Ok, one more quote: Alan Jacobs in his book, Original Sin (HarperCollins, 2008) puts Charles Finney in the same context with Joseph Smith. (more…)

Jacobs shares the bad side of the Pelagian Gospel and the good side of the Augustinian Gospel:

The Pelagian good news is that at every moment you are free to obey; the (unstated, hidded) bad news is that at every moment you are equally free to sin, and at the instant of choice a lifetime of strict spiritual discipline will avail you nothing. . . . Pelagianism is a creed for heroes, but Augustine’s emphasis on original sin and the consequent absolute dependence of every one of us on the grace of God gives hope to the waverer, the backslider, the slacker, the putz, the schlemiel.  We’re all in the same boat as Mister Holier-than-Thou over there, saved only by the grace that comes to us in Holy Baptism (52-54).

. . . “when Augustine spoke to his people of the terrible wrath of God, they would actually cry out in terror.*”

*Sermon 131:  “What then does the Lord say?  ‘Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice unto Him with trembling.’ So the Apostle too, ‘Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God who works in you.’  Therefore rejoice with trembling: ‘Lest at any time the Lord be angry.’  I see that you anticipate me by your crying out.  For you know what I am about to say, you anticipate it by crying out.”

From the book, Original sin:  A Cultural History (HarperCollins, 2008 ) by Alan Jacobs:

We have never had more need to explain ourselves to ourselves, but we manifestly lack the resources to do so.  It may be (I think it is) a propitious moment for reconsiderating that curious concept called peccatum originalis, the belief that we arrive in this world predisposed to wrongdoing–that this world is a vale of tears because we made it that and,  somehow, couldn’t have made it anything else.

“All religious beliefs prompt rejection.  Souls are reincarnated?  Ridiculous.  The Bible is divinely inspired?  Dangerous nonsense.  Muhammad is the prophet of God?  Poppycock.  Jesus rose from the dead? Absurd.  It is the common fate of doctrines to be dismissed; you’d almost think that’s what they were made for.  But not all beliefs are dismissed in the same way.  Some get an airy wave of the hand; others, a thoughtful shake of the head, with pursed lips indicating a tinge of regret;  still others, the stern wag of a hectoring finger.  But of all the religious teachings I know, none–not even the belief that some people are eternally damned–generates as much hostility as the Christian doctrine we call “original sin.”

– Alan Jacobs (2008 )

Dr. Kim Clark is pushing BYU-Idaho along.

It is a great mission field in Rexburg, Idaho.

“Return . . . for I am merciful”

I am adding it to my sidebar.  It will be base camp for discussion on repentance and renewal in Idaho.

1.  Some think the Bible leaves too many questions about theology.

2.  Some think LDS revelation answers the divisions that evangelical denominations had among themselves about theology.  I ask myself, “How big and fundamental were the divisions about God?”

3.  And then some think LDS scriptures only created more questions and confusion about theology with the belief of God(s) and Goddess(es).

The King James Bible declares propositions.  Conservative evangelicals derive belief from those propositions.  Yet so do LDS.  Dan Peterson has some ideas.  Blake Ostler has some ideas.  Kevin Barney has some ideas. 

Based on the King James Version, I have a solid idea what to believe and trust about God.  But in 2009, I have no idea, no idea really,  what the LDS Church believes in common consent about LDS Heavenly Father and LDS Heavenly Mother and all the other Gods and Goddesses.  And yet isn’t this the heart of religion?

This ought to be the biggest discussion in 2009.  Blake Ostler likes to discuss details.  Kevin Barney likes to discuss details.  And I wonder if the 2009 LDS Prophet and Apostles (Sent Ones) by God like to discuss details.  Do they honestly like the KJV details about God?  Blake’s details about God?  Kevin’s details about God?  Or their own ideas?

I am not “Bored in Vernal”.  I am “Confused in Ammon”.

We need a new conference in the I-15 Corridor. 

[Btw, I caught your comment, Steve E., before it vanished. – chuckling]

I look forward to that date coming up in our church family.

And tonight, reading the words of my friend, Dennis, my pulse has only quickened in anticipation.