Description

"A philosopher, Sterling M. McMurrin (1914-96) appreciated the similarities between Mormonism and Hellenistic Christianity. For instance, Church Fathers of the fifth century admired Plato, who taught that there is one God, co-existent with such eternal entities as Justice and Love—to which Joseph Smith added Priesthood and Church. Where Augustine modified Plato, Mormonism would tend to side with his critic, the Stoic-leaning Pelagius. In this broad context, what is Mormonism's contribution to the overall pursuit of life's fundamental, ontological questions? Herein lies McMurrin's intent—an invitation to join him on a wide-ranging search for purpose. He finds his church's synthesis of heresy and orthodoxy to be refreshing and impressive in this light, in its treatment of evil, sin, and free will. Belief in a personal God may run counter to traditional faith, but it is nonetheless emotionally satisfying and accessible to the human imagination." (From back cover.)

Table of Contents

Forward

Part One: The Concept of Reality

1. On Naturalism and Supernaturalism
2. On Necessity and Contingency
3. On Materialism
4. On Monism and Pluralism
5. On Being and Becoming
6. On Universals and Particulars

Part Two: The Concept of God

7. On Creation
8. On God as Absolute or Finite
9. On Time and Eternity
10. On Nominalism and Materialism
11. On Natural Theology

Part Three: The Concept of Man

12. On the Self as a Necessary Existent
13. On Original Sin
14. On Salvation by Grace
15. On the Freedom of the Will
16. On the Atonement

Part Four: Mormon Theology and the Problem of Evil

17. On Evil in the Christian Tradition
18. On Evil and Mormon Finitism
19. On the Task of Mormon Theology

Part Five: Theses on the Idea That God is a Person (Supplementary Essay)

20. On God as Philosophical Explanation
21. On God as Moral Ground and Sanction
22. On the Living God of Religion

Works Cited