I introduce a new translation of Joseph Smith's First Vision, giving some background to this interpretation of his mystical experience, the nature of translation, its pseudepigraphal nature, how it was done, and more.
Category: Introduction
The Next Chapter of ThyMindOMan.com: Living in the Gift
What's in store for ThyMindOMan.com? Where have we been, and where are we going? The Gift is being invited into my life and yours, as are some great new offerings.
Updated Topical Guide on ThyMindOMan.com
I just finished updating the Topical Guide on the site here. This is a quick way to look up articles I've written on specific topics related to mysticism, spirituality, religion, science, philosophy, life, and reality. I have manually curated this list, which includes nearly every post except the BHT. I hope this helps you as you navigate the website.
The “Book” of ThyMindOMan.com
The previous blog post marks 200 entries on ThyMindOMan.com that I have written over the past year and a half. I thought I'd take this occasion to reflect a bit about what I have done here, and introduce a new feature of the website.
Updated About Page
I've update my "About" page to tell you a bit more about me and my background. I look forward to getting to know you better as well. Add a comment below and introduce yourself.
New Homepage at ThyMindOMan.com
I've made a major update to the homepage of ThyMindOMan.com, including a gorgeous painting from Alex Grey. I think this better reflects my writings, experiences, and thoughts as of late. What do you think of this fresh new coat of paint?
The Divine Light of a Lowly Farmer Boy
Ann invited me to write a guest post for her blog, Enlightenment is for Everyone: Exploring Potential From Every Angle. I did so, writing of Joseph Smith's First Vision experience from a mystical awakening universal divine grace perspective, using the various firsthand and secondhand accounts. My blog post is titled "The Divine Light of a Lowly Farmer Boy." You may read it on Ann's blog.
Video Presentation: “The Mystical Core of Mormonism: A Very Brief Introduction”
This is recorded video of my oral presentation on 8 April 2017 at the Mormon Transhumanist Association Conference in Provo, Utah. It is an abridged version of my written paper, which can be read online at ThyMindOMan.com here. The written paper is about three times longer in content, with 72 endnote references and links. So this oral presentation is a very brief introduction, indeed. But watching it does have a different quality to it that some may prefer over the written text.
The Mystical Core of Mormonism: A Very Brief Introduction
The experience and concept known as mysticism and its practitioners, mystics, are largely unknown today in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What are these, and what relationship might they have with the Gospel and the Restoration, particularly with Joseph Smith and his First Vision? The case is made that they are vital to our communion with God, and our ultimate goal of returning to God. Many perspectives and concepts are discussed including personal experience, neuroscience, psychology, transhumanism, computer science, philosophy, popular culture, history of religions, psychology of religion, and contemplative practices, offering tentative associations and insights with Mormon concepts of spiritual experience, atonement, salvation, exaltation, the Second Comforter, calling and election, and theosis or divinization, becoming like God.