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Exploring Mormon Thought: Volume 3, Of God and Gods
In his long-anticipated third volume, Of God and Gods, Blake Ostler steps through the common complaint that Mormons aren’t Christians because they believe in three separate individuals in the Godhead as well as the deification of human beings. He demonstrates the clear biblical understanding, both in the precursors of the Old Testament and the New, that Jesus and God the Father were not one in some incomprehensible “substance” while separate in person, but were actually distinct individuals. What made them one was their indwelling love. It is that loving unity into which they invite human beings.
In language and thought accessible to the lay reader but simultaneously rigorous and scholarly, Ostler analyzes and responds to the arguments of contemporary international theologians, reconstructs and interprets Joseph Smith’s important King Follett Discourse and Sermon in the Grove just before the Mormon prophet’s death, and argues persuasively for the Mormon doctrine of “robust deification.”
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
In language and thought accessible to the lay reader but simultaneously rigorous and scholarly, Ostler analyzes and responds to the arguments of contemporary international theologians, reconstructs and interprets Joseph Smith’s important King Follett Discourse and Sermon in the Grove just before the Mormon prophet’s death, and argues persuasively for the Mormon doctrine of “robust deification.”
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
- GenresReligionPhilosophy
741 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 12, 2018
I first read second volume of Exploring Mormon Thought about 10 years ago. I came across powerful concepts that challenged my view of God and theology. In the intervening 10 years, I’ve studied the basics of theology and philosophy much more and have finally returned to these books. I now wonder what, if any thing, I took from these books the first time. Ostler does an incredible job of laying the philosophical and theological framework to evaluate Mormonism and its doctrines. He shares insights that have taken me years to develop and articulate. I don’t believe these are for everyone. And they do not represent the definitive philosophical response on Mormon thought. But they are an important contribution in the continuing dialogue about Mormon theology and highlight the unique and powerful ideas found in the faith.
April 13, 2014
Wow. This book is the most thorough LDS discussion of the theology behind the Council of Gods in the scriptures as well as the doctrine of the Godhead and Deification. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 contain some very good scriptural arguments for the LDS view of the Godhead from Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament.
Chapters 2,3, and 4 provided some great scriptural and cultural history about the concept of a Divine Council. These chapters were my overall favorites. The discussion about pre-exilic views and Second Temple views were also very interesting and inspiring. Reminded me that there is a lot that I do not know and that I would love to learn about in regards to scriptural history.
Many of the next chapters are explaining different views and approaches to the Trinity and Trinitarianism. These chapters were quite difficult for me as I was not familiar with so many of the views. I did find it quite enlightening and his arguments for and against the scriptural and logical basis of these views was quite heavy. These parts of the book took me the longest to get through.
I really enjoyed the last two chapters about the doctrine of Deification in LDS thought. The way he uses so much from the Doctrine and Covenants was an eye opener for me. He used many sections of scripture I am familiar with (particularly D&C 88 and 93) and then points out how these teach that we can become like God by following the light we receive and proceed from grace to grace.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in the arguments for the LDS view of the Godhead and the LDS view of the doctrine of Deification. This requires some serious thinking and is not a "light" read by any means.
Chapters 2,3, and 4 provided some great scriptural and cultural history about the concept of a Divine Council. These chapters were my overall favorites. The discussion about pre-exilic views and Second Temple views were also very interesting and inspiring. Reminded me that there is a lot that I do not know and that I would love to learn about in regards to scriptural history.
Many of the next chapters are explaining different views and approaches to the Trinity and Trinitarianism. These chapters were quite difficult for me as I was not familiar with so many of the views. I did find it quite enlightening and his arguments for and against the scriptural and logical basis of these views was quite heavy. These parts of the book took me the longest to get through.
I really enjoyed the last two chapters about the doctrine of Deification in LDS thought. The way he uses so much from the Doctrine and Covenants was an eye opener for me. He used many sections of scripture I am familiar with (particularly D&C 88 and 93) and then points out how these teach that we can become like God by following the light we receive and proceed from grace to grace.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in the arguments for the LDS view of the Godhead and the LDS view of the doctrine of Deification. This requires some serious thinking and is not a "light" read by any means.
August 3, 2010
For some reason I kept looking for a sixth star in rating this book, but 5/5 will do. To begin with, few philosophers have engaged the depth and breadth of what Ostler has done with this book. The King Follett discourse in LDS thought is arguably Joseph Smith's magnum opus. Yet few have examined the implications of those doctrines in their relation to one's personal development and theology. Ostler fixates these doctrines in contemporary thought in a way that transcends any previous work published by LDS authors. John's Gospel teaches that it is "eternal life" to God and His Christ. Ostler provides a wonderful exegesis of LDS doctrine in this publication.
January 22, 2011
This is NOT an easy read. Ostler writes from a philosophy background (which I have very little knowledge of) and I often had to read pages twice just to understand what he was saying. However, the part I understood was riveting and had me rethink certain fundamental concepts of Mormonism. When I finished reading it, I felt like I had hiked an intellectual Grand Canyon, mentally exhausting but well worth the effort.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews