Review

Title: Thinking Otherwise: Theological Explorations of Joseph Smith’s Revelations
Author: James E. Faulconer
Publisher: Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Genre: Religious Studies
Year Published: 2020
Number of Pages: 177
Binding: Paper
ISBN13: 978-1-9503-0400-4

Reviewed by Conor Hilton for the Association of Mormon Letters

James E. Faulconer opens Thinking Otherwise: Theological Explorations of Joseph Smith’s Revelations with a humble and somewhat surprising assertion: “Almost no one needs to” do theology (xi). I am compelled by this argument even as I feel myself resisting it. Faulconer essentially means that theology, understood as studying the authoritative teachings of the Church, specifically manifesting as the study of scripture, as it pertains to beliefs, is far less important than practices. I think this is true, though I may push that the sort of theology Faulconer describes and models here may indeed be helpful, perhaps even necessary, in our own practice refining.

The book has what I saw as three main sections. The first, comprising chapters one through three, describe Faulconer’s rapid-fire rundown of the philosophical and theological context which is necessary for what is to come. The second, chapter four, presents the framework for Faulconer’s take on theology. The third, chapters five and six, serves as a model of Faulconer’s framework. Each of these sections is packed with thoughts and nuggets of insight and could be expanded and enriched by further study and elaboration, which Faulconer seems aware of and gestures towards throughout.

The third chapter is fascinating. Here, Faulconer digs into what he sees as the fundamental principles of Mormon thought, specifically that Joseph Smith revealed. I am always interested in what different folks see as essential to Mormonism and was thrilled to see many of the principles that are dear to me popping up in Faulconer’s list—embodiment, theosis, the multiplicity of Gods, etc.

In the fourth chapter, Faulconer describes his take on doing theology, which is essentially a type of close reading of scripture, with a focus on actions. Faulconer and his friends, according to the book, call this approach “performative theology” because of the focus on action, performance, doing. I am quite torn because I find Faulconer’s approach as described and modeled here compelling, but I absolutely cannot abide the label of ‘performative theology’ (which I suppose is my penance for participating in social justice/lefty Twitter spaces where ‘performative’ is largely connotative of hypocrisy).

And that brings us to two quotes from the book that I find particularly enlightening. First:

The point of reading scripture is to learn to live differently and that learning is not something we do one day and then need not continue. It is something we must continue to do for a lifetime. (93)

I love this focus on reading and studying scripture as a means of transformation in our lives, and the emphasis on the continual nature of that work. For me, this fits in with part of the prophetic nature of stories and narratives—that the meaning must be embodied and continually changed and shaped by our own lived experiences. And this leads into the second quote:

The facts are data for revelation but not the revelation itself. The interpreter’s job is to allow the revelatory invitation to show itself. (95)

Scripture for Faulconer is a way to access revelation. The text, when properly engaged and interpreted, allows revelation to come to us, rather than containing and conveying revelation in some pure, distilled form. I love this, even as I am cautious of the full implications of this framework. If the facts and the text are a vehicle for revelation, rather than revelation itself, how do I know when my interpretation is better than the interpretation of someone else?

A thorny, age-old question that lingers over the last, engaging pages. Faulconer’s work seems to suggest that we may never know in this life, which is part of why we must continue to return over and over to the scriptures, searching their pages for God and the way we can draw closer to God.

I enjoyed this book and think that other folks interested in theology and philosophy and close reading of Mormon texts may all find something of value here too.