Editor’s Introduction by Dave
The Origin of the Universe by Clark Goble
Guest Post: Do Stories Matter? Act 1 by Rosalynde Welch
Selections From Robinson’s Gilead by William Morris
Eternal Regression by Eric James Stone
Habemas papam by Ronan JH
History Never Gets Old; It Simply Gets Older by Justin Butterfield
Weekly Zeitgeist by Steve
The Last Word by Dave

I didn’t miss the party, did I? Anyway, if anyone’s still around, here’s another recent weblog appearance in the Bloggernacle, one that seems to point in a new direction: Unofficial Manifesto. This stylish 4-blog features a group of (correct me if I’m wrong) young, edgy artiste-types with personal interests in writing, music, and performance (based on the personal blogs of Arwyn, D-Train, Mike, and Pris) but who are using the new UM blog to post reflections on general Mormon topics and themes. Thus, recent posts on truth, Brigham’s place in LDS history, and the church is boring problem.
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Next up in our list of discussion topics is the origin of the universe. I’ll confess that I’ve long wondered why so many people get riled up about evolution but don’t seem to have much trouble with the universe itself. Presumably it is simply because “man” doesn’t really show up much. However, if you think about it, the same kind of thinking that lies behind biological evolution lies behind most cosmology. The same anthropic reasoning that one often finds in evolution pops up in cosmological discussions as well. One quickly realizes that if any of the basic constants of physics or of the evolution of the universe varied much, human life would be impossible. Some calculate the probabilities of having a universe arranged just right physically so as to develop an earth. (I’ll not give them – Google them if you’re interested in various speculations.) They make most evolutionary probabilities look downright common.

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Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson, is a fine novel. Yes, it was published to critical acclaim and just won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction—but don’t hold all that against it! It deserves a look and, in my opinion, should immedietely join Willa Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop, Chaim Potok’s My Name is Asher Lev, and the short stories of Flannery O’Connor as a major exemplar and reference point for Mormon readers, writers, and critics.
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It’s been a Catholic couple of weeks in the Bloggernacle, and for good reason. I think if you took all of the posts that have been written about Catholicism by Mormon bloggers during the recent Papalfest, it would cast a positive light on the Bloggernacle as a whole. The ‘Nacle has been respectful, thoughtful, and positively glowing with goodwill towards the Catholic Church. If this is representative of Mormon tolerance, then I am impressed.

As BT’s “religion editor”, I shall be instituting a weekly award for “Best Religion Post.” Before I announce this week’s winner, a word on the conclave.

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I’m late with this, but I now draw your attention to Dave’s provocative look at Mormon history and historiography through the eyes of prominent historian David McCullough.

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