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I would add to this: – Bart Ehrman’s books. I particularly like Misquoting Jesus and Jesus, Interrupted. Lost Scriptures was hit & miss.
– Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth.
– Johnathan Haidt’s The Righteous Mind.
The Strangites have some interesting books about JS Non-LDS –
Lost Books of the Bible
Jung – Memories, Dreams, Reflections & Modern Man in Search of a Soul
Freud – Moses and Monotheism
Frazer – The Golden Bough
There are many others. Apologies for the DWEMness of the list.
SamBee wrote:The Strangites have some interesting books about JS.
Really? Pray tell us more…
“By the Hand of Mormon” by Givens was quite good. Anything by Lowell Bennion. And Eugene England. I like Juanita Brooks too. mackay11 wrote:SamBee wrote:The Strangites have some interesting books about JS.
Really? Pray tell us more…
I was trying to find the website, but they certainly used to sell some interesting books on early Mormonism. Of course, when they get to the power struggle between James Strang, Brigham and the rest, then they get biased, but the stuff before then is interesting.
The Community of Christ, former RLDS, also used to have some books which gave very interesting perspectives on Joseph Smith. Again, though, when you get to the split, then biases creep in. They do airbrush out certain elements such as JS’ polygamy, but I think they’re getting round to accepting that now.
SamBee wrote:mackay11 wrote:SamBee wrote:The Strangites have some interesting books about JS.
Really? Pray tell us more…
I was trying to find the website, but they certainly used to sell some interesting books on early Mormonism. Of course, when they get to the power struggle between James Strang, Brigham and the rest, then they get biased, but the stuff before then is interesting.
The Community of Christ, former RLDS, also used to have some books which gave very interesting perspectives on Joseph Smith. Again, though, when you get to the split, then biases creep in. They do airbrush out certain elements such as JS’ polygamy, but I think they’re getting round to accepting that now.
I have a book on Emma Smith by the RLDS that appears to have been written when they were still denying that polygamy happened under JS. I have collected or read at least a half-dozen accounts of Emma’s life. Some saying that she was a noble and elect woman, some saying that in the final analysis she failed at the most critical juncture in her life, some that portray JS as a difficult person to live with, and others that make it seem like it is kind of like being married to Jesus (i.e. that he seems to know the answers to why specific children must die young and that he is given the power over life and death to heal – but he is restrained from either sharing his knowledge with Emma or with healing their sick and dying children by divine will).
The facts themselves (as best we can understand them) are interesting. What I find more fascinating is how Emma can morph from saintly heroin to a jealous china throwing, JS poisoning, she-devil that will be lucky to ride JS coat-tails into heaven – depending on who is telling the story. I am enamored with story telling and how stories of true events can vary so wildly.
As long as we are talking Emma and Joseph – “Mormon Enigma” and “Rough Stone Rolling” seem to be the best – least embellished – accounts.
I’m sure Emma had her own faults like anyone else… but I find her an interesting and even admirable woman. JS was a handful no doubt, but she maybe hhad her moments.
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