Item Detail
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25617
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2
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0
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English
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Covenantal Pluralism in Mormonism and Islam : Alternatives to the Binary Logic of Apostasy
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Standing Apart : Mormon Historical Consciousness and the Concept of Apostasy
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Oxford, New York
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Oxford University Press
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280-308
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Rather than attempting to further contribute toward an understanding of the Great Apostasy as part of a Mormon historical consciousness, this essay addresses some of the consequences resulting from the adoption of this narrative. The ways in which this narrative has been culturally and institutionally applied have led to what I call the binary logic of apostasy, a critical and judgmental worldview that divides and categorizes religions, historical epochs, entire cultures and civilizations, and even political parties and movements in absolute binary fashion— as being either true or false, good or bad (or even evil), and right or wrong.
With an eye toward building bridges of interfaith understanding and engagement, I look to possible alternatives to the binary logic of apostasy: first, in comparative theology, by following Raimon Pannikar and other theologians in defining an inclusivist theology of religions; and second, by drawing upon the teachings and experiences of a similar Abrahamic faith, namely, Islam...Viewing the Great Apostasy through the lens of the theology of religions and following the interfaith principles found in the Qur’ān may promote the kind of serious internal Mormon dialogue necessary to undo the binary logic of apostasy. [From the article]