Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1093

“South Pacific”

    Our afternoon play was the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.   For some reason, notwithstanding even it several very famous songs, it’s never really been a favorite of mine.  I like it, but not that much.   It’s historically significant, though, for its direct, quite intentional, and maybe even somewhat heroic [Read More...]

What motivates scientists?

    The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful. . . .  Of course I do not  here speak of that beauty that strikes the senses . . . I mean that profounder beauty which [Read More...]

Of the universe, a possible multiverse, and, even, a bit about cosmic fine-tuning

    A helpful article from the Economist:   http://www.economist.com/news/science...   Posted from Cedar City, Utah    

Causes for apostasy from sporting events

    Helen Condon called my attention to the item above, from a Facebook site called The Cultural Hall.  I don’t know, otherwise, to whom I should give credit.   Posted from Cedar City, Utah    

Is the Church deceiving us by means of its art?

    I’ve seen this claim a lot over the years, and quite a bit, especially, in the past few weeks.   I understand where it’s coming from, but it seems to me misguided.   First of all, I would like to know who, exactly, “the Church” might be.   We don’t have a professional [Read More...]

Miley Cyrus denounces Taylor Swift for not being a good role model

      It would have been difficult to make this up.   And I assure you that I didn’t.   If you want to see the proof of that — please be warned that, predictably, coming as it does from every family’s first choice of role models, Miley Cyrus, it’s somewhat crude, unattractive, and raunchy [Read More...]

In which I endorse a presidential candidate

      I haven’t made up my mind about Donald Trump yet.   Perhaps, if he’ll just speak in more demagogic generalities, supply even fewer specific policy details and — most importantly — insult more people with crude, seemingly misogynistic and borderline racist remarks, I’ll endorse him.   I am, after all, reputedly a [Read More...]

“After nuke deal, European countries rush into Iran to sell tools of oppression”

    http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/08/...   A musical group called The Fifth Dimension sang prophetically about this back in 1969:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjxSC...    

“Mormonism Obsessed with Christ”

    I’ve written recently about the Catholic philosopher Stephen Webb, who was in Utah again just a few days ago for the FairMormon conference and the third birthday party of the Interpreter Foundation.   I’m not done writing about him, either, as will shortly be obvious.   In any event, with that in mind, [Read More...]

Have your religious views been declared acceptable by the State?

    If not, you’d better get with the program.   And the sooner the better — in case you need to adjust some of your theology.   http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/0...