James C. Olsen

JAMES C. OLSEN {[email protected]} and his wife, Erin Fairlight Olsen, recently moved with their four children to Doha, Qatar, where he is working to finish his dissertation and complete a Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown University. After serving in the Missouri St. Louis Mission, James completed an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Brigham Young University and a Master of Arts in international affairs from George Washington University. His article was modified from a paper delivered at the conference “Faith and Knowledge: Intellectual Prospects for Mormonism,” February 12, 2011, at Duke University.

Terryl Givens and the Shape of Mormon Studies | Terryl L. Givens, The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction

Articles/Essays – Volume 43, No. 4

In response to a review by Jan Shipps of Richard Lyman Bushman’s Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, Bushman remarked: “As more and more historians work to situate Mormonism in American history, Mormons like me want to join the discussion. We will write better if we are less defensive, more open to criticism, more exploratory and venturous, but even with our inhibitions and parochialisms, we should come to the table with our Mormonism intact.”

Charles Taylor: Catholic Mentor to the Mormon Scholar

Articles/Essays – Volume 44, No. 3

I’m going to try and convey aspects of Charles Taylor’s work that I find tremendously helpful in working through the challenges that all of us confront and that give rise to conferences like this one. Let me begin, however, with a personal note about Taylor. He is perhaps the most successful contemporary philosopher bridging the analytic continental divide and is best known for his contributions to political philosophy, moral philosophy, philosophy of social science, and the history of philosophy.