Science, Religion, and Mormon Cosmology

by Erich Paul

If cosmology connotes an understanding of the structure of both a physical and a transcendent universe, contends Erich Robert Paul, it is virtually impossible to understand Mormonism outside the dimensions of cosmological thinking. This unique study examines how Mormonism shaped its cosmic vision by using and developing cosmological ideas, and what this process says about science, religion, and Mormonism itself.
 

Genres: Religion

312 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1992

Reviews

[Kyle Zufelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does not live up to it's ambitious title. Instead of providing a discussion of the relation between science and Mormon theology, it instead largely focuses on the transition in the Mormon community from being largely pro-science during the foundation of the church, to the largely anti-scientific mentality that came about in response to the theory of evolution and as a result of the writings of apostles such as Bruce R. McConkie and Joseph Fielding Smith. While this is an interesting book, this transition is not unique to Mormonism, and the misleading title left me disappointed with the narrow scope of the book. If you are interested in learning more about the historic views of cosmology among leaders and members of the LDS church, you will enjoy this book. I will not recommend this book, however, as I went into it expecting a broader exploration of the doctrines of the church with respect to cosmology.

[Erik Fjeldsted · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title of this book is kind of misleading. Instead of being about the doctrine of the Latter Day Saint church and how science and cosmology align or not it's a dissertation on the philosophy of cosmology. Unless you already have a high vocabulary in this field of study I wouldn't have too high of hopes in understanding what is being said.

The only times I really understood what was said was when he quoted a general authority from the church.

There wasn't very much to get excited about and at times it seemed repetitive and wordy just for the sake of being wordy, with that said I didn't understand very much of it in the first place.

I would steer clear of this book if given the opportunity.