Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 979

“How Islamic Law Can Take On ISIS”

    I failed to note this article, from roughly six weeks ago, written by a Muslim thinker whom I’ve admired since I first heard him speak back around 1983:   http://theconversation.com/how-islami...   I think that this is the way Muslims need to move forward and to defeat the obscurantists and extremists in their midst.   [Read More...]

“The Story Behind the Revelations: Using the Joseph Smith Papers to Better Understand the Doctrine and Covenants”

    At the August 2014 FairMormon conference, historians Matthew C. Godfrey and Matthew J. Grow (both of whom work for the Church History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; see their biographies here) illustrated ways in which the ongoing Joseph Smith Papers project sheds light on the setting, origin, text, and [Read More...]

BOM 1 Nephi 5

    Of the many things that could be said about 1 Nephi 5, I choose to focus, today at least, on up and down.   In 1 Nephi 5:1, Nephi and his brothers come “down” from Jerusalem to the “wilderness” where his parents, Lehi and Sariah, anxiously await their return.  (Cf. 1 Nephi 5:5.)   In 1 Nephi [Read More...]

“You are immoral if you eat fish!”

    C. S. Lewis once predicted that the day would eventually come when we would be ethically permitted to eat only cabbage — but, even then, only if the cabbage had been certified to have died a natural death.   That day may be almost at hand:   http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/...    

Christmas with the Queen

      It’s a tad late, but I enjoyed listening to the very Christian 2015 Christmas message from Queen Elizabeth II, who will turn 90 on 21 April 2016:   https://www.facebook.com/TELEGRAPH.CO...   Thanks to Anne Palmieri and Charles Steinman for alerting me to it.    

Three quotations on faith

    “Faith means belief in something concerning which doubt is theoretically possible.”  (William James) “Faith certainly tells us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what they see; it is above, not against them.”  (Blaise Pascal) “Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” (D. Elton Trueblood)    

“Why Carly Fiorina will likely be the Republican VP nominee”

      I’m inclined to agree with this prediction — “likely,” not “certain” — and I won’t be particularly unhappy if it proves correct:   http://fortune.com/2015/09/18/carly-f...   Posted from Cincinnati, Ohio  

Time is running out!

    Just a reminder that the year is almost over, and that only 2-3 days remain for tax-exempt charitable donations.  Under the tax laws of the United States, anyway.   I mention, again, three of my personal favorites — besides the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints itself, including its humanitarian efforts, the [Read More...]

Yet another reason to disapprove of Donald Trump

    As if more were needed!   http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/...   I’m looking across the Potomac River right now at the dome of the Capitol Building.  Out of sight to its left is the White House.  I don’t want to see Donald Trump taking up residence there.   I don’t expect that he will.  It’s not [Read More...]

“The Palestinians Descend Deeper Into Depravity”

    http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/...   I part company with many of my Israeli and pro-Israeli friends in my judgment that the Palestinians have very legitimate grievances against Israel.   I part company with all too many of my Palestinian and pro-Palestinian friends in judging that Palestinian responses have, in far too many cases, been immoral, extreme, indefensible, and [Read More...]