Table of Contents

Foreword ... . 11 Richard J. Mouw General Editors ... 14 Contributors ... 15 Abbreviations ... 16 Introduction: A Much-needed and Challenging Book ... 19 Francis J. Beckwith, Carl Mosser, and Paul Owen Part I: Mormonism's Appeal, Growth, and Challenges Introductory Essay ... 28 1. The Apologetic Impulse in Early Mormonism: The Historical Roots of the New Mormon Challenge ... 31 Craig J. Hazen 2. And the Saints Go Marching On: The New Mormon Challenge for World Missions, Apologetics, and Theology ... . 59 Carl Mosser Part II: The Mormon Worldview Introductory Essay ... 90 3. Craftsman or Creator? An Examination of the Mormon Doctrine of Creation and a Defense of Creatio ex nihilo... 95 Paul Copan and William Lane Craig 4. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph Smith? God, Creation, and Humanity in the Old Testament and Mormonism... 153 Jim W. Adams 5. A Tale of Two Theisms: The Philosophical Usefulness of the Classical Christian and Mormon Concepts of God ... 193 Stephen E. Parrish (with Carl Mosser) 6. Moral Law, the Mormon Universe, and the Nature of the Right We Ought to Choose... 219 Francis J. Beckwith 7. The Absurdities of Mormon Materialism: A Reply to the Neglected Orson Pratt ... 243 J. P. Moreland Part III: Mormonism and Christianity Introductory Essay ... 268 8. Monotheism, Mormonism, and the New Testament Witness... 271 Paul Owen 9. Is Mormonism Christian? ... 315 Craig L. Blomberg Part IV: The Book of Mormon Introductory Essay ... 334 10. Does the Book of Mormon Reflect an Ancient Near Eastern Background? ... 337 Thomas J. Finley 11. Rendering Fiction: Translation, Pseudotranslation, and the Book of Mormon ... 367 David J. Shepherd Final Conclusions... 397 Francis J. Beckwith, Carl Mosser, and Paul Owen Notes ... 401 Glossary . ... 507 Subject Index ... 511 Index of Authors... . 519 Index of Biblical and Ancient Literature ... 523 Index of LDS Standard Works ... 533

About the Author

Francis J. Beckwith is Associate Professor of Church-State Studies, and Associate Director of the J. M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies, Baylor University. A graduate of Fordham University (PhD, philosophy) and the Washington University School of Law, St. Louis (MJS), his books include Law, Darwinism, and Public Education: The Establishment Clause ad the Challenge of Intelligent Design (Rowman & Littlefield), To Everyone An Answer: A Case for the Christian Worldview (InterVarsity Press), and Do the Right Thing: Readings in Applied Ethics & Social Philosophy (Wadsworth) Carl Mosser (PhD candidate, University of St. Andrews) has published significant articles on Mormonism in both evangelical and Mormon journals. Paul Owen (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is assistant professor of Bible and religion at Montreat College. He has published significant articles on Mormonism in both evangelical and Mormon journals. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.