New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology [Hardcover]

Brent Lee Metcalfe (Editor)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 460 pages
• Publisher: Signature Books (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560850175
• ISBN-13: 978-1560850175
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,852,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Approach to the Book of Mormon, January 13, 2001

By 

John Hamer (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology (Hardcover)

Although the "Book of Mormon" is a fascinating and important piece of 19th century literature which has had a place in American history that should not be dismissed, it seems that very little serious work has been done on the book itself. Certainly, rivers of ink have been spilled on the question "Is the book truly an ancient document?" -- a proposition that is not really in question for anyone except certain devout followers of those Mormon churches which take the book as holy writ.

"New Approaches to the Book of Mormon" moves beyond this question. This is no "Anti-Mormon" tract which is attempting to "disprove" the "Book of Mormon" -- this is a series of articles by scholars who want to look more deeply into the book and pull out the implications.

As with any book that is a compilation of articles, some have more appeal to me than others and so I'm giving the book only 4 stars. I especially recommend the articles: (1) "Multiply Exceedingly..." -- which is a thoughtful analysis of the population figures given in the "Book of Mormon"; (2) "Anti-Universalist Rhetoric..." which puts some of the theology in the "Book of Mormon" -- which now seems obscure -- back into the context of the theological controversies of the early 19th century; (3) "A Record in the Language of my Father..." which discusses the "Book of Mormon" and its (non-)relationship with ancient languages; (4) "The Priority of Mosiah..." which brings up some compelling points about the order in which the "Book of Mormon" was written; and (5) "Does the Shoe Fit?" which successfully counters the theory advocated by FARMS (the Utah Mormon apologetic group) that the ancient Mayan culture generally fits the "Book of Mormon" Nephite people.

If you're interested in the "Book of Mormon", this book will surely be very thought provoking for you. As each article is rather specialized, this probably shouldn't be your first introduction to the "Book of Mormon" -- but for those who already have some familiarity with the "Book of Mormon", I heartily recommend "New Approaches..."

39 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Research that pulls no punches, August 5, 1998

By 

Garett Jones ([e-mail]) (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology (Hardcover)

This book really changed my views about the Book of Mormon. The writers (mostly LDS) contend that the Book of Mormon looks more like a 19th century work of "inspired fiction" than like a genuine ancient document. Some writers argue that it isn't important for the Book of Mormon to be historical; most focus their energies on the archaeological, linguistic, and historical questions raised by the book. Since I'd read a lot of Hugh Nibley and John Sorensen's writings, and was exposed to a lot of mainstream LDS apologetics at Brigham Young University, I had some idea of what the arguments in favor of historicity were. This collection took solid swipes at many of them. I'm sure that future research will modify many of the conclusions presented here, but this work is the best collection that I know of bringing together well-researched liberal Book of Mormon scholarship.

48 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Written by ex-Mormons or Mormons who were later exed?, February 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology (Hardcover)

Contrary to the incorrect information provided by the reviewer below, this book was not written by ex-Mormons. It was written by Mormon scholars who are more concerned with truth than continuing to perform the Mormon practice of "Lying for the Lord". For writing an honest book based on evidence--rather than faith--several of the authors were excommunicated from the Mormon church (against their wishes). If you are interested in the Book of Mormon's historicity you need to read this book and the FARMS review.