Review of This Is My Doctrine Charles Harrell
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Written by BYU professor Charles Harrell, this sorely needed book examines the origins of LDS doctrine as we know it today. Information technology is not, of course, an exhaustive treatment of the subject field, which would require a whole series of books (and this one clocks in at just most 500 pages). However, it is a tremendous resource that is worth devouring straight through, simply will also prove an excellent juming-off
It's official, "This Is My Doctrine": The Development of Mormon Theology is required reading.Written by BYU professor Charles Harrell, this sorely needed book examines the origins of LDS doctrine as we know it today. It is not, of course, an exhaustive treatment of the subject, which would require a whole series of books (and this 1 clocks in at just almost 500 pages). However, it is a tremendous resource that is worth devouring direct through, only will also bear witness an excellent juming-off betoken for future reference and study (it's got adept indexes and a vast works cited section).
After an introductory essay––worth reading all on information technology's own––the volume proceeds, chapter by chapter, to tackle major doctrines (say, God the Male parent, or Priesthood) historically. That is, it addresses what beliefs were held in the Old Testament menstruation, New Attestation Christianity, 19th-Century Protestantism, then early and modern Mormonism, about each given subject. There are occasional subsections that examine, for instance, thought in the Nauvoo period, if doctrinal developments were specially significant during those years.
His scriptural exegesis may not have been quite as sophisticated every bit I would have liked, but, again, for a volume of this length, it likely wouldn't accept been viable to go much deeper. Too, Harrell is non a theologian (though he has published some articles in that arena) so he relies heavily on secondary sources in Biblical criticism. He uses them well, nonetheless, staying mainly in areas of broad consensus, and, where at that place is controversy, presenting a diversity of views.
The target audience seems to exist Joe Mormon, and so those familiar with scholarly work in this surface area may detect a footling likewise much "manus-holding," only you can't mistake him––I really hope this book finds its way into the hands of many, many Saints, so anything he can do to brand it accessible is a plus.
Most importantly, this volume helps readers to have the really vital step of shattering 1's idea of theology every bit God dictating perfect, uncomplicated, clear Truth, reducing prophets to secretaries. It reveals that it is a complicated, messy, sometimes contradictory process of serious minds wrestling with the big questions in terms of the texts they've inherited and the civilization they're swimming in.
Burn The Stick of Bruce, folks.* This book is the real bargain, and it belongs on every LDS bookshelf.
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*Actually, don't burn down Mormon Doctrine. It's no longer being printed and so may have some value every bit a collector's detail.
Instead it was more than of a debunking of Mormon interpretations of ancient scripture. The writer would quote a scripture from the Bible, explain the Mormon estimation of information technology, and and so try to bear witness how that interpretation was clearly incorrect. The Bib
Unfortunately this book wasn't most what I thought information technology would exist almost. It purports to exist a development of Mormon theology from Joseph Smith's time until our day. I wanted to larn how theology had changed due to social pressures or revelation (or both).Instead it was more of a debunking of Mormon interpretations of aboriginal scripture. The author would quote a scripture from the Bible, explain the Mormon estimation of it, and and so endeavor to prove how that interpretation was clearly wrong. The Bible, from the author's estimation, didn't take any end-fourth dimension prophecies at all. He alleges that all Biblical prophecies were meant merely for the contemporary civilization of the time and referred only to the near futurity.
And while I agree in some cases (I think all religions are guilty of interpreting scripture to mean whatever supports their doctrine) I plant that I didn't intendance much. The format for every paragraph was generally something like: "Person A (Mormon) says that Scripture Y means THIS. Still, Scholar B says that Scripture Y really means THAT." Then...nosotros can have 2 different interpretations of the same scripture. Unless someone manages to interview Isaiah or Daniel I recollect they'll have a hard time proving definitively which meaning was actually intended.
In that location was a little bit of theology development, and I institute these parts interesting. For example, when talking about Chore's "sons of God", Harrell notes that Parley P. Pratt said that scripture referred to resurrected beings from bygone worlds--the doctrine of a preexistence hadn't been introduced yet in LDS teachings when Pratt was speaking. In one case the Plan of Conservancy was more thoroughly understood, this scripture was interpreted differently. I call back this demonstrates the evolving nature of the church I attend: we don't merits (or shouldn't claim) to sympathise anything perfectly correct at present. In fact, one of the basic tenets of our religion is that we believe God "volition yet reveal many great and important things."
Although there were a few choice nuggets, this wasn't the right volume to explore church doctrine.
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First, Harrell'south heavy reliance on secondary literature was infuriating in almost every affiliate. He took nuanced subjects su
This is exactly why people who aren't fluent in Hebrew and Greek should not be writing scholarly books on Hebrew and Greek texts. As a Latter-Day Saint who is currently in the procedure of applying to graduate school in a related field, I was intrigued at the concept of This is My Doctrine. Having finished it, I am disappointed in its execution for a multiplicity of reasons.Get-go, Harrell's heavy reliance on secondary literature was infuriating in almost every chapter. He took nuanced subjects such as the Adam-God doctrine and Asherah equally Yhwh's consort, and stated an opinion as fact. Having spent a piddling time reading the dialog behind the latter subject field, I knew that at that place is scant prove for Harrell'southward argument, which was slightly infuriating. This kind of shoddy scholarship characterized the volume. The work really would have benefited had Harrell hired an undergrad fact checker.
I as well felt that Harrell often left his readers hanging. While the evolution of Mormon theology is a difficult subject to confront, conclusions are necessary. At that place weren't whatever. At the end of every chapter, let alone the book, I felt equally though I was left with data on the development of doctrines, but I was left to sort information technology out for myself. Aren't conclusions the point of writing?
The book is likewise a highly sensationalist slice. While it had useful information that needs to be addressed, information technology also popularized material that should have been more advisedly crafted into something that isn't laughable.
On a positive annotation, I personally feel that this is a topic that should exist addressed. It's incredibly interesting to piece together the different stages of doctrine's evolution. This is particularly true when we're looking at how other 19th century denominations viewed things similar Satan and the pre-existence. It gives the birth of the Mormon church a background, where I call back we sometimes treat it equally if it took place within a cultural vacuum. In the terminate, had the book been more advisedly researched, it would take been a blessing to the scholarly community.
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In the preface the author states, "The estimation of theological history presented herein is based primarily on critical scholarship and contextual assay, which sometimes lead to different conclusions than those found in traditional LDS narratives. My purpose in
This book is touted as a discussion of the development of Mormon theology. But equally I read information technology I got the distinct impression that, while it does deal with the development of Mormon theology, it was more a criticism of Mormon theology.In the preface the writer states, "The interpretation of theological history presented herein is based primarily on disquisitional scholarship and contextual analysis, which sometimes pb to different conclusions than those found in traditional LDS narratives. My purpose in calling attention to these differences is not to refute or disparage LDS beliefs, but rather to stimulate reflection on how the narratives promoting these behavior developed." As I read the volume information technology seemed to me that Harrell systematically presented many early on Mormon doctrines as essentially the same as contemporary Christian beliefs, suggesting that Joseph Smith was merely parroting what local Christians believed. He also presents the views of scholars as refuting Mormon interpretations of Biblical passages, leaving the impression that Mormon interpretations are naive and incorrect. So, even though information technology is not his purpose to abnegate or disparage LDS behavior, it seems to me his mode of presentation does but that in many cases. Information technology may be that I am overly sensitive about this, so I leave it to the reader of this review to read some of the text and draw your ain conclusions. Y'all can encounter some of the pages on Amazon by using their "Surprise me" link.
And then at this phase of my reading, I'm thinking the volume rates a 2 or at best a 3. And I'thou wondering why the author remains, as he says in the preface, "an agile Latter-24-hour interval Saint". He doesn't live too far from me and I was thinking I'd similar to meet him and enquire about that. Then I read the last chapter, his Epilogue, where he satisfactorily answers that very question and puts all that he wrote into perspective.
So, on balance, I actually similar the book. It will be challenging reading for whatever Mormon who believes in the infallibility of the Prophet, but it will be good for you reading for those who realize anybody, including prophets (aboriginal and modern), are fallible human beings struggling to practise their best to live a life worthy of the designation Christian.
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Harrell's thesis is that doctrine evolves. Non just in a "line upon line, precept upon precept" mode (which does ofttimes happen, as documented herein), merely in a dramatic "this is the new doctrine that totally contradicts the sometime doctrine" style. So,
What an ambitious book. For me, despite considering myself adequately well read in Mormon history, it contained surprising amount of new information and helped me connect the dots on a lot of issues that were but floating randomly in a doctrinal soap.Harrell's thesis is that doctrine evolves. Not just in a "line upon line, axiom upon precept" fashion (which does often happen, as documented herein), merely in a dramatic "this is the new doctrine that totally contradicts the old doctrine" fashion. So, complete reversals on doctrines. That's news to many Mormons who are told that doctrine doesn't change in whatsoever substantive way.
Of course, equally Harrell writes in his excellent preface, we're (ostensibly) a religion centered on the premise of farther revelation on "many corking and of import things". Buckle your seat chugalug if y'all've simply been paying lip service to this religion tenet.
Sometimes this tenet will challenge agreement of cadre foundational Mormon issues. For instance, while Harrell doesn't outright say it, the Book of Mormon neatly fits into the theological views Joseph Smith held in 1830 while curiously omitting after doctrinal developments. Other books of scripture do this as well. The First Vision does information technology. This will probable exist very unsettling for some Mormons to understand.
Ultimately, the volume is as well aggressive, though. It flows like an encyclopedia, by which I mean, not at all. It's jam-packed with refutations of prooftexts, which while very interesting and useful, wearisome downwards what lilliputian organic narrative there is. I really call back the prooftexts should've been moved to an appendix.
Also, sometimes the author delves deep into the weeds of the Former Attestation, which is conspicuously at the edges of his understanding, and I retrieve a more concise summary of these elements would've made for a stronger book.
Finally, WHERE IS A VISUAL TIMELINE OF THESE DOCTRINES? Surely the author created i while he was putting together the book. I am now obsessed with the notion of a visual timeline that neatly (to the extent possible, of course) lays out all the various doctrinal developments.
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There is a discussion early well-nigh several myths that be within the LDS church, including the myth of prophetic infallibility and the myth that church doctrine has always been the sa
An in depth discussion of the evolution of Mormon Teachings. This volume is the first half of a work that was split into ii volumes when published every bit an ebook. It is not written to persuade people about the truthfulness of LDS doctrine: rather, information technology is a scholarly word of how teachings have changed over time.There is a discussion early on most several myths that exist within the LDS church, including the myth of prophetic infallibility and the myth that church doctrine has always been the same. At that place is likewise extensive word of proof-texting, the do of using scripture to support a doctrine for which it was not originally intended.
Later on those introductory sections it gain to talk over the most very basic teachings of the LDS church building, comparing the diverse teachings and doctrines as taught by leaders of the church in different eras. While you might look these teachings to stay the same over time, they have changed in surprising ways. Critics of the church may bespeak to these changes as show of fault while others accept the changes of doctrine as a natural progression of knowledge. The author does not have a position on the truthfulness of the doctrine - in almost cases he states that information technology is left for a thing of faith for an individual to decide what they believe.
I personally establish the entire book to be very enlightening and enjoyable, merely I'm not sure how much wide entreatment it would have. Most LDS readers are more interested in an exposition on doctrine and will be more interested in works past full general authorities. In general I would recommend the start chapter that discusses myths and proof-texts to just about anyone. The remaining capacity were interesting to me, but may non be as worthwhile for others.
In the end, peradventure the most profound effect on me will be that I will be more hesitant in the future to assume that I understand what a passage of scripture is really supposed to mean, and more careful about interpreting things correctly. I think that is a skillful thing.
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The primary short-falling of this book is that it attempts to do and so much in simply under 600 pages, when each affiliate solitary is perhaps worthy of its own book.
Possibly my favorite function of the volume are the expansive subject and scripture indices at the end of the volume. With thousands of entries, the book is a powerful resource for rapidly looking up particular beliefs and scriptural passages.
As a alert though, this book may prove challenging to readers unprepared for a historical account of Mormon theology that often differs from the traditional narratives given, every bit well as differs from "official" and pop Mormon (and Christian) interpretation of scripture. While Harrell does a fair amount of hand-holding in the volume (which may be a scrap too much for those already introduced to Biblical criticism), it may exist a lot for some readers to handle. Withal, Harrell's insights and observations well-nigh Mormonism'southward rich theological history is a wonderful and enlightening read.
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This book was well worth my time and in the end, insightful and perspective-irresolute. ...more than
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