I like Michael’s post about seer stones.
Author: Nate Oman
I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah (autobiographical blogging here), and attended Brigham Young University from 1993 to 1999. Between 1994 and 1996, I served in the Korea Pusan Mission. While at BYU, I mainly studied political science and philosophy. (I was lucky enough to take several classes from T&S's Jim Faulconer.) I also took just enough economics to get myself in trouble. After graduation, I married the fabulous and incredible Heather Bennett (now Oman) and worked on Capitol Hill for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) while Heather finished graduate school at George Washington University. Beginning in 2000, I attended Harvard Law School, escaping with my JD in June, 2003. After practicing law for awhile, I became a law professor at William & Mary Law School. Somewhere along the line, Heather and I managed to have a son and a daughter.
Fireworks
It was a long, hot day filled with furniture assembly and nagging ideological frustrations.
Priesthood and the Socialization of Males
Statistically speaking, males seem to be responsible for the great majority of human-made suffering.
How Seriously Should We Take Satan?
How seriously ought we to take Satan?
Mormon Familial Amoralism?
In 1958 a political scientist published a book on the culture of Southern Italy that may have something to say about one of the potential pit falls of Mormonism.
The Apparent Inevitability of Literary Criticism
As readers of this blog may know, I have my problems with narrative.
Nibley and the Scriptorians
Perhaps it is just me, but “scriptorian” seems to be an honorific that has fallen out of favor.
A Letter to a Friend Going to the Temple for the First Time
By and large, I don’t think that we do a particularlly good job preparing members to go to the temple for the first time. As a result, I think that many members — especially converts without close family members who have been to the temple — get worried about what is going to happen, especially if they have heard any of the discussion in the bloggernacle or elsewhere about “issues” with the temple. Here is what I would write to such a person:
Why I Read History
I mainly read history because it is fun. I do, however, occasionally have other reasons.
You are the exception…
I love Elder Oaks’ talks.
A Legal Analysis of the “Marriage Protection Amendment”
Here is my personal legal analysis of the “Marriage Protection Amendment” that is pending before the U.S. Senate.
I am no longer an attorney…
I am not longer an attorney.
Oman on Rees on Oman
Eons ago in blog time, I did a post called “An Open Letter to the Dialogue Editorial Board.”
Expecting Kangaroo Fur
The feel and smell of kangaroo fur is a central part of my understanding of Mormonism.
Living in the Weimar Republic
Weimar Germany was a tremendously sophisticated and creative place.
From the Archives: Jello and the Saga of the Restoration
I don’t really believe in coincidences since my last visit to Palmyra, New York, where I learned of the deep relationship between jello and Mormonism
Mormon History Goes to Court
Earlier this week the Utah Supreme Court issued its opinion in State v. Holm. If you are interested in Mormonism, law, history, or (best of all!) Mormon legal history, you ought to read it.
For a Revival of Mormon Private Law
Yesterday saw an interesting thread at BCC on the question of what sorts of procedures could we imagine for creating better feedback from members to leaders within the Church.
The Opportunity and Tragedy of Immaturity
To a large degree Mormonism is about the recapitulation of the past.
Creating a Market in Correlation
Maybe it is time to turn correlation over to the market.
Globalization and Ritual
Maybe we should spend more time thinking about how the ancient Romans dealt with the problem of globalization.
What Kind of Liberals are Mormons?
What is the precise nature of Mormon liberalism?
Apocrypha, Bible, and the Status of Scipture
Consider the following two scriptures about the scriptures:
Alternate Voices
One of the more interesting pieces that I have read on Mormon intellectual life is Armand Mauss’s essay “Alternate Voices,”Sunstone April 1990. The article was written in response to a General Conference sermon by Elder Oaks of the same name. (Also worth reading here.) Brother Mauss’s article in its entirety is reproduced here with the kind permission of Sustone and Brother Mauss.
“One afternoon in Amarillo”
If I ever to write a country-western song about religious epistemology, I will call it “One afternoon in Amarillo.”
“God being with thee when we know not”
Sunday afternoon I found myself reading the Oxford Book of English Verse (the Quiller-Couch edition in honor of a great advocate of the Inner Temple), and I read the following:
The Puzzle of Blasphemy
In one of its fitful bursts of faux-oracular prose, the Supreme Court once declared that the U.S. Constitution knows no blasphemy.
The Rhetorical Burden of Authority
Authority is a key concept in Mormonism.
Puritanism without Calvinism
Three of the best books that I have ever read on Mormonism are not about Mormonism at all:
A Mother in Heaven Sighting
Mother in Heaven recently made a cameo appearance in correlated materials.