Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 272

Why I object to the word “homophobia” (conclusion)

    The term homophobia is modeled upon familar predecessors such as agoraphobia, acrophobia, arachnophobia, and claustrophobia.   I’ll take them in turn:   The word agoraphobia is from the Greek ἀγορά (agorā́), which refers to a “public square,” a “public space,” or a “market,” and φοβία (phobía), which means “fear.”  It denotes an extreme, irrational […]

Why I object to the word “homophobia” (introduction)

    Responding to one of my recent posts on the general issue of BYU and homosexuals, a critic used the word homophobia to characterize those of us who don’t share his views.   I replied that homophobia is “a nonsense word.”   Now, why would I say such a thing?   I knew when […]

20 March 2020

    I recently received a note from Lucy Goodman, a former student in my class on the Humanities of Islam.  Still a university student, she is also currently the Operations Coordinator for Camp Kesem in Utah Valley, which she explains below.  I post this selection from her note with her permission:   Outside of […]

Geology and Third Nephi (11): Cities Burned, Buried, and Drowned (Part Three)

    I’m still going, still posting notes principally drawn from an article that was written by my longtime friend Bart Kowallis about the natural cataclysm described in the Book of Mormon as having occurred in the New World at the death of Christ:  Bart J. Kowallis, “In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologist’s […]

“The Character and Knowledge of Mary, the Mother of Christ”

      A new article has appeared — surprise! — in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship.  It’s by A. Keith Thompson:   “The Character and Knowledge of Mary, the Mother of Christ” Abstract: The Virgin Mary is arguably the archetype of the virtuous woman and even the divine feminine on earth, […]

“Remain faithful to the end, and everything will be all right.”

    Here is a file that has newly been posted on the website of the Interpreter Foundation:   Interpreter Radio Show — March 1, 2020 The 1 March 2020 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show — edited to remove commercial breaks — has been archived and is now available at no charge for your […]

On a current controversy involving BYU (2)

    Continuing from the immediately previous blog entry:   6.  The announcement of the revision of the Honor Code was not well handled.  It left many people in a state of perplexity and uncertainty. 7.  It’s understandable that some concluded that public expressions of same-sex attraction would now be welcomed on the BYU campus. […]

On a current controversy involving BYU (1)

    Several have urged me to comment on the Honor Code revisions at Brigham Young University with regard to homosexuality, and I suppose it’s time that I say at least something.  Herewith, therefore, several propositions.  They are neither exhaustive nor systematic, and I offer them here in no particular order:    Although this topic […]

Do I ever do anything Islamic?

    I sometimes need to remind a few of my critics that I’m paid to profess Arabic and Islamic studies, not to do apologetics.  That’s always been the case, and it remains so still today.   For instance, I have just, within the past few minutes, finished grading a stack of student papers from […]

Orson F. Whitney’s Dream-Vision of the Savior

    Two new items went up on the website of the Interpreter Foundation today:   “Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Orson F. Whitney’s Dream-Vision of the Savior (Part Twelve of a Series Compiled by Dennis B. Horne)”   “Spiritual Anxiety,” with Debra Theobald McClendon About the Interview: In this episode of Latter-day Saint Perspectives, […]