Voted one of Christianity Today's 1998 Books of the Year!Mormons and evangelicals don't often get along very well, at least not once they begin to discuss their religious beliefs. They often set about trying to convert one another, considering the faith the other holds as defective in some critical way. Unfortunately, much of what they say about one another simply isn't true. False stereotypes abound on both sides, preventing genuine and helpful communication.Having discovered this sad state of affairs, Craig Blomberg, a committed evangelical scholar, and Stephen Robinson, a committed Mormon scholar, set out to listen to one another and to ferret out the real agreements and disagreements between them. In the conversation that develops, you will read what each believes about key theological issues--the nature and bounds of Scripture, the nature of God and deification, the person of Christ and the Trinity, and the essentials of salvation--and see how they interact with one another. What they agree on may surprise you.Though this book does not sweep differences under the rug, it is meant to help Mormons and evangelicals know and tell the truth about one another. It does not expect to end evangelistic efforts from either side. In fact, it may help to promote more effective communication because it can help to get rid of misrepresentations from both sides. In the end, however, you will be able to judge for yourself just how wide the divide between them is.
An even-handed dialogue between a Mormon and an Evangelical.Evangelical Christians and Mormons don’t often get along or understand one another, especially once they begin discussing their religious beliefs. Members of the two communities usually view each other with suspicion, only interacting in attempts to evangelize one another. But actual dialogue has been rare.
In How Wide the Divide: A Mormon & an Evangelical in Conversation, Craig Blomberg, a committed evangelical scholar, and Stephen Robinson, a committed Mormon scholar, set out to listen to one another and to ferret out the real agreements and disagreements between them. They discuss their beliefs on key theological issues such as the nature and canon of Scripture, the nature of God and deification, the person of Christ and the Trinity, and the essentials of salvation.
While they don’t sweep differences under the rug, what they agree on may surprise you. In the end, however, you will be able to judge for yourself just how wide the divide between them is.
Craig Blomberg (Ph.D., Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary and the author of The Historical Reliability of the Gospels and Interpreting the Parables (both IVP).
Stephen Robinson (Ph.D., Duke) is professor of ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University and the author of Are Mormons Christians? and Believing Christ.
"Some of us have argued, against the relativizers of religious truth, that dialogue with other perspectives should never preclude efforts at evangelism. But neither should a commitment to evangelism rule out genuine engagement in dialogue. This book is a model of a frank exchange conducted with deep integrity. The dialogue between Evangelicals and Mormons is long overdue. I hope this much-needed, fascinating and important book gets widely read in both communities." - Richard J. Mouw, President, Fuller Seminary
"This is a landmark book! The first of its kind—an engaging dialogue between scholars of two 'opposing' religious communities presented in a context of civility and mutual respect. It will have substantial significance both to Mormons and to Evangelicals, and is sure to generate discussion." - Ronald Enroth, Professor of Sociology, Westmont College
"No small step for the two writers, this book is a giant step toward better understanding of some influential contemporary Evangelicals and Mormons. All can learn from this model of respectful dialogue, although readers from either side may differ at points with their representative writer and wish some other crucial issues could have been featured. The remaining deep differences illustrate the urgent need for scholars and evangelists to transcend their specialties and integrate Old Testament, New Testament, historical, systematic, apologetic and practical concerns." - Gordon R. Lewis, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology, Denver Theological Seminary
"Although it is sure to spark controversy on both sides of the divide, this significant book respectfully addresses many of the crucial points of contention between Mormons and evangelical Christians in a way that avoids both hasty polemics and superficial agreement." - Douglas Groothuis, Assistant Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, Denver Seminary
