Comments about ‘My view: Who are Mormon intellectuals? Top ten list only a beginning’

Intellectualism is an interesting term. What is an intellectual? History is full of them! Scripture is full of them (Korihor comes to mind)! A really intelligent knows that the tiny bit of knowledge he has obtained from the vast ocean of knowledge always humbles him and he does not feel the need to try to impress the rest of us with his vast knowledge! Truly intelligent people among us do not feel the need to ridicule faith but know that what they know increases the need for faith in what they don't know! Truly intelligent people are humble truth seekers, not truth definers! That's the difference!

Just an observation (not meant to be a slam): despite growing up in Utah, being Mormon myself, and being exposed to countless many more Mormons than Jews, the five smartest people I've personally known are Jewish.

Six, counting Jesus.

taxman

Great, you almost forgot the most intelligent man that ever walked the face of the earth.

When it comes to intellectualism I like to refer to Moses, who must have been a top student in the schools of Egypt. Yet when he came down from the mount he had been humbled by an all knowing creator, and said "now I know man is nothing, which thing I never supposed."

To KM- I don't personally know Jesus yet (but I'm working on it).
By the way, some of the others on my list are pretty humble too. In fact, I'd be surprised if Jewish religious publications print anything like a "Top 10 Jewish Intellectuals" list; they seem to be secure enough not to have that need.

taxman

Thanks! Aren't we all either working on a personal relationship with Jesus or enhancing the one we already have. Not to compare the jewish scholars with the Mormon scholars, but I think that none of the so called scholars on the Mormon list would have a personal desire to be on the list. Its sort of against the whole program of looking to Christ and not into ourselves for real fulfillment and self actualization. Thus we have Moses stating that he is nothing (without God). "which thing he never supposed until he communed with God.

Intellectual is our word. It lives out here in the larger world, and doesn't have to be defined in utah except in terms of it being something you despise and don't want to be. It is a term of denegration, used by tea party candidates or AM radio show hosts to spew vitriol against any opponent who seems to demonstrate intelligence. It's like asking who are the mormon Elite (use your best palin e-LEET here) or who are the mormon community organizers or intelligensia or democrats. You just don't think of them together because for so long we have only heard these terms in context of what not to be.

"Thus we have Moses stating that he is nothing (without God). "which thing he never supposed until he communed with God."

KM - I assume you realize you're quoting a Jew (Moses) when making the point that Mormons don't seek recognition. For example, when he said "...let my people go", I think the "people" he was talking about were Jews.

By my observances, the Church is all about exposure and recognition. Today's Top-10 list is bestselling suthors; who knows what tomorrow's will be. It almost seems like the DN and many members fell the need to keep themselves pumped-up and feeling really relevant in the world. Notwithstanding, the sad fact is very very few Mormons have risen to the top of their fields and influenced world thought. So I guess whether it be out of humility or whatever, Mormons have done a good job of keeping their intellectual "talents" buried.

Yes Taxman I know what tribe of Israel Moses came from. Interestingly we Mormon folk worship the King of the Jews, or, rather The King of the World. Whatever tribe he comes from he is our God. I think if one looks at the leaders of the church as a whole, one will find many well educated people who have risen to the top of their chosen fields, or could have if they didn't accept the call to serve.