Katzpur Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 A Buddhist friend recently said to me, "I suppose I would really like one book (not one of the several Mormon scriptures) that is comprehensive in explaining the theology of LDS." Any suggestions for me to give him?
maklelan Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 I'm told the new one, This Is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology, is pretty good (although it's an analysis and not a reference work).
Nevo Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 A Buddhist friend recently said to me, "I suppose I would really like one book (not one of the several Mormon scriptures) that is comprehensive in explaining the theology of LDS." Any suggestions for me to give him?How long can your friend wait?Terryl Givens is writing it now.
Calm Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 Have him back up any study with the Gospel Principles manual so he knows just how limited someone's theology can be and still be fully devout in belief, etc.
kolipoki09 Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 A Buddhist friend recently said to me, "I suppose I would really like one book (not one of the several Mormon scriptures) that is comprehensive in explaining the theology of LDS." Any suggestions for me to give him?One book? I'd suggest anything from the Exploring Mormon Thought series by Blake Ostler.
KevinG Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 The God-Makers. That should rattle his cage. Seriously I like Gospel Principles. Give him a Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price and tell him its for reference when reading the other book!
Katzpur Posted December 7, 2011 Author Posted December 7, 2011 I'll check these recommendations out (minus The God-Makers). Does anyone know when Givens' book is going to be available? Thanks!
volgadon Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 "We Believe" presents a lot of GA quotes on various topics.
Honorentheos Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 I apologize for intruding, but I'm curious why s/he, as a Buddhist, would not be interested in the scripture of the Book of Mormon? And why it wouldn't be the first suggestion despite his request for a non-scriptural book?I was reminded of the story from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones of a Buddhist master who exclaimed, following a disciple reading him passages from the New Testament and the Beattitudes - "The man who said this is not far from enlightenment!"In thinking about which LDS authority I feel most closely embodies the spirituality and views of Buddhism, I kept coming back to Neal A. Maxwell. There is something in his focus on discipleship and what it meant that I think might appeal. But I'm not sure that he wrote anything that specifically meets the OP's needs.
Calm Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 "Signs Enough" by Dr. James LymanI can find nothing about this book online, perhaps you would supply some detail?
Robert F. Smith Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 I can find nothing about this book online, perhaps you would supply some detail?I haven't seen it, but the vague details are:Lyman, James H., Signs Enough: Man’s Search for God (DC Five Publ., 2008).
silvermoon383 Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 Why not the old favorite: A Marvelous Work and A Wonder from Elder LeGrand Richards? They were missionary discussions once upon a time. 1
Robert F. Smith Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 (edited) I'll check these recommendations out (minus The God-Makers). Does anyone know when Givens' book is going to be available? Thanks!It doesn't appear to be available yet, but for a start I would recommend that your Bhuddist friend go to his local university library and have a look at the article by Terryl Givens, “Latter-day Saints, Church of Jesus Christ of, and its Theology,” in the Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity, ed. Daniel Patte (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010). This will give him a reliable intro.I haven't seen Charles R. Harrell, “This is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology (SLC: Kofford Books,2011), but that might give him more substance before he moves on to the more serious multi-volume Blake Ostler treatment.Givens is apparently coauthoring A History of Mormon Theology with Steven Harper, but no telling when that will be completed. Edited December 7, 2011 by Robert F. Smith
Emerson Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 (edited) It doesn't appear to be available yet, but for a start I would recommend that your Bhuddist friend go to his local university library and have a look at the article by Terryl Givens, “Latter-day Saints, Church of Jesus Christ of, and its Theology,” in the Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity, ed. Daniel Patte (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010). This will give him a reliable intro.I haven't seen Charles R. Harrell, “This is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology (SLC: Kofford Books,2011), but that might give him more substance before he moves on to the more serious multi-volume Blake Ostler treatment.Givens is apparently coauthoring A History of Mormon Theology with Steven Harper, but no telling when that will be completed.Steve Harper is no longer part of the project, so Terryl is going solo. As of September, he had written nearly 100,000 words, and was close to finishing volume one. He will have reviewers look at it in the spring and summer, and hopes to submit it late next year for a 2013 release.I wouldn't recommend Harrell's volume, for reasons Matt Bowman outlined here: http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/review-charles-r-harrell-this-is-my-doctrine-the-development-of-mormon-theology-kofford-2011/(Edited to change the unfortunate typo of "1,000 words to "100,000 words.") Edited December 7, 2011 by Emerson
David T Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 Steve Harper is no longer part of the project, so Terryl is going solo. As of September, he had written nearly 1,000 words, and was close to finishing volume one. He will have reviewers look at it in the spring and summer, and hopes to submit it late next year for a 2013 release.I wouldn't recommend Harrell's volume, for reasons Matt Bowman outlined here: http://www.juvenilei...y-kofford-2011/Harrell's volume is useful, but not for an overview or of the breadth of Mormon thought or theology. I enjoy the book, but not for that.My first thought was present Gospel Principles as an official and easy to digest overview, and then follow up with Givens' up-coming 2-volume work
Damien the Leper Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 A Buddhist friend recently said to me, "I suppose I would really like one book (not one of the several Mormon scriptures) that is comprehensive in explaining the theology of LDS." Any suggestions for me to give him?I recommend Strangers in Paradox: Explorations in Mormon Theology by Paul and Margaret Toscano.
rpn Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 The easiest one, available online, is Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published secularly with church approval now almost 15 years ago if I remember accurately.
kolipoki09 Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 I recommend Strangers in Paradox: Explorations in Mormon Theology by Paul and Margaret Toscano.Isn't that the book where Paul outlines that the Godhead ought to consist of Elohim, Mary, Jehovah, and Eve, or was that a later development? I seem to remember something of that sort.
maklelan Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 The easiest one, available online, is Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published secularly with church approval now almost 15 years ago if I remember accurately.That is a good one.
Calm Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 (edited) I haven't seen it, but the vague details are:Lyman, James H., Signs Enough: Man’s Search for God (DC Five Publ., 2008).I find it strange that a book published in 2008 has no mention online save the above, no reviews associated with its listings, no promotion by its publisher (even self published books generally get pushed at least a little in my experience, am assuming likely self publishing since there is no website for the publisher). It would indicate little overall investment into the book and a very low readership which makes me wonder about the quality of the book itself. Amazon does not list any other books by the author either.Addon: found a bookstore with the blurb on it: http://www.byubookstore.com/ePOS/form=robots/item.html&item_number=0-9771108-1-8&store=439&design=439Over two thousand years ago, two men faced each other in a philosophical and religious debate over the existence of God. While iterations of this same discussion have been held since the beginning of time between men of God and unbelievers, this particular conversation was recorded for our day -- engraved onto golden plates and regarded as holy writ.Why is this debate available to us in modern scripture? What are we to learn from the words of Alma and Korihor, and how can they benefit us today? The arguments set forth by Korihor all those years ago are echoed by modern atheists and critics of organized religion. Fortunately, Alma's response is as valid today as it was when he uttered it over two millenia ago.Dr. Lyman shares with the reader an analysis of the arguments of both Alma and Korihor, relating each to the words of modern prophets and critics alike. He discusses how Alma appeals to science, prophets, and scripture to support his position. Through a greater understanding of this ancient prophet's words, we can gain both knowledge and confidence as we come to understand that we too have had "signs enough." Edited December 7, 2011 by calmoriah
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