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Naturalistic Terms: Some Reflections --and-- Divine Source of the Bk of Mormon in the Face... (WMV)

Louis Midgley, "Naturalistic Terms: Some Reflections on a Motto and Type of Historical Explanation", Mesa, Arizona: The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR), 2001 FAIR Conference, Windows Media Video (WMV), 49 minutes.

The adjective "naturalistic" is typically used to describe explanations, categories or terms that explain away or deny prophetic truth claims or miracles, however they might be understood. How has this term been applied to reports in the New Testament, about Jesus of Nazareth, or about the Book of Mormon?

The Question & Answer period with Brother Midgley following the presentation is included.

Daniel C. Peterson, "The Divine Source of the Book of Mormon in the Face of Alternative Theories Advocated by LDS Critics" (The Book of Mormon Translation Process), Redding, California: The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR), 2001 FAIR Conference, Windows Media Video (WMV), 55 minutes.

Daniel Peterson makes a preliminary logical analysis of different hypotheses in the production of the Book of Mormon. He begins with what he terms "Subjective Explanations" which would include hypothesis of: 1) Individual Hallucination (by Joseph Smith), or 2) Collective Hallucination (by Joseph Smith, the Witnesses, etc.)

Next, he discusses the idea that there was some sort of objective reality present in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, but that it was an artifact of fraud which would include hypothesis of: 1) Individual Deceit (practiced by Joseph Smith, unaided) or 2) Collective Deceit (by Joseph Smith, the Witnesses, etc.)

Finally, Peterson presents a category of an objective reality with "supernatural" explanations. Included are: 1) Supernatural but Demonic, 2) True scripture, but not Ancient, and 3) Historically Authentic Scripture.

BONUS: Also includes the final Speaker Panel Discussion, 23 minutes.

A native of southern California, Daniel C. Peterson received a bachelor's degree in Greek and philosophy from Brigham Young University (BYU) and, after several years of study in Jerusalem and Cairo, earned his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Peterson is a professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic at BYU, as well as a member of the board and associate executive director of its Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts, which has produced a computer-digitized version of the Dead Sea Scrolls, electronically recovered damaged documents from the ruins of Herculaneum, Petra, and elsewhere, and is engaged in joint publishing ventures with such institutions as the Vatican Apostolic Library in Rome.

He is the executive editor of BYU's three-part Middle Eastern Texts Initiative, which includes not only the Islamic Translation Series but two sister series: Graeco-Arabic Sciences and Philosophy, and Eastern Christian Texts. These series publish dual-language editions of classical works of medieval Arabic and Persian philosophy, Arabic medicine and science, and early Coptic, Syriac, and Christian Arabic literature. (The University of Chicago Press distributes the volumes.) He is the author of several books and numerous articles on Islamic and Latter-day Saint topics. Dr. Peterson served in the Switzerland Znrich Mission, and, for approximately eight years, on the Gospel Doctrine writing committee for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) he has been referred to as the "Chief apologist for the LDS Church." Dr. Peterson also edits the FARMS Review of Books.

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Title: Naturalistic Terms: Some Reflections --and-- Divine Source of the Bk of Mormon in the Face... (WMV)

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