Institute for Religious Research

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Not to be confused with Hartford Seminary's Hartford Institute for Religious Research.

The Institute for Religious Research is a United States Christian apologetics and counter-cult organization based in Cedar Springs, Michigan. It declares itself to be a non-denominational, non-profit Christian foundation for the study of religious claims,[1] and was formerly known as Gospel Truths Ministries.[2] IRR is a member of Evangelical Ministries to New Religions and was headed by Luke P. Wilson[2] until his death in 2007.[1] IRR's current staff includes Robert M. Bowman Jr., executive director, and Joel Groat, ministry director (specializing in Latin America).

Concurrent with the release of a film adaptation of Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code, the Baptist Press noted IRR's Ronald V. Huggins and his apologetic analysis of the film.[3]

Controversy and Mormonism[]

Peggy Fletcher Stack, religion columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune discussed the IRR for its documentary critique of the Book of Abraham, a document that devout Mormons believe is a divinely-inspired sacred text but critics like the IRR contend has prosaic origins. The IRRs documentary was entitled "The Lost Book of Abraham: Investigating a Remarkable Mormon Claim".[4] The University of Utah's student newspaper observed the absence of opportunity for Latter Day Saints to respond in the film.[5] In an article for a journal published by Brigham Young University's Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, John Gee considered IRR's publication By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus: A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri by Charles M. Larson, also regarding the Book of Abraham, to be a "deliberate deception".[6]

Additionally, the Deseret News in Salt Lake City pointed out IRR's criticism of the efforts of Richard Mouw of Fuller Seminary to apologize for the actions of some evangelicals towards Mormons, which he characterizes as divisive and sinful.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Who We Are: The People of IRR and What We Are All About", iir.org, Institute for Religious Research, 2011-05-13, retrieved 2014-02-03
  2. ^ a b "Luke Wilson, Joel Groat", Blythefield Hills Baptist Church, archived from the original on 2001-01-18
  3. ^ Boatwright, Phil (January 12, 2005). "FIRST-PERSON: Begin preparing for 'The Da Vinci Code'". Baptist Press. Southern Baptist Convention.
  4. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (August 8, 2002). "Film Challenges LDS Translation". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. E5. Article Archive ID: 100E47F89C27BAB3 (NewsBank).
  5. ^ Winstead, Chris (August 28, 2002). "Matters of Faith: New Documentary Questions the Authenticity of LDS Scripture". The Daily Utah Chronicle.
  6. ^ Gee, John (1992). "A Tragedy of Errors". Review of Books on the Book of Mormon. Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Brigham Young University. 4 (1): 93–119. Archived from the original on 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  7. ^ Moore, Carrie A. (January 15, 2005). "Speaker's apology to LDS stirs up fuss". Deseret News.

External links[]


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