The value of information
I read a great number of books and other literary material that brought increased awareness to my faith knowledge and position. This was initially scary because it would direct me to sources that were potentially unfriendly to my beliefs. I reasoned that if my faith was grounded in truth, it should be robust enough to withstand objective analysis, additionally I was armed with a wealth of spiritual witnesses.
As I acquired knowledge it enabled me to see my faith from an outside perspective inducing a plethora of anguished moments pondering, praying and soul searching. Ultimately it lead me to alter how I viewed everything I had ever been taught and experienced. Believing or showing faith like a child is perfectly fine if the information you are receiving is truthful. If it isn’t, then many faiths institutionally have disarmed you of developing, let alone utilising critical thinking skills.
Bridges, Ministering to Those Who Question by faithful member David B. Ostler is a resource that many church leaders would benefit from reading to support members who question. He openly concludes that once members acquire knowledge about the church’s history and theology, they can never go back to the space they once held. He urges the church at all levels to find a place that can still be retained by them.
Steven Hassan a former member of the Unification Church (Moonies), has written several books about cult like behaviour and influences. He illustrates behaviours and tendencies common among high demand religions. I consider these acceptable providing a faith community facilitated full disclosure, allowing adherents to participate with informed consent, also tolerating criticism within its ranks.
Below are links to Book Reviews, if there isn’t a name attached to the review I have written it. I would welcome anyone submitting a book review which will be posted as the Lead Review. Additionally, I invite anyone to add a few short comments to any existing published site review. It would be my hope that this section will signpost information to those who seek it. Please email to sshrubb56@gmail.com
BIble New International Version There are many advantages to using a modern translation
Gay Rights and the Mormon Church Intended Actions, Unintended Consequences, Gregory A Prince Current, informative and shocking
How Jesus Became Christian Barrie Wilson 2008 Wilson interprets biblical and early sources to suggest the formative movement was Torah centric, that heretically Pauls religion of Christianity ultimately gains ascendancy
How Jesus Became God Bart D Ehrman 2014 Is there a more likely historical narrative than the prevailing orthodox view
In Sacred Loneliness by Todd Compton detailing the lives from birth to death of each live plural marriage of Joseph Smith
Jesus Before the Gospels Bart D Ehrman explores memories, he discusses the likelihood that they were distorted to shape the ‘present’ view of the past in the lives of early Christians
Joseph Smith Rough Stone Rolling By Richard Lyman Bushman, a comprehensive autobiography of the life of the Prophet. Bushman is a faithful member of the LDS church
Losing a Lost Tribe North Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church. Long standing member and Molecular Biologist Simon Southerton explores the development of Native Americans being supposedly from among the lost tribes of Israel. He discusses in an easy to follow style the likelihood of Biblical assertions post flood and unlikely claims of a Middle Easter heritage
Misquoting Jesus The story behind who changed the Bible and Why Bart D Ehrman
Mormonism Unvailed B H Roberts labelled Howe’s book as the first form of Anti Mormon literature
Power From on High Gregory Prince details the development of priesthood, his work details how policy and doctrine changed over time during Joseph Smiths tenure as Prophet
Saving Jesus from the Church by Robin Meyers. He is a distinguished professor of Social Justice and a Congregational minister of religion. He does not believe in Jesus as a God. His views on the power of Jesus’s teachings to transform the world are inspirational
Studies of The Book of Mormon In 1920 B H Roberts, a leading General Authority began investigating 5 questions from a Non Mormon, what he discovered disconserted him and church leadership
The LDS Gospel Topics Series A scholarly Review Edited by Matthew Harris & Newell Bringhurst. Between December 2013 and October 2015 the LDS church published on it’s own web site thirteen essays. They are apologetic by nature and appeared unannounced.
The Rebel Christ Michael Coren, 2021 An outstanding, easy to read book with arguments against criticism’s on Homosexuality, abortion and socialist leanings.
If you would like to submit a ‘Lead Book Review’ please email sshrubb56@gmail.com