his introductory comparisons of LDS theology to the history of philosophical theology in the West. This book explores the important inovations and contributions LDS theology makes to the larger framework of Christian theology. The book is a bit technical for those with no background in philosophy or theology, but perfect for the student of these subjects who wants to understand LDS philosophical perspectives. Included is an excellent appendix on the LDS concept of God.

Rating:
Summary: Hmm . . . A nice technical book, but does it REALLY suceed?
Review: There are two branches of Latter-day Saint theology: The Technical and the Prophetic. The Technical theologians focus on man's eternal identity, tend to accept evolution, tend to be politically liberal, and explain the theology in philosophical terms. The Prophetic focus on the scriptures, the pedestrian duties of the church, repentance, are politically conservative, and speak with a prophetic, pastoral voice. Actors on the one stage are Sterling McMurrin, Orson Pratt, Elder B. H. Roberts, Elder John A. Widtsoe, and Dr. Truman Madsen; on the other stage are Presidents Joseph F. Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith and Ezra Taft Benson, and Elders Boyd K. Packer and Bruce R. McConkie, and the bulk of the 12 million members of the Church.

This book follows this general pattern or template of trying to describe the Latter-day Saint theology in terms of philosophy. Granted, I am glad that someone is trying to make sense of such a complex and texturous religion. But in describing or explaining the religion in these philosophical terms, he distorts the message. Frankly, the Church of Jesus Christ possesses a uniqueness that defies any categorization. It is a pure quiddity!

Examples:

MIRACLES: "From the perspective of God there are no miracles." (p. 2). The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (LDS scripture) makes a large point about there being miracles (Moroni 10:24-26), and Elder McConkie, one of the Twelve Apostles, wrote, "In the ultimate sense, all that God does is a miracle."

PELAGIUS: "Indeed . . . Mormonism is essentially Pelagian in its theology." (p.82) I have read every published discourse of Joseph Smith, was born in the covenant, raised an active member, served a mission, and graduated from BYU, and it wasn't until my last semester of college, in an elective class that I heard of Pelagius. I have never heard any of the current Authorities of the Church use the word "Pelagius." I had to explain the word to my brother! So everyone in the Church is missing the essence?

FILTERED PROPHET: Another mistake, and this is a common one among many people, is that McMurrin is not using Joseph Smith, but Joseph Smith filtered through B. H. Roberts. In his discussion of "Intelligences" on page 108, he alludes to Joseph Smith, but the text he quotes is Robert's text. Several leaders, such a Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie have understood Joseph Smith's ideas differently, but McMurrin does not acknowledge that.

I appreciate the endeavor, but in using "traditional philosophical terminology," such as the platonic "being and becoming" (p. 11-13), he assumes that Joseph Smith's ideas would fit into Platonic assumptions. If the piece won't fit into the puzzle, reshape it. Then it is no longer the same piece. That is the hazard of trying to "translate" or "transpose" the theology into educraticeese, the message is garbled, and ultimately betrayed.

Rating:
Summary: Good philosophical discussion of Mormon beliefs.
Review: This book takes various beliefs of the LDS church such as God, Salvation, the relationship between God and man and argues for LDS beliefs using philosophy and logic. The book also discusses how early Christianity was corrupted by Pagan Greek Platonic philosophy, as the early fathers attempted to make Christianity more understandable and palatable to Pagans. The book is rather deep and involved. If you don't like philosophy or enjoy light reading, i.e. Tom Clancy, then this book is probably not for you.