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The Limits of Finitism BOOKS upon the integrity of the individual" (p. 25). The possibility that God might be perfectly good and not omnipotent and yet the basis of morality apparently doesn’t occur to him in THE LIMITS OF this discussion. Such a false dichotomy ignores the concept that legitimate authority in Mormonism arises not from omnipotence, but FINITISM from love and what leads to individual growth within a human-divine relationship. The fic- tional .Johnson also hastily concludes that if God is not omnipotent, then any mortal is the THE TRIAL OF FAITH: DISCUSSIONS CON- equal to God or Church leaders in determining CERNING MORMONISM AND NEO-MORMONISM what constitutes "personal morality" (p. 36). Ultimately, what Johnson proposes is by William Call Mormonism stripped ,of the idea of God and Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1986. hierarchy. The discussions of faith, ordinances, the Fall and the atonement, and agency are all contrived to show that since mortals and gods are ontological equals, mortals simply don’t need the gods (p. 1013). Johnson believes that Reviewed b .Blake T. Ostler Mormonism is committed to the view that Z salvation is "earned" and orthodox Christians to the belief that salvation comes by grace alone. This historical limiting of options does SOME OF THE greatest figures in the his- that if God is finite or limited in some respects, justice neither to Mormonism nor to orthodox tory of philosophy such as Plato, Berkeley, and God must be limited in all respects. This sort Christianity. 1 see no reason, however, why Hume have utilized dialogue to present their of rash conclusion is unjustified and as Charles God cannot ~vork with and through free crea- ideas. William Call uses dialogue to present his Hartshorne demonstrated in a rigorously logi- tures to accomplish their joint purposes, i.e., ideas through the fictional John Johnson, a cal discussion of the absolute-finite dichotomy, one another’s happiness. wealthy Mormon who, if one can guess from it fails to hold up. In the end, John Johnson is brought to trial the bolstering of the dialogue :itself, is to be John Johnson believes that the ultimate for excommunication for his "Neo-Mormon" taken seriously because he has thought a lot question about the nature of God is "whether beliefs, which he promoted in a sacrament about Mormonism. Although the book never existence is dependent upon God or whether meeting talk. The fate of John Johnson is not says so, the position presented through John God is dependent upon existence" (p. 13). I disclosed in The Trial o~ Faith. I suggest not Johnson is supposedly a new, improved form of never was sure what this sentence meant, but excommunication, but education is what the Mormonism, called in the title of the book apparently it asserts that if God is finite, God fictional John Johnson needs. Perhaps a closer "Neo-Mormonism." Unlike the classic dialogues does not necessarily exist; that is, he could not study of logic and logical entailments and a of philosophy, however, the dialogue of The exist. The remainder of the dialogue is prem- little more time at the drawing board ~vould T~al o_[ Faith is contrived, constantly employs ised on this error in reasoning. That assertion suffice. I recommend tMs book as an example false dichotomies to force false dilemmas, m~sunderstands Mormonism, for Mormons of what Mormon finitism does not and ought jumps to conclusions without support and believe that God exists of necessity-on "self- not entail. The reduction of Christian theism to makes a mess of Mormon finitism generally. existing principles," if I recall Joseph Smith’s a limited humanism is not necessary to give The purpose of The Trial of Faith is suppos- phraseology. Call apparently wants to establish genuine meaning to human endeavors and edly to rationally explore the implications of that "nature" is necessary, while God is con- experience, and the rejection of religious Joseph Smith’s incipient finitisrn. I was pre- tingent or dependent on what just happens to authority is not necessary to make sense of pared to really like the book because I felt that exist for his existence as God. Mormon finitism. Mormonism’s finitist theology provides the Call also rejects the possibility of panpsy- best foundation for a coherent .and experien- chism (the notion that matter is characteri:_,ed YOUR GIFT HELPS IMPROVE tially adequate theology. Unfortunately, I was by aspects of mind), which perrneated the THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF disappointed. The dialogue sets up the founda- thought of Orson Pratt, by assuming that mat- PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. tional axiom, that Mormonism is pluralistic ter is inanimate. He therefore concludes that PLEASE GIVE THE UNITED while traditional Christianity is monistic. the body is a machine. Johnson runs squarely WAY. Though the fictional Johnson confuses monism into the mind-body problem and a naive with pantheism and pluralism with essen- determinism in making this move, and then tialism, he correctly deduces that if God did tries unsuccessfully to extricate himself from not create the world from nothing, then God is the dilemma by denying that God has con- limited. Unfortunately, Call seems to believe trolling power (pp. 22-23). In discussing issues of authority, John John- THANKS, TO YOU BLAKE OSTLER ~s an attorney i.n Salt Lake son asserts that "moral law is either based IT WORKS FOR ALL OF US City. upon the work of an omnipotent God or else PAGE 38 MARCH 1987 SUNSTONE MAGAZINE BACK ISSUE ORDER FORM 1980 5:5 The Mormon Concept of a Mother in Heaven Linda B. H. Roberts at the World’s Parliament of Religions Wilcox (1893) Davis Bitton The Sovereignty of God in John Calvin and Brigham New Perspectives on the Mormon Past: Reflections of Young Davis Bitton a Non-Mormon Historian Lawrence Foster An Interview with Kenneth Woodward An Attempt at Reconciliation Robert C. Fletcher 5:6 The Fuhrer’s New Clothes: Helmuth Hubener and the 7:2 The Persistence of Chastity articles by Harold T. Mormons of the Third Reich Alan F. Keele and Christensen, Marybeth Raynes, Marvin and Ann Douglas F. Tobler Rytting History and Theology: The Mormon Connection The Use and Abuse of Religion Kenneth L. Woodward Edwin Gaustad Enlarging the Mormon Vision of Christian Ethics L. The Curse of Cain and Other Stories: Blacks in Jackson Newell Mormon Folklore William O. Wilson and Richard Three Articles on Faith and History James L. Clayton, Paulsen Ronald K. Esplin, Sterling M. McMurrin The Mormon Christianizing of the Old Testament 7:3 Are Mormons Joining In World Suicide? Arthur Henry Melodie Moench Charles King The Civilizing of Mormondon: The Indispensable Role 1981 6:2 "What are you Doing Up Here?" Graffiti Mormon Style James B. Allen and John Harris of the Intellectual Levi S. Peterson Embracing the Whole Truth Davis Bitton Abortion, Religion and the Constitution Peter Steinfels Book of Mormon Wordprints Reexamined D. James The Aesthetics of the Endowmer, L Michael Hicks Croft 7:4 A Light Unto the World: Issues in Mormon Image Professor Seixas, The Hebrew Bible, and the Book of Making Peggy Fletcher, Bruce L. Christensen Abraham Michael T. Walton Between Heaven and Earth: Mormon Theology of the Family in Comparative Perspective Lawrence Foster, 6:4 Four Articles on Abortion: Mary C. Segers, Richard Sherlock, Marvin Rytting, Donald G. Hill Marybeth Raynes We Are All Enlisted: War As Metaphor Stephen L. The Return of Thomas B. Marsh Richard Van Tanner Wagoner and Steve Walker Trailing Clouds of Glory? Artistic Treatments (and Sheaves, Bucklers, and the State: Mormon Leaders Mistreatments) of the Pre-Existence Theme Alan Respond to the Dilemmas of War Ronald W. Walker Frank Keele 7:5 The Phenomenon of the Closet Doubter D. JeffBurton The Church in Politics? Two ViewsJ. D. Williams, Ed Mormons and Moonmen Van Hale, James B. Allen Firmage A Further Inquiry into the Historicity of the Book of 6:5 A Gift Given, A Gift Taken: Washing, Anointing, and Mormon William D. Russell Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women Linda King The Foundations of Freedom in Mormon Thought Newell Kent E. Robson Priesthood and the Male Experience Michael T. 7:6 The Jewish Jesus Michael Walton Walton Can Nations Love Their Enemies? Eugene England Do You Preach the Orthodox Religion? Michael Hicks The Russian Chimera Gary L. Browning A Jew in Zion Louis C. Zucker The Dangers of Revelation Scott Dunn 6:6 The Dilemmas of Pluralism Peter Berger 1983 8:1 Mormon Aesthetics Michael Hicks, Levi S. Peterson Zion: The Structure of a Theological Revolution Steven Secretary to the Senator: Carl A. Badger and the L. Olsen Smoot Hearings Gary James Bergera The Mormon Past: Revealed or Revisited? Jan Shipps How Long, O Lord? The Delay of Parousia in Finitist Theology and the Problem of Evil Peter C. Mormonism Keith E. Norman Appleby Signs of the Times: The Theological Functions of 1982 7:1 Process Philosophy and Mormon Thought Floyd H. Early Mormon Apocalyptic Stephen J. Stein Ross (see other side for more issues and order. form) SUNSTONE FOUNDATION 331 S. 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