Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1144

On not taking certain critics seriously

    I don’t know anything about Cara Lynn Shultz.  But she seems to have some of the same anonymous critics that I do:   “It’s hard to take someone seriously when they leave you a note saying, ‘Your ugly.’ My ugly what? The idiot didn’t even know the difference between your and you’re.” Cara [Read More...]

“Islam’s Improbable Reformer”

    A really interesting Wall Street Journal interview with President al-Sisi of Egypt:   http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-weeke...   Posted from Langley, British Columbia  

Are 12-Step programs effective tools for fighting addiction?

    The most famous twelve-step program, of course, is that of Alcoholics Anonymous.   Some of my readers will be aware of the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has adopted a modified form of such a twelve-step program for combating all sorts of addictions.   When I was a bishop, [Read More...]

“Same-sex marriage and missing churches”

    Here’s a brief but thought-provoking look at some intriguing data:   http://juicyecumenism.com/2015/03/20/...   It reminds me of a famous book from many years ago by Dean M. Kelley:  Why Conservative Churches are Growing.   Posted from Langley, British Columbia  

How this Mormon got over childhood sex abuse

    https://jpbottema.wordpress.com/2015/...   One correction, though:  As far as I’m aware, Elder Busche is still very much alive.  (His autobiography, by the way, is superb:  Yearning for the Living God.)   Posted from Langley, British Columbia    

A report from Vancouver

    I spoke early this afternoon at the New Westminster campus of Douglas College, on “Islam, ISIS, and the Media.”  Good audience, excellent questions.   In the evening, we went to dinner with our hosts and another couple at The Teahouse in Stanley Park.  My wife ordered the Pacific Roasted Sablefish, I ordered the [Read More...]

Grammar and clear thinking

    I actually tend to agree with this:   “People who cannot distinguish between good and bad language, or who regard the distinction as unimportant, are unlikely to think carefully about anything else.” B. R. Myers    Posted from Langley, British Columbia    

“Place of Crushing: The Literary Function of Heshlon in Ether 13:25-31″

    I’m a bit late in posting this link because I’ve been out lecturing, well away from my computer.  But it’s Friday, so you surely should have known that a new article was coming from Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/plac...   Posted from Langley, British Columbia    

“Lure of the Caliphate”

    Malise Ruthven published this lucid and insightful article — only slightly marred by one obligatory gratuitous jibe at George W. Bush — in the New York Review of Books back at the end of February:   http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/...   I recommend it.   Posted from Langley, British Columbia    

“What Mormons should know about NBC’s new television series ‘A.D.’”

    I’m hoping to watch this:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...   Posted from Langley, British Columbia