Although the Mormons have been one of the most studied American religious groups, there is still no consensus about the essential nature of the movement or its place in American religion, and Mormonism is variously characterized by scholars as a sect, a cult, a new religion, a Protestant Christian church, and an American subculture. This important study fills a major gap in the historiography on Mormons, offering fresh insight into the Latter-day Saints. Examining the writings of key Mormon leaders from founder Joseph Smith up to the present day, Barlow analyzes their approaches to the Bible and then compares those approaches with that of other American religionists. He argues that the Mormons are--and have been from their founding--Bible-believing Christians. Compared to those of other religions, however, Mormon attitudes toward the Bible comprise an extraordinary mix of conservative, liberal, and radical ingredients: an almost fundamentalist adherence to the King James Version of the Bible coexists with belief in the possibility of new revelation and the necessity of an "open" canon. Exploring this unique Mormon attitude toward scripture, the book is an important step in unraveling the mystery of this quintessentially American religious phenomenon.

Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion (Religion in America)

Barlow, Philip L.

History

Oxford University Press

The Mormons have been one of the most studied American religious groups; still, no consensus exists about the essential nature of the movement or its place in American religion. In this study, Barlow analyzes the approaches taken to the Bible by key Mormon leaders, from founder Joseph Smith up to the present day. He shows that Mormon attitudes toward the Bible comprise an extraordinary mix of conservative, liberal, and radical ingredients: an almost fundamentalist adherence to the King James Version of the Bible coexists with belief in the possibility of new revelation and surprising ideas on the limits of human language. Exploring this unique Mormon stance on scripture, Barlow takes important steps toward unraveling the mystery of this quintessential American religious phenomenon.

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

Philip L. Barlow offers an in-depth analysis of the approaches taken to the Bible by major Mormon leaders, from its beginnings to the present. He shows that Mormon attitudes toward the Bible comprise an extraordinary mix of conservative, liberal, and radical ingredients: an almost fundamentalist adherence to the King James Version co-exists with belief in the possibility of new revelation and surprising ideas about the limits of human language. Barlow's exploration takes important steps toward unraveling the mystery of this quintessential American religious phenomenon. This updated edition of Mormons and the Bible includes an extended bibliography and a new preface, casting Joseph Smith's mission into a new frame and treating evolutions in Mormonism's biblical usage in recent decades.

Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion

A Thoughtful Faith for the 21st Century

Faith Matters Publishing

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Barlow, Philip L.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Barlow, Philip L.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Barlow, Philip L.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion (Religion in America)

Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion (Religion in America)

Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion

A Thoughtful Faith for the 21st Century