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10 episodes with david bokovoy
8 episodes with david bokovoy
22 episodes with david bokovoy
5 episodes with david bokovoy
6 episodes with david bokovoy
5 episodes with david bokovoy
2 episodes with david bokovoy
David Bokovoy delves into Isaiah's significance in Mormon scripture, prophecy, and current events with an emphasis on understanding biblical prophets as social critics, not predictors of distant future events. We discuss scholarly debates on Isaiah's authorship and anachronistic references like brass plates, clarifying that the writings of Isaiah as known today did not exist in Isaiah's time. Episode Show Notes Youtube link Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: Youtube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord
Ever wonder what happens when a faithful Mormon Bible scholar has a crisis of faith and steps away from the religion he dedicated his life to? David Bokovoy's candid interview takes you on a riveting personal journey from staunch believer to "spiritual atheist." He pulls no punches in describing how the Church's controversial 2015 LGBTQ+ policy shattered his worldview, leading him to lose his testimony and leave Mormonism behind. With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, he shares profound insights about the transformative power of education from his work in prison rehabilitation. He grapples with weighty questions of free will, authenticity, and human connection. You'll be captivated by his stories of finding the "Holy Ghost" outside of religion, confronting trauma through therapy, and continually evolving his understanding of truth. Brimming with thought-provoking perspectives on everything from ADHD to patriarchy to psychedelics, Bokovoy's interview is a must-see for anyone on their own journey of self-discovery beyond rigid belief systems. Episode Show Notes YouTube Link Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: Youtube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord
David Bokovoy is back to apply higher criticism to Mormon scripture. Today's focus is the Book of Mormon & Pearl of Great Price which have been remastered from previous interviews 1020-1022. Episode Show Notes YouTube Link Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: Youtube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord
David Bokovoy is back to apply higher criticism to Mormon scripture. Today's focus is the Old & New Testaments, which have been remastered from previous interviews 1019, 1020, and 1022. Episode Show Notes YouTube Link Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: Youtube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord
Note: This interview is a remastered version of episodes 1013-1016 with David Bokovoy done in 2018. In these highly-anticipated episodes of Mormon Stories Podcast, we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard University, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. He is the author of 2 books including Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis-Deuteronomy, dozens of articles, and was a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson. This interview focuses on David's personal faith journey, including his fascinating story of falling in love with the Hebrew language and deeply studying the Bible—to forgoing a possibly more lucrative academic career to move to Utah to teach in the Church Educational System. Episode Show Notes YouTube Link Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: Youtube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord
Many are going through great lengths to justify the massive hoards of wealth the Church has accumulated on the backs of its believers, even going as far as to use scripture. But do these scriptures REALLY justify the accumulation of wealth as the Church and its members would have you believe?
Many are going through great lengths to justify the massive hoards of wealth the Church has accumulated on the backs of its believers, even going […]
Many are going through great lengths to justify the massive hoards of wealth the Church has accumulated on the backs of its believers, even going as far as to use scripture. But do these scriptures REALLY justify the accumulation of wealth as the Church and its members would have you believe? The post Mormonism LIVE: 118: How Mormons Twist Scripture to Worship Wealth w/ David Bokovoy appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.
How the story of Noah, the arc, and the global flood is necessary for the veracity of Mormon scripture/doctrine, and a closer look at the historicity of the Biblical accounts of Noah and the flood. ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50 ————— MSP on Spotify MSP on Apple Podcasts MSP Blog Instagram Patreon TikTok Discord Contact Us! *MormonStories@gmail.com *PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Show Notes: LDS Discussions: David Bokovoy episodes on Old Testament: Simon Southerton MS episode on Global Flood:
RFM and Bill sit down with David Bokovoy and with a title like that, who knows here the conversation might go………… David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He received his BA from Brigham Young University, … Continue reading "Mormonism LIVE: 066: David Bokovoy – Sex, Eden and The Family" The post Mormonism LIVE: 066: David Bokovoy – Sex, Eden and The Family appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.
RFM and Bill sit down with David Bokovoy and with a title like that, who knows where the conversation might go………… David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He received his BA from Brigham Young University, […]
RFM and Bill sit down with David Bokovoy and with a title like that, who knows where the conversation might go………… David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He received his BA from Brigham Young University, […] The post Mormonism LIVE: 066: David Bokovoy – Sex, Eden and The Family appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.
RFM and Bill sit down with David Bokovoy and with a title like that, who knows where the conversation might go………… David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He received his BA from Brigham Young University,… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 066: David Bokovoy – Sex, Eden and The Family
Join John Dehlin and Carah Burrell as they speak with John Larsen about the Gospel of Mark. In this episode we have John pull back the cover on the bible, what we can learn from the oldest gospels, and ask if the Mormon church as it currently stands is any different than the Pharisees of Christ's day. ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50 ————— Links and show notes: Mormon Expressions links: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/mormonexpression Thrive Unite links: https://www.thrivebeyondreligion.com/event/thrive-unite/ David Bokovoy on Mormon Stories: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/david-bokovoy/ Bart Ehrman on Mormon Stories: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/bart-ehrman/ Life of Brian: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/
Professor David Bokovoy and RFM dig deep into the third chapter of the Book of Abraham. What does all this material about astronomy really mean? And what can it tell us about the actual author? These questions, along with a host of others, are delved into in this fascinating discussion!Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 Yearly: $25 $50 $100 $250 […]
Professor David Bokovoy and RFM dig deep into the third chapter of the Book of Abraham. What does all this material about astronomy really mean? And what can it tell us about the actual author? These questions, along with a host of others, are delved into in this fascinating discussion! Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 […] The post Radio Free Mormon: 202: The David Bokovoy Interview Part 3 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.
Professor David Bokovoy and RFM dig deep into the third chapter of the Book of Abraham. What does all this material about astronomy really mean? And what can it tell us about the actual author? These questions, along with a host of others, are delved into in this fascinating discussion! Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 […] The post Radio Free Mormon: 202: The David Bokovoy Interview Part 3 appeared first on Radio Free Mormon.
Dr. David Bokovoy brings his formidable knowledge of Bible studies and textual analysis to bear on the Book of Abraham! How does the Book of Abraham hold up? This is one you don’t want to miss!!!Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 Yearly: $25 $50 $100 $250 Support the podcast by purchasing from Amazon HERE.
Dr. David Bokovoy brings his formidable knowledge of Bible studies and textual analysis to bear on the Book of Abraham! How does the Book of Abraham hold up? This is one you don’t want to miss!!! Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 Yearly: $25 $50 $100 $250Support the podcast by purchasing from Amazon HERE. The post Radio Free Mormon: 200: The David Bokovoy Interview, Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.
Dr. David Bokovoy brings his formidable knowledge of Bible studies and textual analysis to bear on the Book of Abraham! How does the Book of Abraham hold up? This is one you don’t want to miss!!! Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 Yearly: $25 $50 $100 $250Support the podcast by purchasing from Amazon HERE. The post Radio Free Mormon: 200: The David Bokovoy Interview, Part 2 appeared first on Radio Free Mormon.
In this wide-ranging interview, Dr. David Bokovoy talks about his experience trying to build a bridge between contemporary Bible scholarship and the Religious Education Department at BYU. *SPOILER ALERT* BYU wasn’t interested. Closing music by The Dead Cowboys! Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 Yearly: $25 $50 $100 $250Support the podcast by purchasing from Amazon HERE. The post Radio Free Mormon: 199: The David Bokovoy Interview, part 1 appeared first on Radio Free Mormon.
In this wide-ranging interview, Dr. David Bokovoy talks about his experience trying to build a bridge between contemporary Bible scholarship and the Religious Education Department at BYU. *SPOILER ALERT* BYU wasn’t interested. Closing music by The Dead Cowboys!Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 Yearly: $25 $50 $100 $250 Support the podcast by purchasing from Amazon HERE.
In this wide-ranging interview, Dr. David Bokovoy talks about his experience trying to build a bridge between contemporary Bible scholarship and the Religious Education Department at BYU. *SPOILER ALERT* BYU wasn’t interested. Closing music by The Dead Cowboys! Become a Premium Subscriber: Monthy: $3 Yearly: $25 $50 $100 $250Support the podcast by purchasing from Amazon HERE. The post Radio Free Mormon: 199: The David Bokovoy Interview, part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.
This episode features a deep dive into the Book of Abraham issues. We explore higher criticism (the scholarly study of scripture) and try to apply it to the Book of Abraham. Although the "CES Letter" and most apologists do not deal directly with this issue, we find it important enough to include in our discussion of the CES Letter issues. Issues discussed: background info to the Book of Abraham, Ur of Chaldees and location of Abraham, Genesis 11 and 12 discrepancy and how Abraham 2 reconciles this, and how Joseph Smith might have possibly known about the ancient traditions of Abraham and idolatry, human sacrifice, and astronomy. Very interesting interview with David Bokovoy on Mormon Stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VloMOGotKTw&feature=emb_logo LDS Gospel Topics essay: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/translation-and-historicity-of-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950 Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/smalltalkwiththelys/support
I am thrilled to have two wonderful scholars and friends, David Bokovoy and Margaret Toscano, join me this week for a discussion about scripture. So often while we are undergoing a shift of faith, tools and notions that were once extremely helpful and exciting can become stale to us, or even become a target of our scorn. Our new questions run up against old ways of seeing things such as scripture, and our old views don’t fare well under vigorous inquiry. This failure leads to several options, the most common two being abandonment of the thing and dismissing it altogether, or seeing if the assumptions we’ve previously held (most likely gained unconsciously) might be lacking. It is in service of this second option, and regarding scripture, that I convened this panel. What must we “unlearn” about scripture that might make way for it to become alive for us and possibly worthy of our engagement again? What assumptions do we hold at this day and time (and our particular location--geographically or within our religious tradition) that obscure for us the meanings the texts had for those when they were written, or that keep us from engaging scripture at levels much deeper than literal, historical, and moral instruction? How can study of sacred texts viewed through different lenses often lead us to greater appreciation of many of the authors’ brilliance, and serve as a catalyst for our own illumination and deeper experiences with the Divine? Margaret and David are wonderful guides for these kinds of inquiry and the potential benefits for us that come when we rethink scripture. Please listen in to our discussion and help continue it by reacting and sharing in the comments section! Links: David Bokovoy, Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis - Deuteronomy (Kofford Books, 2014) Richard Rohr, What Do We Do With the Bible? (Center for Action and Contemplation, 2019)
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Bible scholar David Bokovoy on Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture, which includes the Old Testament, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Bible scholar David Bokovoy on Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture, which includes the Old Testament, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Bible scholar David Bokovoy on Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture, which includes the Old Testament, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Bible scholar David Bokovoy on Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture, which includes the Old Testament, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Join us now as we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard university, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. Author of 2 books, dozens of articles, and a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
Join us now as we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard university, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. Author of 2 books, dozens of articles, and a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
Join us now as we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard university, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. Author of 2 books, dozens of articles, and a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
Join us now as we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard university, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. Author of 2 books, dozens of articles, and a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
Episode 100: Gospel Doctrine with David Bokovoy (1 & 2 Samuel) (See the full list of Gospel Doctrine episodes here.) It's our 100th episode! In this episode, David discusses both 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, covering the stories of King Saul and King David. David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He is the author of Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis–Deuteronomy and the forthcoming Authoring the Old Testament: The Prophets, both part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series. “This book should be basic reading for serious LDS students of the Bible.” — Eric D. Huntsman, Coordinator of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Brigham Young University Download Subscribe in Pocket Casts
Episode 97: Gospel Doctrine Lesson 17 with David BokovoyHosted by Brian Whitney (See the full list of Gospel Doctrine episodes here.) Brian and David briefly discuss Gospel Doctrine Lesson 16 regarding Balaam's talking donkey before getting into Lesson 17, covering the book of Deuteronomy. David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He is the author of Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis–Deuteronomy and the forthcoming Authoring the Old Testament: The Prophets, both part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series. “This book should be basic reading for serious LDS students of the Bible.” — Eric D. Huntsman, Coordinator of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Brigham Young University Download Subscribe in Pocket Casts
Episode 99: Gospel Doctrine with David Bokovoy (Judges and Ruth)Hosted by Brian Whitney (See the full list of Gospel Doctrine episodes here.) In this episode, Brian and David discuss the books of Judges and Ruth. David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He is the author of Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis–Deuteronomy and the forthcoming Authoring the Old Testament: The Prophets, both part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series. “This book should be basic reading for serious LDS students of the Bible.” — Eric D. Huntsman, Coordinator of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Brigham Young University Download Subscribe in Pocket Casts
Episode 96: Gospel Doctrine Lessons 13–15 with David BokovoyHosted by Brian Whitney (See the full list of Gospel Doctrine episodes here.) We are back from our break! Brian and David discuss Gospel Doctrine lessons 13 through 15, which covers most of Exodus and begins Numbers. Topics discussed include the story of Moses, the ten plagues and the Passover, the Ten Commandments, and Israel's curse to wander the desert for forty years. This is a long episode that compresses three lessons into one. We hope you find it useful in your personal study and class preparation. David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He is the author of Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis–Deuteronomy and the forthcoming Authoring the Old Testament: The Prophets, both part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series. “This book should be basic reading for serious LDS students of the Bible.” — Eric D. Huntsman, Coordinator of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Brigham Young University Download Subscribe in Pocket Casts
Episode 98: Gospel Doctrine Lesson 18 with David BokovoyHosted by Brian Whitney (See the full list of Gospel Doctrine episodes here.) Brian and David dive into the histories of the Hebrew Bible for Lesson 18, beginning with the book of Joshua. David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He is the author of Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis–Deuteronomy and the forthcoming Authoring the Old Testament: The Prophets, both part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series. “This book should be basic reading for serious LDS students of the Bible.” — Eric D. Huntsman, Coordinator of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Brigham Young University Download Subscribe in Pocket Casts
The Old Testament can be a bit confusing. Biblical scholar Prof. David Bokovoy, joins Gina Colvin to discuss the things that are handy to know in order to really appreciate the Old Testament as a sacred text worth considering today.
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode (#449) about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
449–461: Old Testament--Teaching and Study Resources These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so! These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills. The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!
In speaking at the April 2015 General Conference about the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Elder Jeffrey Holland boldly stated that "the simple truth is that we cannot fully comprehend the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ and we will not adequately appreciate the unique purpose of His birth or His death--in other words, there is no way to truly celebrate Christmas or Easter--without understanding that there was an actual Adam and Eve who fell from an actual Eden, with all the consequences that fall carried with it”" In making such a strong claim about the importance of a literal understanding of the Garden story, he caught many Latter-day Saints off guard. Do genuine, transformative faith in and appreciation for the Atonement, Resurrection, and the many other gifts that we can experience through the gospel of Jesus Christ require literal understandings of the Fall exactly as described in scripture? Can one still attain and sustain transcendent faith if one understands them as powerful, even if not literal, stories? In this episode, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon along with three good friends--David Bokovoy, Stephen Carter, and Bill Turnbull--discuss their reactions to the direction taken in Elder Holland’s remarks, as well as their own journeys with the issue of whether or not scriptural accounts should be seen primarily through a literal vs. figurative lens? How would one know which is appropriate, and in which instances? What is gained and what is lost when one views scripture literally? Can we find ways to value both ways of reading and exploring scriptural texts? And what about when we teach scriptural stories in LDS devotional settings? Is it possible that within these contexts our teaching scriptural characters and stories as real people and literal events can be very helpful in eliciting potentially transformative spiritual experiences, and we can therefore feel un-conflicted about doing so, whereas when speaking in more academic settings it would be more appropriate, yet no less contra the accounts, to teach more metaphorical and figurative readings? These are just a few of many questions and issues the panelists address in this podcast.
This is a followup 4 pt series to compliment David Bokovoy’s interview on the Historical Jesus. Many of you are reading Bart Erhman and others who completely throw the Divine Christ out the door. Many simply discount every evidence as discrediting any view that sees the Divine in Christ. I want to say thanks to […] The post Bonus: NT Wright: Historical Jesus PT4 appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.
This is a followup 4 pt series to compliment David Bokovoy’s interview on the Historical Jesus. Many of you are reading Bart Erhman and others who completely throw the Divine Christ out the door. Many simply discount every evidence as discrediting any view that sees the Divine in Christ. I want to say thanks to […] The post Bonus: NT Wright: Historical Jesus PT3 appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.
This is a followup 4 pt series to compliment David Bokovoy’s interview on the Historical Jesus. Many of you are reading Bart Erhman and others who completely throw the Divine Christ out the door. Many simply discount every evidence as discrediting any view that sees the Divine in Christ. I want to say thanks to […] The post Bonus: NT Wright: Historical Jesus PT2 appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.
This is a followup 4 pt series to compliment David Bokovoy’s interview on the Historical Jesus. Many of you are reading Bart Erhman and others who completely throw the Divine Christ out the door. Many simply discount every evidence as discrediting any view that sees the Divine in Christ. I want to say thanks to […] The post Bonus: NT Wright: Historical Jesus PT1 appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.
Today we sit down with LDS scholar and author David Bokovoy. David is the Author of “Authoring the Old Testament : Genesis – Deuteronomy”. We break down what scripture is and isn’t, leveling false assumptions along the way. We discuss how to handle paradigm shifts when new info makes previous paradigms untenable. We also address […] The post 094: David Bokovoy: Authoring the Old Testament appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.
This episode features three scholars discussing the relevance of scripture. Last Wednesday, Zion's Books in Provo, Utah hosted a roundtable discussion on the subject featuring Joseph Spencer, David Bokovoy, and Adam Miller, who read a chapter from his recent release, Letters to a Young Mormon. The post #10- Spencer, Bokovoy, Miller: Three Mormon scholars discuss the relevance of scripture [MIPodcast] appeared first on Neal A. Maxwell Institute | BYU.
For many struggling Latter-day Saints, a pivotal moment in their transitioning faith comes when they are confronted with the mismatch between traditional teachings about the Book of Abraham being an ancient text written by the patriarch Abraham and a nearly universal scholarly consensus that it is based upon much later, and quite ordinary funerary documents that have nothing to do with the biblical figure. Further exacerbating the difficulty is the tenor and often strained mindset behind apologetic efforts to defend a traditional view of the texts, translation processes, interpretations of the book’s three facsimiles, and the general relevance of Egyptian studies in understanding them as possibly still relating to Abraham. As many Latter-day Saints confront these issues, they find themselves in the difficult position of having to rethink their views about scripture in general, the nature of prophetic revelation, and the type of "translating" in which Joseph Smith engaged if they are going to be able to continue thinking of the Book of Abraham as "scripture" or "inspired." In this two-part episode, Brian Hauglid, David Bokovoy, and Charley Harrell join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in a discussion about all of these issues. Part I focuses primarily on the historical background of the various papyri that came into Smith’s hands, his and other early leaders’ efforts to translate them, the eventual production of the Book of Abraham, and the various scholarly views and angles of argument presented by defenders of traditional understandings. Part II then turns to the meta-questions of "scripture," revelation, translation, how Smith might have been so wrong about the nature of the papyri and yet still genuinely moved by the Spirit in the text he produced and presented as from Abraham, "written by his own hand upon papyrus." The panelists each share some of his own journey to reorient his thinking about the Book of Abraham and these wider issues of prophetic inspiration and the production of scripture both in ancient and latter days.
For many struggling Latter-day Saints, a pivotal moment in their transitioning faith comes when they are confronted with the mismatch between traditional teachings about the Book of Abraham being an ancient text written by the patriarch Abraham and a nearly universal scholarly consensus that it is based upon much later, and quite ordinary funerary documents that have nothing to do with the biblical figure. Further exacerbating the difficulty is the tenor and often strained mindset behind apologetic efforts to defend a traditional view of the texts, translation processes, interpretations of the book’s three facsimiles, and the general relevance of Egyptian studies in understanding them as possibly still relating to Abraham. As many Latter-day Saints confront these issues, they find themselves in the difficult position of having to rethink their views about scripture in general, the nature of prophetic revelation, and the type of "translating" in which Joseph Smith engaged if they are going to be able to continue thinking of the Book of Abraham as "scripture" or "inspired." In this two-part episode, Brian Hauglid, David Bokovoy, and Charley Harrell join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in a discussion about all of these issues. Part I focuses primarily on the historical background of the various papyri that came into Smith’s hands, his and other early leaders’ efforts to translate them, the eventual production of the Book of Abraham, and the various scholarly views and angles of argument presented by defenders of traditional understandings. Part II then turns to the meta-questions of "scripture," revelation, translation, how Smith might have been so wrong about the nature of the papyri and yet still genuinely moved by the Spirit in the text he produced and presented as from Abraham, "written by his own hand upon papyrus." The panelists each share some of his own journey to reorient his thinking about the Book of Abraham and these wider issues of prophetic inspiration and the production of scripture both in ancient and latter days.
David Bokovoy discusses various aspects of biblical scholarship in this new Miller-Eccles presentation. As Morris Thurston explains “This timely presentation will be a great way to kick off the year of Old Testament study in your Gospel Doctrine class.” David Bokovoy holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies both from Brandeis University. He received his BA from Brigham Young University, majoring in History and minoring in Near Eastern Studies. The post Dialogue Lectures #12 w/David Bokovoy appeared first on Dialogue Journal.
In this two-part episode, we continue our series on the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible by examining one of scripture’s most difficult stories--God choosing to unleash a flood designed to kill all living beings on the planet except a select few. In this episode, panelists David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid examine the scriptural text itself, including the interwoven (and quite different) J and P sources and the stories and traditions that they borrow from. The also explore takes and angles on the story presented by LDS thinkers, the wider Christian world, and Islam. What theological or devotional value can we find in this story? How can we still honor the text’s mythic truths even as its cosmological worldview and claims about a global deluge fly in the face of scientific evidence? Can open up room in LDS discourse for non-literal but still theologically uplifting readings of such claims as it must be understood as a universal flood because the earth needed to be "baptized"?
In this two-part episode, we continue our series on the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible by examining one of scripture’s most difficult stories--God choosing to unleash a flood designed to kill all living beings on the planet except a select few. In this episode, panelists David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid examine the scriptural text itself, including the interwoven (and quite different) J and P sources and the stories and traditions that they borrow from. The also explore takes and angles on the story presented by LDS thinkers, the wider Christian world, and Islam. What theological or devotional value can we find in this story? How can we still honor the text’s mythic truths even as its cosmological worldview and claims about a global deluge fly in the face of scientific evidence? Can open up room in LDS discourse for non-literal but still theologically uplifting readings of such claims as it must be understood as a universal flood because the earth needed to be "baptized"?
A panel of Tom Kimball, Dale E. Luffman, Rachel Mabey Whipple, David Bokovoy, Viliami Pauni, and Earl M. Wunderli on August 1st, 2013. [powerpress]
A panel of Tom Kimball, Dale E. Luffman, Rachel Mabey Whipple, David Bokovoy, Viliami Pauni, and Earl M. Wunderli on August 1st, 2013. [powerpress]
The texts that Latter-day Saints and other Christians call the Old Testament (differing from scholars, who use Hebrew Bible or Tanakh) is both wonderfully rich and very problematic scripture. Its richness derives from its status as an account of how ancient persons saw the world, the nature of God, and the human condition. These venerable writings contain great wisdom and insight, as well as wonderful plays on words and intricate literary forms. They also contain differing viewpoints from different sources that redactors (editors) placed side by side, unafraid that readers would encounter diverse accounts of everything from the Creation to Hebrew law and God’s actions among human beings. Through the centuries, however, because we in the western world encounter them through translation rather than in their original languages, and because we are largely unfamiliar with the wider traditions of the ancient Near East upon which many of the accounts draw for elements of the stories they tell, we have allowed layers and layers of interpretation to build up, and these additions and attempts to systematize or harmonize with our preferred views have become the dominant forces driving how we read these texts. And most often, we just don’t realize that this is what we are doing. This has led, in some cases, to extremely problematic renderings that lead people to reject important truths discovered by science, to blame women for the negative conditions of this world, or to beliefs about black skin being a curse from God, etc. Or, even if not quite so harmful, it has led to quite tortured attempts to make the books seem inerrant and without disagreement with other parts of the texts, or leading some into numerology or other searches for hidden patterns within the writings that unlocks for them some types of secret knowledge. If these later overlays were removed as much as is humanly possible, what would we find that the texts reveal about themselves and the worldviews and intentions of the original writers? Would we still find these scriptures as meaningful as we do now due to the assumptions we bring and interpretations we add? Could our relationship to these scriptures change in a positive way if we were to let them speak for themselves and allow the genuine distance between us and these ancient writers to truly become clear to us, giving us breathing room to see that these writings are not "history" in the sense we use that term today, that these are not (nor were they intended to be) scientific texts describing cosmos, earth, nature, or human origins? In this four-part podcast, two wonderful guides to the Hebrew Bible, David Bokovoy and Tom Roberts, join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for the first of an occasional series approaching these important texts, concentrating in the early episodes on Genesis and its key (and most problematic) stories. Episode 194 concentrates on background into the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, the history of scriptural scholarship and approaches to the texts, including the theories emerging from "source criticism" that the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) combine the writings of four different authors or groups--abbreviated as J, E, P, and D--that long after they were written were pulled together into one big text by redactors, as well as the climate within Mormonism and wider Christianity for information of the nature that is being shared in this series.
The texts that Latter-day Saints and other Christians call the Old Testament (differing from scholars, who use Hebrew Bible or Tanakh) is both wonderfully rich and very problematic scripture. Its richness derives from its status as an account of how ancient persons saw the world, the nature of God, and the human condition. These venerable writings contain great wisdom and insight, as well as wonderful plays on words and intricate literary forms. They also contain differing viewpoints from different sources that redactors (editors) placed side by side, unafraid that readers would encounter diverse accounts of everything from the Creation to Hebrew law and God’s actions among human beings. Through the centuries, however, because we in the western world encounter them through translation rather than in their original languages, and because we are largely unfamiliar with the wider traditions of the ancient Near East upon which many of the accounts draw for elements of the stories they tell, we have allowed layers and layers of interpretation to build up, and these additions and attempts to systematize or harmonize with our preferred views have become the dominant forces driving how we read these texts. And most often, we just don’t realize that this is what we are doing. This has led, in some cases, to extremely problematic renderings that lead people to reject important truths discovered by science, to blame women for the negative conditions of this world, or to beliefs about black skin being a curse from God, etc. Or, even if not quite so harmful, it has led to quite tortured attempts to make the books seem inerrant and without disagreement with other parts of the texts, or leading some into numerology or other searches for hidden patterns within the writings that unlocks for them some types of secret knowledge. If these later overlays were removed as much as is humanly possible, what would we find that the texts reveal about themselves and the worldviews and intentions of the original writers? Would we still find these scriptures as meaningful as we do now due to the assumptions we bring and interpretations we add? Could our relationship to these scriptures change in a positive way if we were to let them speak for themselves and allow the genuine distance between us and these ancient writers to truly become clear to us, giving us breathing room to see that these writings are not "history" in the sense we use that term today, that these are not (nor were they intended to be) scientific texts describing cosmos, earth, nature, or human origins? In this four-part podcast, two wonderful guides to the Hebrew Bible, David Bokovoy and Tom Roberts, join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for the first of an occasional series approaching these important texts, concentrating in the early episodes on Genesis and its key (and most problematic) stories. Episode 195 delves into the first of two separate creation accounts in Genesis 1-3, attributed to the P writer. What is this author’s view of God, the cosmos, and the ordered world and how it came to be?
The texts that Latter-day Saints and other Christians call the Old Testament (differing from scholars, who use Hebrew Bible or Tanakh) is both wonderfully rich and very problematic scripture. Its richness derives from its status as an account of how ancient persons saw the world, the nature of God, and the human condition. These venerable writings contain great wisdom and insight, as well as wonderful plays on words and intricate literary forms. They also contain differing viewpoints from different sources that redactors (editors) placed side by side, unafraid that readers would encounter diverse accounts of everything from the Creation to Hebrew law and God’s actions among human beings. Through the centuries, however, because we in the western world encounter them through translation rather than in their original languages, and because we are largely unfamiliar with the wider traditions of the ancient Near East upon which many of the accounts draw for elements of the stories they tell, we have allowed layers and layers of interpretation to build up, and these additions and attempts to systematize or harmonize with our preferred views have become the dominant forces driving how we read these texts. And most often, we just don’t realize that this is what we are doing. This has led, in some cases, to extremely problematic renderings that lead people to reject important truths discovered by science, to blame women for the negative conditions of this world, or to beliefs about black skin being a curse from God, etc. Or, even if not quite so harmful, it has led to quite tortured attempts to make the books seem inerrant and without disagreement with other parts of the texts, or leading some into numerology or other searches for hidden patterns within the writings that unlocks for them some types of secret knowledge. If these later overlays were removed as much as is humanly possible, what would we find that the texts reveal about themselves and the worldviews and intentions of the original writers? Would we still find these scriptures as meaningful as we do now due to the assumptions we bring and interpretations we add? Could our relationship to these scriptures change in a positive way if we were to let them speak for themselves and allow the genuine distance between us and these ancient writers to truly become clear to us, giving us breathing room to see that these writings are not "history" in the sense we use that term today, that these are not (nor were they intended to be) scientific texts describing cosmos, earth, nature, or human origins? In this four-part podcast, two wonderful guides to the Hebrew Bible, David Bokovoy and Tom Roberts, join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for the first of an occasional series approaching these important texts, concentrating in the early episodes on Genesis and its key (and most problematic) stories. Episode 196 explores the second creation account, attributed to the J writer. How is God different in this story from the God of the first account? How does this writer see the origins of human beings and why God created them? Does this writer see the snake that tempts Eve as (or under the influence of) "Satan," as so many have interpreted it to be?
The texts that Latter-day Saints and other Christians call the Old Testament (differing from scholars, who use Hebrew Bible or Tanakh) is both wonderfully rich and very problematic scripture. Its richness derives from its status as an account of how ancient persons saw the world, the nature of God, and the human condition. These venerable writings contain great wisdom and insight, as well as wonderful plays on words and intricate literary forms. They also contain differing viewpoints from different sources that redactors (editors) placed side by side, unafraid that readers would encounter diverse accounts of everything from the Creation to Hebrew law and God’s actions among human beings. Through the centuries, however, because we in the western world encounter them through translation rather than in their original languages, and because we are largely unfamiliar with the wider traditions of the ancient Near East upon which many of the accounts draw for elements of the stories they tell, we have allowed layers and layers of interpretation to build up, and these additions and attempts to systematize or harmonize with our preferred views have become the dominant forces driving how we read these texts. And most often, we just don’t realize that this is what we are doing. This has led, in some cases, to extremely problematic renderings that lead people to reject important truths discovered by science, to blame women for the negative conditions of this world, or to beliefs about black skin being a curse from God, etc. Or, even if not quite so harmful, it has led to quite tortured attempts to make the books seem inerrant and without disagreement with other parts of the texts, or leading some into numerology or other searches for hidden patterns within the writings that unlocks for them some types of secret knowledge. If these later overlays were removed as much as is humanly possible, what would we find that the texts reveal about themselves and the worldviews and intentions of the original writers? Would we still find these scriptures as meaningful as we do now due to the assumptions we bring and interpretations we add? Could our relationship to these scriptures change in a positive way if we were to let them speak for themselves and allow the genuine distance between us and these ancient writers to truly become clear to us, giving us breathing room to see that these writings are not "history" in the sense we use that term today, that these are not (nor were they intended to be) scientific texts describing cosmos, earth, nature, or human origins? In this four-part podcast, two wonderful guides to the Hebrew Bible, David Bokovoy and Tom Roberts, join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for the first of an occasional series approaching these important texts, concentrating in the early episodes on Genesis and its key (and most problematic) stories. Episode 197 continues with the J account, covering the curses God places on the humans, on the ground, and on Cain following his murder of his brother, Abel.
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