Preexistence: Reviewing the Review of Terryl Givens

So, in the spirit of bringing back the dead this summer, I offer up again my review of Terryl Givens’ book, When Souls Had Wings. It’s a fine book, and deserves a read from anyone who has even a remote interest in religion and its history. The subject is fascinating I think. You won’t find an apology for Mormonism here although the author is a Latter-day Saint, but you do get to peak under the shroud covering some obscure history, discarded by those who perhaps ought to pay some attention to it. The old chestnuts are alive and well. Have some fun:

A Review of Terryl Givens, When Souls Had Wings: Pre-Mortal Life in Western Thought

Early Polynesian Traditions and Mormon Ideas About the Origin of Man

Traditional language among Latter-day Saints regarding preexistence has sometimes been vague, romantic and non-specific. Observe Ruth Fox’s remarks at the beginning of her June 1912 YLMIA conference address: “Man’s intellect is God-given and is a spark of that eternal intelligence which governs all things.”[1] I can’t be certain, but perhaps this is a reference to D&C 88:7-13 or something similar.

Review: Terryl Givens, “When Souls Had Wings”

I mentioned Professor Terryl L. Givens’ new book last year and wrote that I would have more to say about it. So here it is. Not terribly polished, but school starts on Monday. So out the door it goes.

Lady Ann Conway and Her Questions

The most prolific of the Cambridge Platonists, Henry More, put his views on preexistence into poetry (1647). Ann Conway wrote to him several years later with the following very interesting questions which I have edited slightly for readability:

When Souls Had Wings – Givens and Preexistence

I’ve been having a look at Terryl Givens’ latest effort: on preexistence in western thought. So far it seems to be quite good.