Explaining Mormonism

A Believing Skeptic's Guide to the Latter-day Saint Worldview

Gregory Steven Dundas

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781666741858
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

Explaining Mormonism is a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion of the Mormon belief system. Unlike previous surveys of Latter-day Saint beliefs, Explaining Mormonism not only outlines Mormon doctrines but provides an in-depth exploration of some of their most distinctive doctrines regarding the nature of God, the purpose of life, the value of suffering, and even human sexuality. The author himself is a self-described "skeptic both by nature and by nurture, " who nevertheless converted to Mormonism as a young man. He takes the reader on an exciting journey through one of the world's most controversial and perplexing religions. For Latter-day Saint readers, Explaining Mormonism will aid in strengthening their faith through its in-depth examination of the compelling logic behind the Mormon world view. For the skeptical outsider, it situates Mormon beliefs in a broad context of history, theology, philosophy, and social science and demonstrates Mormonism's ability to provide bold and compelling answers to the most fundamental questions of human existence. And for the serious student of Mormonism, it furnishes insights that only an insider can bring to some of the Latter-day Saints' most peculiar teachings.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Abbreviations
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Joseph Smith and the Radical Claims of Mormonism
• Chapter 2: Skepticism, Rationality, and the Search for the Truth
• Chapter 3: The Meaning of Life—or, Why Do I Have to Die?
• Chapter 4: Life Before Life—or, How Did I Get Here?
• Chapter 5: Life Before Death—a Vale of Tears
• Chapter 6: Life after Life—Death as a Transition
• Chapter 7: Living the Mormon Lifestyle—on Smoking, Sex, Service, and Sacrifice
• Chapter 8: Old Things Become New—the Restoration of the Ancient Church
• Chapter 9: The Book of Mormon, the Gold Plates, and the Angel
• Chapter 10: The Witness of the Spirit—or, Why Latter-day Saints Say They Know the Gospel is True
• Conclusion: The Pearl of Great Price
• Appendix: A Comparison of Reports of Near-Death Experiences and Latter-day Saint Beliefs about the Life after Life
• Bibliography