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Rating: 
Summary: An inescapable truth
Review: "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become." - Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow. "Your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God" - first lie spoken by Satan. One can not escape the similarity in these statements. In many ways, religions throughout human history have taught that men either were or would become deities themselves, contradicting God. The Mormon view of God is perhaps the most direct expression of this concept in modern times. It is in contradiction, however, to the clear expressions of God in the Scriptures. How one man may fare in a debate, as in this work, is irrelevant to how a religion fares when compared to the clear statements of the God they claim to worship. It is the avoidance of addressing these issues that is the ultimate failing of this book.
Rating:
Summary: An inescapable truth
Review: "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become." - Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow. "Your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God" - first lie spoken by Satan. One can not escape the similarity in these statements. In many ways, religions throughout human history have taught that men either were or would become deities themselves, contradicting God. The Mormon view of God is perhaps the most direct expression of this concept in modern times. It is in contradiction, however, to the clear expressions of God in the Scriptures. How one man may fare in a debate, as in this work, is irrelevant to how a religion fares when compared to the clear statements of the God they claim to worship. It is the avoidance of addressing these issues that is the ultimate failing of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Mormon and Catholic debate the nature of God.
Review: Latter-day Saints do not have a strong apologetics tradition. Basically, we say "Read the Book of Mormon, pray over what you have read, and then be honest with the answer you receive." (Book of Mormon, p. 529-530; Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 61-62) And this is how it should be. Truth should be so easy that a child should understand it; and when you bring in lawyers and doctors and philosophers and whatnot to "help" and "clarify," you are in trouble.This debate between Elder B. H. Roberts (the presidency of the Quorum of Seventy Apostles, i.e. a general world leader) with the Rev. Van der Donckt is therefore unusual, and this singularity is what makes this book fascinating reading. Chapter One is a straightforward elaboration of what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes about God the Eternal Father, his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Chapter two contains a reply from the Rev. Van der Donckt to Elder Robert's teachings. The rejoinder not only constitutes a Catholic reply, but also serves as a response embracing the quote-unquote "traditional Christianity," inasmuch as both Protestants and Catholics (generally) subscribe to the same creeds-Nicean and Athanasian. Chapter Three is Elder Robert's rejoinder to the Rev. Van der Donckt reply, and it is in this rejoinder you see the strength of the Church of Jesus Christ's position. For example, the creeds hold that God is unchanging, but Elder Robert's points out that Christ is God, and the Reverend's position is that God is unchanging. But Christ started out as spirit, was then born (incarnated), then was crucified, and then resurrected. So he gained, lost, and regains this body, and isn't that a change? (P.95) Boing! The rest of the books contains statements from church presidents Joseph Smith, Joseph F. Smith, Brigham Young and LDS apostle Orson Pratt, plus a chapter comparing religious traditions vis-Ã -vis Jesus Christ. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "By proving contraries, truth is manifest." (History of the Church 6:428) This debate proves that, and this book would be useful for review and pondering for Saints and the curious anywhere. The type is readable, being a facsimile edition of the original book. They did a good copy of the text, and kept the same pagination so you can compare with earlier editions. But I wish they had found a better picture of Elder Roberts for the cover-I know there are better ones out there.
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BIAS: my philosophy professor Dr. David Paulsen, who also worked on the BYU Studies edition of "The Way, The Truth, The Life", writes the introductory essay. He provides helpful information about Elder Roberts and the nature of the debate
Rating:
Summary: Mormon and Catholic debate the nature of God.
Review: Latter-day Saints do not have a strong apologetics tradition. Basically, we say "Read the Book of Mormon, pray over what you have read, and then be honest with the answer you receive." (Book of Mormon, p. 529-530; Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 61-62) And this is how it should be. Truth should be so easy that a child should understand it; and when you bring in lawyers and doctors and philosophers and whatnot to "help" and "clarify," you are in trouble. This debate between Elder B. H. Roberts (the presidency of the Quorum of Seventy Apostles, i.e. a general world leader) with the Rev. Van der Donckt is therefore unusual, and this singularity is what makes this book fascinating reading. Chapter One is a straightforward elaboration of what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes about God the Eternal Father, his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Chapter two contains a reply from the Rev. Van der Donckt to Elder Robert's teachings. The rejoinder not only constitutes a Catholic reply, but also serves as a response embracing the quote-unquote "traditional Christianity," inasmuch as both Protestants and Catholics (generally) subscribe to the same creeds-Nicean and Athanasian. Chapter Three is Elder Robert's rejoinder to the Rev. Van der Donckt reply, and it is in this rejoinder you see the strength of the Church of Jesus Christ's position. For example, the creeds hold that God is unchanging, but Elder Robert's points out that Christ is God, and the Reverend's position is that God is unchanging. But Christ started out as spirit, was then born (incarnated), then was crucified, and then resurrected. So he gained, lost, and regains this body, and isn't that a change? (P.95) Boing! The rest of the books contains statements from church presidents Joseph Smith, Joseph F. Smith, Brigham Young and LDS apostle Orson Pratt, plus a chapter comparing religious traditions vis-à-vis Jesus Christ. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "By proving contraries, truth is manifest." (History of the Church 6:428) This debate proves that, and this book would be useful for review and pondering for Saints and the curious anywhere. The type is readable, being a facsimile edition of the original book. They did a good copy of the text, and kept the same pagination so you can compare with earlier editions. But I wish they had found a better picture of Elder Roberts for the cover-I know there are better ones out there.
.
BIAS: my philosophy professor Dr. David Paulsen, who also worked on the BYU Studies edition of "The Way, The Truth, The Life", writes the introductory essay. He provides helpful information about Elder Roberts and the nature of the debate
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive philisophical support for Mormon doctrine
Review: Two Christian theologians debate using philosophy and scripture. On of the first honest opportunities for Mormon beliefs to be challenged and met in a public forum by intellegent ministers who both understand the doctrine well. Teh first three chapters are excellent sources for study by all Christian denominations including Latter-day Saints.
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