From Deseret News archives:

Academic world training an eye on Mormonism

Published: Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008 12:29 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Harvard Divinity School has long prided itself on the diversity of its curriculum — it currently features classes in American Buddhism, Jewish Apocalypticism and Classical Sufism — but it took until this semester for the venerable school to offer a course on one of the fastest-growing faiths in the world: Mormonism.

The decision by Harvard to add "Mormonism and the American Experience" reflects what appears to be an uptick of interest in Mormonism in higher education nationally.

Two non-Mormon universities, Claremont Graduate University in California and Utah State University, have established the first endowed chairs in Mormon studies, and the University of Wyoming is considering taking a similar step. The American Academy of Religion, which is the largest association of religion scholars worldwide, has established a new group for specialists in Mormon studies.

There are more presses publishing academic works about Mormonism, more academic conferences on the religion, and more non-Mormon scholars studying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as Mormonism is formally known.

"The interest is growing in Mormon studies generally, and it's becoming something that other religious studies scholars have to take account of and pay greater attention to," said Melissa Proctor, a visiting lecturer teaching the new class at Harvard.

Story continues below
"Some people believe we have entered a golden age of sorts in Mormon studies," said Proctor, who grew up in the church and is working on a book about contemporary Mormon women.

Proctor noted that the future of Mormon studies at Harvard is unclear, and the dean of Harvard's divinity school, William A. Graham, said Proctor's willingness to teach about Mormonism was a plus but that she was primarily invited to teach this year because of her expertise in other areas. She also teaches courses on ethics and gender.

"Mormonism does pop up occasionally in the Harvard curriculum but usually as a part of American religious history courses rather than as a special topic for an entire course," Graham said by e-mail. "With so many major traditions of human religious history and life to try to cover, higher priorities usually come ahead of Mormonism, namely traditions such as Shinto or Confucian or Taoist traditions, for which we currently have no specialists on our faculty."

Whether or not Harvard continues to offer the class, scholars say a rising academic interest in Mormonism at universities nationally parallels the increasing visibility of Mormonism in American popular and political culture.

Recent comments

Robert is correct about being born again. And this concept was not...

Phil | March 2, 2008 at 9:26 a.m.

Thanks "IMHO" I am also a former Mormon and have heard people say...

ROBERT | Feb. 27, 2008 at 8:52 p.m.

I wonder how they will handle the study of Joseph Smith and Bringham...

Roger | Feb. 27, 2008 at 3:39 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Spell W....right? Get over it bookworm! TCU WILL BEATDOWNDAUTES!...

Re: True to Form. Cougar fan you are not. The Oklahoma game was a great game...

Gays get Mormon support in SLC

As a Gay man, former Mormon of 30 years, I appreciate the LDS church backing...

Text from LDS church on S.L. policy

What a terrific approach for the LDS Church to take. Great news!

To all the people that say Utah is not as good as last year and Wynn is no...

Wyoming writer amazed by BYU

BYU played well, BECAUSE WYOMING IS NOT TCU.

Text from LDS church on S.L. policy

This is a great story. All of these media sites try to pigeon whole the...

I guess the church got a new PR director? Good for them. Now maybe we can...

Gays get Mormon support in SLC

This is wonderful news! Way to go, LDS Church!

Gays get Mormon support in SLC

I disagree with the concept of granting implicit special rights based upon...

Advertisements
Advertisement