====================================================================== THE FAIR JOURNAL October 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Apologetics: The branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000.) INSIDE THE JOURNAL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT. Scott Gordon comments on Califonia's Proposition 8, which deals with the issue of same sex marriage. * FAIR FUNDRAISING. If you would like to help FAIR in its work to provide "well-documented answers to criticisms of LDS (Mormon) doctrine, belief and practice," we encourage you to contribute through the FAIR web site. * NEW ON THE WEBSITE: FAIR has added responses to additional sections of the "DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography" DVD. * NEW ON THE WEBSITE: "Mormon's Editorial Method and Meta-Message." Brant Gardner's 2008 FAIR Conference presentation is now available on the FAIR website. * RESOURCES ON THE WEB: "A letter to a friend: Joseph Smith polygamy." J. Stapley blogged on helping people understand difficult historical issues. * ASK THE APOLOGIST. Got a question you are dying to ask? Here's how. * FAIR TOPICAL GUIDE. The Topical Guide on the FAIR Web site is one of the most popular resources offered. Learn what is available and help us expand our references. * FAIR WIKI. The FAIR Wiki is an excellent resource for someone looking for a summary of an issue and for pointers to more detailed information. Links to many new and changed articles are included in this issue. * FAIR YOUTUBE VIDEOS. FAIR has had a presence on youtube.com for several months and new video clips are added frequently. * FAIR LDS BOOKSTORE. Check out the FAIR Bookstore's monthly specials. * ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS. Interested in writing for FAIR? Learn how you can have your apologetics work published. * PUBLISHING NOTES. Learn how you can become more involved in FAIR and how you can reuse the material we publish. * FAIR JOURNAL ARCHIVES. All of the FAIR Journal issues since October 2001 are on the FAIR web site. [Read more...] about The FAIR Journal — October 2008
Helping Those Struggling with Anti-Mormonism
When some members think of anti-Mormonism, immediately they have an image pop into their minds of the Evangelical preacher standing outside the convention center with the bullhorn screaming that Mormons are members of an evil cult. Typically the arguments that come to mind have to do with either the Bible (FAIR only had one question on it this year) or the tension-state between faith and works (also only one question this year). For most members, those issues have been discussed and debated over many generations of anti-Mormons, and members typically dismiss them with a wave of the hand. And if those were the only issues that people dealt with, we probably wouldn’t need an organization like FAIR.
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The FAIR Journal: July 2008
====================================================================== THE FAIR JOURNAL July 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Apologetics: The branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000.) INSIDE THE JOURNAL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT. The 2008 FAIR Annual Conference is only a week away, and this year FAIR plans to offer streaming audio access for most of the Conference. * FAIR FUNDRAISING. If you would like to help FAIR in its work to provide "well-documented answers to criticisms of LDS (Mormon) doctrine, belief and practice," we encourage you to contribute through the FAIR web site. * NEW ON THE WEBSITE: Michael Ash has written a new article dealing with anti-Mormon argument pertaining to horses being mentioned in the Book of Mormon. * RESOURCES ON THE WEB: Meridian Magazine published an article by John Tvedtnes that discusses non-LDS scholars' use of the Book of Mormon. * RESOURCES ON THE WEB: Meridian Magazine published a summary of the FAIR resources relating to suicide rates in Utah and the critics' use of in attacking The Church of Jesus Christ. * RESOURCES ON THE WEB: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has created a new web site to respond to questions about polygamy. * RESOURCES ON THE WEB: Biology professor Steven Peck blogs on why the Lamanite DNA issue is irrelevant to the Book of Mormon claims. * ASK THE APOLOGIST. Got a question you are dying to ask? Here's how. * FAIR TOPICAL GUIDE. The Topical Guide on the FAIR Web site is one of the most popular resources offered. Learn what is available and help us expand our references. * FAIR WIKI. The FAIR Wiki is an excellent resource for someone looking for a summary of an issue and for pointers to more detailed information. Links to many new and changed articles are included in this issue. * FAIR YOUTUBE VIDEOS. FAIR has had a presence on youtube.com for several months and new video clips are added frequently. * FAIR LDS BOOKSTORE. Visit the FAIR Bookstore at the FAIR Conference to build your apologetic library. * ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS. Interested in writing for FAIR? Learn how you can have your apologetics work published. * PUBLISHING NOTES. Learn how you can become more involved in FAIR and how you can reuse the material we publish. * FAIR JOURNAL ARCHIVES. All of the FAIR Journal issues since October 2001 are on the FAIR web site.
Struggling with Questions of History or Doctrine
I gave a short talk recently, and it was suggested that I post it up here for others to read. I borrowed some of the information in the talk from a past president’s message I gave in the FAIR Journal. But, I still hope you find it valuable. Here it is:
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President’s Message: The Mormon Problem with Honesty
In the various articles, blogs, and comments related to Mitt Romney’s Mormonism, the Mormon honesty problem has come up. “Why didn’t Mitt Romney talk about what Mormons really believe?” asked one writer. “Mormons feel it is okay to lie about their beliefs,” stated a radio caller.
So do Mormons lie about their beliefs?
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