Joseph Smith and The Order of Enoch

Joseph Smith and The Order of Enoch Michael asked me to last week to author a couple of posts about the law of consecration for the blog. He’d listened to Jared Anderson’s engaging gospel doctrine podcast on the subject, in which I participated as a member of the discussion group. It was one of the best discussions about...

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Fine Tuning the Message

A couple years ago when we were studying Gospel Principles in church, my wife and I were preparing for the week’s lesson. During our study I noticed some differences in my book (from my mission) from what she was reading online. Even though the changes were minor, I was curious to know if there were more throughout the book. What...

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The Devil Made Me Do It

May 15, 13 The Devil Made Me Do It

Posted by in Agency, Featured, Gospel Topics, Mormonism, Theology

About a week and a half ago in anticipation of writing this post I posted a poll in a Facebook group that is by and large inhabited by heterodox Mormons. There are other variations of belief ranging from none, to close to Orthodox but the meat lies in the middle. The question I posed was “Do you believe in Satan?” It is...

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Deus ex machina

May 01, 13 Deus ex machina

Posted by in Faith, Featured, Forgiveness, Theology

It always seems that whenever I set out to write about something specific it changes and I feel inspired to go in another direction. This post will be no different. For those not familiar with the concept of Deus ex machina, it is a plot device wherein everything works out in the end. This can either be by divine intervention (god...

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The Expansiveness of the Atonement

Apr 30, 13 The Expansiveness of the Atonement

Posted by in Featured, Theology

Note: This is a talk given in my Sacrament Meeting about two weeks ago by my friend Sam Tomlinson.  Sam is  a young man I used to teach when he was in Priest Quorum and we used to be hometeaching companions.   I hope you enjoy his talk as much as I did. – Mike Barker, rationalfaiths.com The Expansiveness of the...

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Our Lives as Torah

  This term I began studying Biblical Hebrew.  Languages do not come easily to me.  I devised a plan to motivate my study- rekindle my love of Judaism.  I have been amazed by how much my heart sang within the richness of Jewish thought and the scriptural and life lessons that have filled my reading. The books have...

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“Where’s da mama in this story?”

I spent one lovely evening of my winter break in a cozy home in Arizona with new friends, drinking herbal tea, eating delicious homemade treats, and of course, talking. The friends’ two year daughter reached that point beyond tired, where her little child’s eyes were flooded with giant tears. The mother whisked off to...

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Transcending Fickle Language

Apr 08, 13 Transcending Fickle Language

Posted by in Featured, Theology

One Sunday a couple years ago, I found myself standing with arms folded and my back against the zig-zag partition of the rear overflow of the cultural hall amidst the bustling chit-chat before Priesthood Opening Exercises. A fellow brother joined me at my side, mimicking my folded-arm stance. As the meeting started, a zealous...

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A SURVEY & CRITIQUE OF THE DIFFERENT RESURRECTION HYPOTHESES PART VII: INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION

  Click here to read Part I of this series. Click here to read Part II of this series. Click here to read Part III of this series. Click here to read Part IV of this series. Click here to read Part V of this series. Click here to read Part VI of this series. A SURVEY OF THE DIFFERENT RESURRECTION HYPOTHESES PART VII:...

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Is the New Testament a Gnostic Document?

Mar 26, 13 Is the New Testament a Gnostic Document?

Posted by in Featured, New Testament, Theology

Is the New Testament a Gnostic Document? By Tom Roberts, PhD             There’s much deception in the air today from a few leading scholars regarding the New Testament text.  This is a spin-off from the days of Rudolf Bultmann.  The main target was the Gospel of John and its so-called Docetic influences upon the New...

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