Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1071

New Testament 254

    Matthew 19:16-22 Mark 10:17-22 Luke 18:18-23   1.   Jesus’ humble unwillingness to pronounce himself “good” while he was still in mortality, his mission not yet completed, is mirrored in the distinction between his statement recorded in Matthew 5:48, spoken before his crucifixion, and the quotation from him given in 3 Nephi 12:48, which was spoken [Read More...]

“Millennials have low opinion of themselves, compared to boomers”

    Do you agree?  Do you see yourself in the data?  Do you recognize your parents or your kids?   http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/s...    

New proposed nanny-state regulation on soft drinks in New York

    I’ve heard leftists argue passionately that presentation of an ID shouldn’t be required to vote, and that parental consent absolutely shouldn’t be required before giving birth control pills to teenagers.   But now a state legislator in New York is proposing that children under eighteen shouldn’t be permitted to purchase Big Gulps without parental approval: [Read More...]

New Testament 253

    Matthew 19:13-15 Mark 10:13-16 Luke 18:15-17 Compare Matthew 18:3; John 3:3, 5   It’s extremely difficult for me to imagine that the Person depicted in these verses, holding the attitudes toward little children that are revealed in this episode, could also (as some Christian denominations have held) have ordained that infants and children, if [Read More...]

From CNN: “Does Islam promote violence?”

    Thanks to Amelia Reynolds Kynaston for calling my attention to this entertaining exchange:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwdhi...   I don’t know that I agree quite entirely with Reza Aslan — I think it pretty obvious that, while there are violent Buddhists as well as Muslims, Islamic texts can be read to offer much more plain support, aid, [Read More...]

“‘He became man that we might be made divine’”

    This week’s Thursday column for the Deseret News is now up:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...   And the usual suspects have already begun to post their rather predictable reactions.   Situation normal.    

Mutual Mormon-Jewish Aid in Orange County, California

    I really like this story, which Bianca Lisonbee has brought to my attention:   http://www.ocregister.com/articles/co...    

New Testament 252

    Matthew 19:3-12 Mark 10:2-12 Compare Matthew 5:31-32; Luke 16:18   These are tough passages.  It’s absolutely clear, though, that God’s design is for marriages to endure.   Moses permitted divorce, but as a concession to human weakness, not as something with divine approval.   Compare this statement (a hadith, as they’re known) from [Read More...]

Brigham Young on young-earth creationism

    “The origin of life, whether human or inferior, must be lodged in some character whom I have not seen! Follow it back, no matter whether it be for six thousand years, six millions, six million millions, or billions of years, the figures and numbers are immaterial, I must have come from some source; [Read More...]

On faith

    “Faith is a necessity to a man. Woe to him who believes in nothing.”  (Victor Hugo)