2008/03/01 by Richard L. Bushman · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · Social Sciences · #American Constitutional Law and Politics #Archaeology #Art #Computer science #Contradiction #Curiosity #Doctrine #Enthusiasm #Epistemology #Genealogy #History #Indigenous #Islam #Law #Library science #Literature #Mormonism, Religion, and History #Perspective (graphical) #Philosophy #Political science #Psychology #Secularism #Sociology #Subject (documents) #Theology #Visual arts
paper · doi:10.1093/actrade/9780195310306.001.0001
openalex publication_date 2008/03/01 · openalex created_date 2022/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Abstract Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction sets out to examine a religion with over 12 million adherents that still baffles outsiders nearly 170 years after the founder' death. How can twenty-first-century Americans believe in a prophet who translated gold plates and claimed constant revelations? The emergence of eminent Mormon politicians, business leaders, and entertainers only deepens the mystery. Sane, useful, upright members of society hold beliefs that others find difficult to understand, much less believe. The jarring contradiction raises the questions: Why does Mormonism exercise such a powerful influence on the lives of Mormons? How can a religion that runs against the grain of modern secularism evoke such strong loyalties?