Difference between revisions of "Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship"

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==Functions==
 
==Functions==
  
The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship was established to promote scholarship supporting the restored gospel of Jesus Christ through scholarship, publication of critically edited, primary resources (ancient religious texts) for scholars and lay persons around the world, building bridges of understanding and goodwill to Muslim scholars by providing superior editions of primary texts, and providing an anchor of faith in a sea of Mormon studies. In 2013 the institute's de-emphasized apologetics work and formalized its mission statement to focus on deepening understanding and nurturing discipleship among Latter-day Saints, as well as promoting mutual respect and goodwill among people of all faiths through the scholarly study of religious texts and traditions.
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The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship was established to promote scholarship supporting the restored gospel of Jesus Christ through research, publication of critically edited, primary resources (ancient religious texts) for scholars and lay persons around the world, building bridges of understanding and goodwill to Muslim scholars by providing superior editions of primary texts, and providing an anchor of faith in a sea of Mormon studies. In 2013 the institute formalized its mission statement to focus on deepening understanding and nurturing discipleship among Latter-day Saints, as well as promoting mutual respect and goodwill among people of all faiths through the scholarly study of religious texts and traditions.
  
 
==Assets and Administrative Structure==
 
==Assets and Administrative Structure==

Latest revision as of 19:07, 20 February 2015

In 2006, the BYU Board of Trustees renamed the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (ISPART) the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. A variety of academic initiatives have been brought under its umbrella. Executive directors have included Andrew C. Skinner (2006-2008) and M. Gerald Bradford (2008- ).

Variant names

Maxwell Institute

Description

Established: 2006

Location: Provo, Utah (2006- )

Functions

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship was established to promote scholarship supporting the restored gospel of Jesus Christ through research, publication of critically edited, primary resources (ancient religious texts) for scholars and lay persons around the world, building bridges of understanding and goodwill to Muslim scholars by providing superior editions of primary texts, and providing an anchor of faith in a sea of Mormon studies. In 2013 the institute formalized its mission statement to focus on deepening understanding and nurturing discipleship among Latter-day Saints, as well as promoting mutual respect and goodwill among people of all faiths through the scholarly study of religious texts and traditions.

Assets and Administrative Structure

The Maxwell Institute is an organized research unit on the Provo, Utah, campus. Its scholars (research fellows) focus their study on a select number of sacred and religious texts and the traditions within which they are situated. Under the direction of an executive director, who acts in the same capacity as a dean of an academic department, the scholars oversee the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART), the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (METI), the Research Technology Group (RTG), and the Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies. Each division functions under the direction of a director with the whole Institute functioning under the direction of an executive director.

The Institute publishes three scholarly journals and a number of books each year that deal with subjects directly related to its work—titles on the Book of Mormon (including the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies), on the Bible and the ancient world (including Studies in the Bible and Antiquity), and on important medieval Middle Eastern texts. Its contributions to Mormon studies are principally contained in the pages of the Mormon Studies Review. Some of its book titles serve to commend and defend the faith more directly by exploring the relationship between discipleship and scholarship.

Associated Units

Superior unit: Brigham Young University (2006-)

Earlier unit: Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (2006)

Subordinate unit: Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (2006-)

Subordinate unit: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (2006-2010)

Subordinate unit: Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (2006-)

Subordinate unit: Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. Research Technology Group (2006-)

Subordinate unit: Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies (2007-)

Sources

Brigham Young University, Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, via WWW, April 9, 2010 (In 2006, the BYU Board of Trustees renamed the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (ISPART) the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. M. Gerald Bradford serves as the executive director of the institute;The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship exists to describe and defend the Restoration through highest quality scholarship, provide critically edited, primary resources (ancient religious texts) to scholars and lay persons around the world, build bridges of understanding and goodwill to Muslim scholars by providing superior editions of primary texts, and provide an anchor of faith in a sea of LDS Studies;The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship is the administering body for the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART), the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (METI), the Research Technology Group (RTG), and BYU Studies. Each division functions under the direction of a director with the whole Institute functioning under the direction of an executive director. The executive director acts in the same capacity as a Dean of an academic department) http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/

Interview with Annette Samuelsen, Circulation Specialist for BYU Studies, 9 April 2010 (In 2006, BYU Studies became part of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship with M. Gerald Bradford functioning as Executive Director; The executive director acts in the same capacity as a Dean of an academic department.)

Brigham Young University, New Release, via WWW, April 12, 2010 (M. Gerald Bradford has served as the executive director of the institute since 2008. Prior to Bradford, Andrew C. Skinner served as the executive director) http://news.byu.edu/archive08-Jun-bradford.aspx

E-mail from Blair Hodges, January 8, 2015 (Institute publishes three scholarly journals and books on the Book of Mormon (including the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies), on the Bible and the ancient world (including Studies in the Bible and Antiquity), on important medieval Middle Eastern texts, and the Mormon Studies Review; some titles serve to commend and defend the faith more directly by exploring the relationship between discipleship and scholarship)

E-mail from Blair Hodges, Jan. 27, 2014 (new mission statement issued in April 2013; mission is to deepen understanding and nurture discipleship among Latter-day Saints and to promote mutual respect and goodwill among people of all faiths through the scholarly study of religious texts and tradition; BYU Studies never joined the Maxwell Institute, despite press releases)

Ensign, January 2007 (Neal A. Maxwell Institute; est. by BYU Board of Trustees; aims to organize, produce, and disseminate scholarship on ancient scripture and religious history and promote the study, illumination, preservation, and accessibility of religious texts and ancient scriptural sources; aims to build bridges to other cultures and peoples by contributing to scholarship in many disciplines and establishing contacts with scholars at universities and centers of learning worldwide; directed to promote profound scholarship supporting the restored gospel of Jesus Christ)

Maintenance Information

Record ID: EAC-2010-00051

Creator: CEP