Exploring Mormon Thought: Volume 2, The Problems of Theism and the Love of God

by Blake T. Ostler “These books are the most important works on Mormon theology ever written.” — FARMS Review, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University “This may be the most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever.” — Association for Mormon Letters “Anyone who thinks seriously about the meaning of LDS doctrine should read it. It is a book that will take some time to unpack and some time for its influence to be felt.” — BYU Studies    Available in ebook for the Kindle, Nook, Apple, Google Play, and Kobo. Book Description: In volume 2 of the series, Exploring Mormon Thought: The Problems of Theism and the Love of God, Blake Ostler explores issues related to soteriology, or the theory of salvation. He argues that the commitment that God loves us and respects our dignity as persons entails that God must leave us free to choose whether to have a saving relationship with him. He explores the “logic of love” and argues that the LDS doctrine of a "war in heaven" embodies the commitment that God leaves us free to choose whether to enter into relationship with God. He explores the nature of inter-personal prayer and the contributions of LDS beliefs to a robust prayer dialogue. He offers a view consistent with LDS commitments that makes sense out of asking God to assist others, to alter the natural environment and to grow in relationship with God.       He then turns to the concept of grace and argues that the traditional views lead to insurmountable problems. He argues that though God does not owe any obligation to us to give us grace, God does so out of love. However, because divinity arises from loving relationships, he argues that God could not fail to give sufficient grace to all persons and remain a loving God. Comprehensive Table of Contents: Show/Hide . Publisher’s Note PREFACE 1. MORMONISM AND THE NATURE OF DIVINE LOVE Mormonism and God’s Love The Logic of Love The I-Thou Relation Unconditional Love and Fellowship 2. PROVIDENCE AND PRAYER The Problem of Prayer A Relational Solution Prayer to an All-Controlling God Manipulative Love? Divine Openness and Petitionary Prayer Mormonism and the Problem of Prayer 3. THE RELATION OF MORAL OBLIGATION AND GOD IN LDS THOUGHT Beckwith’s Argument Why Beckwith’s Argument Necessarily Unsound Are Moral Laws Logically Dependent On God’s Nature? Is God a Morally Perfect Being? Beckwith’s Equivocation in His Use of “God” The Possibilities of Ethics in LDS Thought An LDS Teleological Ethic? The Human Rights Objection The Distributive-Justice Objection The Genuine Friendship Objection A Duty-Based LDS Ethic? The Overbroad Rule Argument The Underinclusive Value Argument Egoistic Theories An LDS Agape Theory of Ethics in Alignment with the Gospel of Christ 4. THE IMPLAUSIBILITY OF ORIGINAL SIN The Traditional Paradigms of Original Sin Can We Be Guilty For the Acts of Another? 5. SIN AND THE UNCIRCUMSISED HEART LDS Light on Original Sin Epistemological Assumptions of Moral Obligation Ego Maintenance, Self-Deception, and Authenticity The Bondage of Sin and Agency 6. SOTERIOLOGY IN LDS THOUGHT LDS Soteriological Terminology The Vision Faith unto Repentance Atonement Atonement, Justice, and Mercy Infinite Atonement Prevenient Grace in LDS Scripture The Grace of Life and Light Ritual Expression of Atonement Transferring the Pain of our Sins to Christ 7. THE COMPASSION THEORY OF ATONEMENT God’s Compassion in Atonement Distinctive Claims of the Compassion Theory of Atonement Reconciling Humans to God Reconciling God to Humans Christ’s Suffering as a Result of Our Sins Theories of Atonement The Ransom Theory The Satisfaction Theory The Moral Influence Theory The Moral Example Theory The Governmental Theory The Penal Substitution Theory 8. HONOR, SHAME, AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD Moral Obligation and Honor and Shame Paul’s Doctrine of Justification as God’s Honoring Covenant 9. SELF-DECEPTION AND JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH The New Perspective on Paul James as a Critique of Self-Deceived Paulinism Mormonism and the New Perspective on Paul Appendix A Appendix B 10. THE PROBLEM OF GRACE The Problem of Imputed Righteousness The Problem of Infused Righteousness The Problem of Predestination Does God Owe Obligations? Universal Love and Obligations 11. THE OPERATIONS OF GRACE AND FREE WILL Grace and Free Will in Interpersonal Relations Free Will and Irresistible Grace Concurring Grace The Incompatibility of Free Will and Creatio Ex Nihilo The First Argument: The Incompatibility of Divine Sustenance and Free Will The Second Argument: The Impossibility of God’s Actualizing Agents with Free Will Conclusion 12. GOD THE ETERNAL FATHER The Scriptural Argument The King Follett Discourse The Sermon in the Grove Why Would a Divine Person Become Mortal? BIBLIOGRAPHY SUBJECT INDEX SCRIPTURE INDEX Old Testament New Testament Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price     Praise for the Exploring Mormon Thought series: “These books are the most important works on Mormon theology ever written. There is nothing currently available that is even close to the rigor and sophistication of these volumes. B. H. Roberts and John A. Widtsoe may have had interesting insights in the early part of the twentieth century, but they had neither the temperament nor the training to give a rigorous defense of their views in dialogue with a wider stream of Christian theology. Sterling McMurrin and Truman Madsen had the capacity to engage Mormon theology at this level, but neither one did.” — FARMS Review, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University “This may be the most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever. I eagerly await it as I think it will demonstrate a maturity of Mormon theology in that it will take ‘as given’ a presentation of the basics of Mormon thought. One hopes that other authors will present engagements with other major thinkers such as Heidegger, Gadamer, Derrida, or others. However clearly before one can move on to this more ‘mature’ level of discourse, the beginnings have to be established. While I'm sure other writers may take exception to some of Blake's positions in this first volume, he clearly is blazing the trail in an exciting way. Further it opens up to non-Mormons a clear and lucid presentation of Mormon theology that one can't get from most other writings.” — Clark Goble, Association for Mormon Letters “I hope that Ostler’s work finds a wide audience within the Church. Anyone who thinks seriously about the meaning of LDS doctrine should read it. It is a book that will take some time to unpack and some time for its influence to be felt.” — James McLachlan, BYU Studies Other Volumes in the Exploring Mormon Thought Series: Volume 1, The Attributes of God Volume 3, Of God and Gods About the Author: Blake T. Ostler is a practicing attorney specializing in educational law, employment law and intellectual property. He holds a J.D. from the University of Utah. His books include the EXPLORING MORMON THOUGHT series and Fire on the Horizon: Meditations on the Endowment and Love of Atonement. He has published widely on Mormon philosophy in journals such as Religious Studies, International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion, Dialogue: Journal of Mormon Thought, BYU Studies and FARMS Review of Books. More Information: Pages: 503 ISBN: 978-1-58958-095-4 (Hardcover) Published March 2006