- Paperback: 700 pages
- Publisher: Signature Books; Rev Sub edition (Feb 1 1998)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1560850892
- ISBN-13: 978-1560850892
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.3 x 4.4 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1.1 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#41,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Other Denominations & Sects
- #8 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Mormonism
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Reflection of culture,
By A Customer
This review is from: Early Mormonism and the Magic World View (Paperback)
One of the problems I keep seeing in history is the attempt to avoid the cultural influences on the subject. There are those who say that Joseph Smith was a charlatan because of his interest in money digging, yet it was a respectable (or at least not considered a scam) by the majority of his peers in the western NY area. If Joseph Smith were a charlatan it comes from other sources that the author did not discuss. He merely put the origins of Mormonism into a context of the culture surrounding him. He attempts to draw no conclusions on the veracity of the revelations received, but does show how the Smith family and later others were influenced by the folklore magic surrounding them. To call this a pro-mormon book would be laughable as many who read this might find their faith in question. However, to call this anti-mormon is almost as comical has he creates no proofs nor demonstrates any counter to the basic LDS claims.Personally, I found the book enlightening, particularily in the footnotes where he discusses his arguments with FARMS (and almost supports the opinion I had been forming with respect to FARMS). To read this is to find some of the connections on the influence of culture on the style of the phraseology used in the Book of Mormon and further emphasize that there is a significant (which I believe apologists will disagree with) influence from Joseph's background and the events of his surroundings. I do think that the title doesnt really give the non-historian a good perspective of the book, I would rather title it "Early Mormonism and the Cultural Influences of Folk Magic"
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why hasn't anyone thought about this sooner?,
By Karl Hamm (Alcatraz, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Early Mormonism and the Magic World View (Paperback)
"Mormonism, The American Religion, which is based on an amalgam of Eastern mysticism and Hinduism, was concocted by the illiterate genius Joseph Smith, who plagiarized his religion (if you can call it that) from the Spaulding Manuscript, Freemasonry, and Shakespeare."This book is incredible! It is one of the best-footnoted books-probably the only footnoted book-on the magic worldview of Mormonism. It is marvelous that Dr. Quinn is doing all of this digging to find these gems in the dirt, and finely polishing them in the light of truth. He has hit upon the key to Mormonism, fantastic growth: the magic worldview. It is surprising after reading all 700 pages of this book that people have not hit upon this key sooner. We have been deceived by the bogus Spaulding Manuscript, by the Sydney Rigdon Decoy, and by Fawn Brodie's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill" psycho interpretation of Joseph Smith. That goodness we have gotten to the bottoms of things. And this finality was reached with all the scholarly assurance. You can image that having magic would be key to everything that Mormons do. I even heard that they have done one of their baptismal orgies for the dead for Harry Houdini. What took them so long? You can see why Mormonism has become the fastest growing religion in America. You have the magic along with their pseudo-gospel. If you have ever been to a boring service, the attraction is apparent, even to the blind. You pull a rabbit out of the communion chalice, and we are quite impressed. It's like what Bono said about the Catholic Church being the religion of rock and roll. They certainly know how to entertain. And now the Mormons are outstripping even them. Kudos for D. Quinn in organizing and researching this book. Everything makes perfect sense now!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quinn's Best, but . . .,
By
This review is from: Early Mormonism and the Magic World View (Paperback)
Early Mormonism and the Magic World View is Quinn's best book, the research is amazing, the sources belivable, and presentation is well organized. Quinn has a particular slant on Mormon history that contributes to his powerful presentation. I find his introduction great as he explains that he believes in LDS Doctrine, and that no document discovered or undiscovered would change that belief. Quinn is a believing radical and this is evident in his argument. The story is assembled very well and accessible to those not entirely familier with Mormon history, some back ground would make the book much more enjoyable, "No Man Knows My History" would make a good first read.I only give this book three stars due to Quinn's consistant conflict with FARMS writers that defend the orthodox LDS Church version of the past. I don't believe that FARMS have produced enough quality history to really merit the specific attention Quinn gives them. Quinn does use this time directed at FARMS to further support his argument, and I would strongly recommend this book for those who have read about Mormon history and would like to read more.
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