Scripture, History, and Faith: A Round Table Discussion

by Todd Compton, Paul Edwards, Steve Epperson, Mark D. Thomas, Margaret Toscano, and David P. Wright
Originally published in Winter 1996
Thomas: We live in a society that is increasingly secular and fragmented. Popular culture looks to Hollywood for its great myths. Given that this is our circumstance, how relevant are the concepts of canon and scripture in our time?
Compton: Certainly canon and scripture are relevant to our secular and fragmented society. It is especially a secular, fragmented society that needs scripture. Hollywood, despite an occasional good movie, often does not provide us with the most morally perceptive, spiritually visionary myths.
Edwards: Scripture is both relevant and irrelevant. That which makes it scripture, its relevance for all time, makes me believe that scriptures available to the Mormon community are just as valid now as they would be in any other day and age.
Epperson: First of all, I’d question the assertion that our society is increasingly secular. I think that if you look at the statistics on belief, church and synagogue attendance, church contributions, and so forth, they tend to indicate that this is not a secular society. Quite the contrary.
Read the complete interview