An Important Step

books:


	• Mormonism in Dialogue with Contemporary Christian Theologies Mercer University Press, 2007 - 562 pages average customer review:based on 1 review view larger image
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An Important Step

From an LDS perspective, this book represents a critical step in what is now being called the "Golden Age" of Mormonism in academia. The idea is old: Mormons and Christians writing in dialogue. The approach, however, is really the first of its kind: serious, real theology. I emphasize "real" because it may come as a shock to many LDS readers that they have never read or ever even been exposed to theology--a systematic/philosophical/reasoned approach to religious beliefs. Mormon doctrine, instead, entirely depends on revelation, not necessarily dogmatically, but mostly without any philosophic scrutiny. Ask Mormons why they believe what they believe and their answers will cite revelation, both personal revelation and revelation for the Church as a whole. This, of course, is a great source of pride to Mormons--as it should be--but is of little help in an academic or theological setting. Indeed, Mormons tend to think of theology as nothing more than "hard doctrine," where "hard" is synonymous with "obscure." BYU itself is a telling example: The two religious departments are Ancient Scripture and Church History and Doctrine. Even the more difficult authors like Nibley, Talmage, et al. lean closer to being historians or scriptorians than theologians.

But sitting in the Richard L. Evans chair (previously held by the Church's other foremost theologian, Truman G. Madsen) Dr. David Paulsen has been one of the quiet few working on theology. For years he has been building relationships via The Harvard Theological Review and Faith and Philosophy and Clark Pinnock and Donald Musser and other important publications and thinkers. And this book is in large part a huge reflection of his lifelong work on these fronts. The Christian theologians represented here are truly an all-star cast: Rosemary Radford Reuther, Clark Pinnock, David Tracy, Dwight Hopkins, Donald McKim, Dennis McCann, and on and on. The fact that so many have volunteered to work on this compilation (which is anything but meager at 500+ pages) is a true testament to the success of his work and the progress that Mormons have made in academia.

The book itself is excellent. I've labeled this review "An Important Step" because hopefully many Mormons will read it and understand just what theology is and just how we can and do relate to other theologies. And, importantly, how a reasoned analysis of LDS doctrine can enhance our beliefs and our understanding of them--even in areas where Mormons run short on revelation (Tellingly, most LDS authors start by pointing out there is barely such a thing as "Mormon theology"). But for anyone reading the book there is a great deal to learn. I've already alluded to the high quality of the thinkers writing each dialogue: Feminist Theology, Black Theology, Hermeneutics, the Theologies of Barth, Neibuhr, and Tillich, and more. Politely and accurately each author shares with his Mormon counterpart (and visa versa) where there is disagreement, where there is agreement, where a bridge can be built, and where there probably won't be one for a while. For anyone who wants a true survey of the prominent theologies, and of how Mormonism stacks up, this is a great book.

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