The Oxford Handbook of Mormonism

by Terryl L. Givens (Editor), Philip L. Barlow (Editor)

Overview

Winner of the Best Anthology Book Award from the John Whitmer Historical Association
Winner of the Special Award for Scholarly Publishing from the Association for Mormon Letters

Scholarly interest in Mormon theology, history, texts, and practices—what makes up the field now known as Mormon studies—has reached unprecedented levels, making it one of the fastest-growing subfields in religious studies. In this volume, Terryl Givens and Philip Barlow, two leading scholars of Mormonism, have brought together 45 of the top experts in the field to construct a collection of essays that offers a comprehensive overview of scholarship on Mormons.

The book begins with a section on Mormon history, perhaps the most well-developed area of Mormon studies. Chapters in this section deal with questions ranging from how Mormon history is studied in the university to the role women have played over time. Other sections examine revelation and scripture, church structure and practice, theology, society, and culture. The final two sections look at Mormonism in a larger context. The authors examine Mormon expansion across the globe—focusing on Mormonism in Latin America, the Pacific, Europe, and Asia—in addition to the interaction between Mormonism and other social systems, such as law, politics, and other faiths.

Bringing together an impressive body of scholarship, this volume reveals the vast range of disciplines and subjects where Mormonism continues to play a significant role in the academic conversation. The Oxford Handbook of Mormonism will be an invaluable resource for those within the field, as well as for people studying the broader, ever-changing American religious landscape.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199778362
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/01/2015
Series:	Oxford Handbooks
Pages:	678
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.90(d)

About the Author

Terryl L. Givens is Jabez A. Bostwick Professor of English at the University of Richmond. He is the author of Wrestling the Angel: The Foundations of Mormon Thought: Cosmos, God, Humanity.

Philip L. Barlow is the Leonard Arrington Professor of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University. He is the author of Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Terryl Givens and Philip Barlow

I. History of Mormonism
1. An Interpretive Framework for Studying the History of Mormonism - Jan Shipps
2. Emergent Mormonism in Context - Daniel Walker Howe
3. The Mormon Church in Utah - W. Paul Reeve
4 The Modern Mormon Church - Matthew J. Grow
5. Women in Mormonism - Claudia L. Bushman
6. Understanding Multiple Mormonisms - William D. Russell
7. Mormon Studies as an Academic Discipline- David J. Whittaker

II. Revelation and Scripture
8. Joseph Smith and His Visions - Richard L. Bushman
9. Mormons and the Bible - Laurie Maffly-Kipp
10. The Book of Mormon - Grant Hardy
11. Revelation and the Open Canon in Mormonism - David F. Holland

III. Ecclesiastical Structure and Praxis
12. Mormon Priesthood and Organization - Gregory A. Prince
13. Mormon Mission Work - Reid L. Neilson
14. The Mormon Temple and Mormon Ritual - James E. Falconer
15. Lived Religion among Mormons - Tona J. Hangen

IV. Mormon Thought
16. Mind and Spirit in Mormon Thought - Philip L. Barlow
17. The Nature of God in Mormon Thought - David L. Paulsen & Hal R. Boyd
18. Christ, Atonement, and Human Possibilities in Mormon Thought - Terryl L. Givens
19. The Problem of Evil in Mormon Thought - James M. McLaughlan
20. Embodiment and Sexuality in Mormon Thought - Samuel Morris Brown & Kate Holbrook

V. Mormon Society
21. The Social Composition of Mormonism - Tim B. Heaton & Cardell K. Jacobson
22. Celestial Marriage (Eternal and Plural) - Kathryn M. Daynes
23. Mormon Doctrine on Gender - Valerie M. Hudson
24. Mormons and Race - Margaret Blair Young & Darius Aidan Gray
25. Authority and Dissent in Mormonism - Armand L. Mauss
26. Mormonism and Media - John Durham Peters

VI Mormon Culture
27. Geography and Mormon Identity - Richard V. Francaviglia
28. Mormon Popular Culture - Jana Riess
29. Mormon Folk Culture - Eric A. Eliason
30. Mormon Visual Arts - Paul L. Anderson
31. Mormon Letters - Michael Austin
32. Music and Heaven in Mormon Thought - Michael D. Hicks

VII. The International Church
33. Mormons in Latin America - Mark L. Grover
34. Mormons in The Pacific - R. Lanier Britsch
35. Mormons in Europe - Wilfried Decoo
36. Mormons in Asia - Van C. Gessel

VIII Mormonism in the World Community
37. Communitarianism and Consecration in Mormonism - J. Spencer Fluhman
38. Mormons and the Law - Sarah Barringer Gordon
39. Mormonism in the American Political Domain - Noah R. Feldman
40. Mormons and Interfaith Relations - Richard J. Mouw
41. Mormons and Muslims- Daniel Peterson

Index

Editorial Reviews

"[T]his book reflects what it claims to reflect: the seemingly ever-accelerating shift away from the New Mormon History toward a far more diverse and eclectic study of the Mormon tradition. It presents the best of more traditional scholarship, and gestures toward the new, and even most of those essays that are more traditional in focus and scope, like Matthew J. Grow's 'The Modern Mormon Church,' point at their conclusion toward areas of future study and scholarship. It would serve as an invaluable resource for scholars interested in getting a handle on the state of the field, and will serve those more experience." —Matthew Bowman, Religious Studies Review

"The forty-one articles in this welcome compendium of knowledge and critical reflection enable the reader to understand how this process of steady enlightenment is taking place...This volume is cause for genuine rejoicing. There is no more efficient and authoritative guide to things Mormon. Designed for a readership of non-Mormons as well as Mormons, the Handbook is a striking step toward the more complete integration of the study of Mormonism into the study of American history, politics, society, and culture."—Mormon Studies Review

"The Oxford Handbook of Mormonism contributes considerably to the burgeoning field of Mormon studies. The essays are logically and neatly organized in the eight sections, yet each topic is distinct. The essays are current and should provide a valuable resource for those in Mormon studies, as well as for general readers interested in the open landscape of American and world religions."—BYU Studies Quarterly

"I strongly endorse The Oxford Handbook of Mormonism. On balance it is a serious (and successful) attempt to talk about Mormonism in a productive and meaningful manner."—Interpreter

"An exceptionally complete overview of scholarship on Mormonism Treating a wide range of important topics, this is a valuable resource on Mormonism."—CHOICE

"The authors represent a wish-list...The essays are thoughtful and reasoned...I am not aware of a similar collection of absolutely qualified authors.."—By Common Consent

"...Givens and Barlow range far and wide to include a full stable of voices and points of view..." —The Deseret News

"The Oxford Handbook of Mormonism... is an excellent resource for both Mormons as well as scholars (or even casual observers) wishing to gauge current scholarship on the topic." —Association for Mormon Letters

"As a reference, it is a terrific addition to any library, whether academic, public, or private. The Oxford Handbook of Mormonism is one of the best such handbooks and it will certainly be a useful starting point for years of research, thought, and discussion." —Journal of Mormon History

"This collection provides a valuable synthesis of Mormon theology and practice."—Nova Religio

From the Publisher