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Best of FAIR, Episode 2: Humble Apologetics

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In this 2008 FAIR Conference address, Daniel C. Peterson says “there is a tendency on the part of a lot of apologists, if we don’t know everything, to at least pretend that we do.” However, we often do not have a clear answer for everything. God sometimes deliberately withholds things from us to allow us freedom.

Daniel Peterson is the author of many books and articles, including Offenders for a Word, which is available, along with other talks by Brother Peterson, at the FAIR Bookstore.

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FAIR Issues, Episode 2: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 2

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Is it a sin to have doubts? What if we hold some beliefs that are out of line with the views of most members of the Church? Michael Ash raises these questions in this episode of FAIR Issues. The full text of this episode can be found at Mormon Times. Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore.

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FAIR Issues, Episode 1: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 1

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FAIR Issues is a program on the FAIR-Cast that will feature a brief look at an issue in the world of apologetics. In this, the first episode of FAIR Issues, Michael Ash asks why some people leave the Church. The full text of this episode can be found at http://www.mormontimes.com/article/9758/Challenging-issues-and-keeping-the-faith-Part-1. Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore: http://bookstore.fairlds.org/manufacturer.php?id_manufacturer=4.

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Best of FAIR, Episode 1: Apologetics 101

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The “Best of FAIR” episodes of the FAIR-Cast will feature recordings of various FAIR Conference presentations. In this 2006 FAIR Conference address, Wayne Arnett discusses apologetics and what it means to be an “apologist.” He says: “An apologist is one who defends or justifies a doctrine, policy or institution.” The missionaries of our church, in one sense, are apologists as they seek to teach the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In this regard, all members of the Church ought to be apologists. As Joseph Fielding Smith said: “Every member of the Church ought to know that it [the Book of Mormon] is true, and we ought to be prepared with an answer to all of those critics who condemn it.”

The text of this address is available here. Brother Arnett’s pamphlet, “Defending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, A Reference Guide,” can be purchased at the FAIR Bookstore.

FAIR Podcast, Episode 8: Brian M. Hauglid p.2

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Brian M. Hauglid discusses more about his brand new book, A Textual History of the Book of Abraham in part two.

The papyri Joseph Smith used when he translated the BoA went missing for decades, but were reacquired by the LDS Church in 1967. The papyri were quickly swept up in a tornado of research. In this episode Professor Hauglid talks about criticisms and controversies surrounding the Book of Abraham. Hauglid also describes how the BoA became part of the LDS canon. In addition to some of Hauglid’s favorite devotional bits of the text, he discusses a few interesting ancient parallels.

Cosmology, astronomy, ancient parallels, parallelomania, and Doritos. All these things and more in this episode of the FAIR Podcast.

Incidentally, the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship currently provides the chapters from Hauglid’s Astronomy, Papyrus, and Covenant online for free. Check them out here. Folks interested in learning more about the Book of Abraham might be interested to start there. A review of Hauglid’s new book is available here.

Hauglid received a BA in Near Eastern Studies from Brigham Young University and an MA and PhD from the University of Utah in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He is currently an associate professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU. Along with John Gee, Hauglid is both principal investigator and general editor of the Studies in the Book of Abraham Series.

Questions or comments about this episode can be sent to [email protected]. Or, join the conversation in the comments here at fairblog.org.

Runtime:

55:53

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FAIR Podcast, Episode 7: Brian M. Hauglid p.1

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Brian M. Hauglid joins us in this two-part episode of the FAIR Podcast to discuss his brand new book, A Textual History of the Book of Abraham. He received a BA in Near Eastern Studies from Brigham Young University and an MA and PhD from the University of Utah in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He is currently an associate professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU. Along with John Gee, Hauglid is both principal investigator and general editor of the Studies in the Book of Abraham Series.

The Book of Abraham seems like one of the most difficult subjects to get an academic grip on in Mormon studies. Brian Hauglid tries to untangle some of the knots while situating his new book within the ongoing conversation about the Book of Abraham. Listeners might also be interested to check out the 2004 FAIR Conference presentation by Michael Ash and Kevin Barney, “The ABCs of the Book of Abraham” on youtube.

Questions or comments about this episode can be sent to [email protected]. Or, join the conversation in the comments here at fairblog.org.

Runtime:

50:15

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FAIR Podcast, Episode 6: John Durham Peters p.2

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Just in time for Thanksgiving, here’s part two of my interview with John Durham Peters, the A. Craig Baird Professor in communication studies at the University of Iowa. Peters joined me through Skype from his home in Iowa for this two-part episode on Mormonism and Communication (see part 1 here). A bibliography of Peters’s works directly relating to Mormonism is available at lifeongoldplates.com. Articles and mp3s are available for free download.

We cover a lot of ground in part two,  beginning with a discussion about John’s book Courting the Abyss: Free Speech and the Liberal Tradition. Peters talks about Paul’s milk and meat distinction and the liberal tradition of truth grappling with error. Other topics range from the idea of civility in political discourse to the “guts” of the atonement. Peters also explains why he situates mercy at the very heart of his theory of communication. All this and more, in the final part of my interview with John Durham Peters. Email questions, comments, and suggestions to “podcast (at) fairlds.org.”

Runtime:

41:56

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FAIR Podcast, Episode 4: Richard L. Bushman p.2

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In part two, Richard Bushman discusses challenges facing Mormon graduate students, his latest book “Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction,” and other subjects including temples, the LDS sacraments, Mormon cosmology, and Zion. Bushman is an award-winning American historian, currently serving as the Howard W. Hunter Visiting Professor in Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University and Gouverneur Morris Professor of History emeritus at Columbia University. He is also a general editor of the ongoing Joseph Smith Papers project.

Runtime:

47:51

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FAIR Podcast now available on iTunes!

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The FAIR Podcast is now available for free download at iTunes. Check out the first two episodes, featuring Gregory L. Smith and Terryl L. Givens, respectively. Later this week part one of a special two-part episode featuring historian Richard L. Bushman will be published. As you can see, one important criterion for our podcast interviewees has been the middle initial of “L.”

Questions about these episodes and ideas for participants in future episodes can be emailed to [email protected].

FAIR relies on contributions from readers and listeners. To help support FAIR, make a donation today.