William J. Hamblin
Encyclopedia
William James Hamblin is a Mormon apologist
and associate professor of history at Brigham Young University
(BYU). He is a former board member of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
(FARMS) at BYU.
in Italy from 1973–75.
Hamblin received his bachelors degree in history from BYU. He did his graduate studies from the University of Michigan
, receiving an M.A. in history in 1981, an M.A. in Near East Studies in 1984, and a Ph.D. in history in 1985. The title of his Dissertation was The Fatimid Army During the Early Crusades. Prior to joining the faculty of BYU in 1989 Hamblin was a history professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, an instructor at Campbell University
and a middle east intelligence analyst for the United States Department of Defense
. Hamblin contributed many articles to The International Military Encyclopedia.
Hamblin lives in Provo, Utah
with his wife, the former Loree Peay. They have three children. He is now currently a professor at the BYU Jerusalem Center.
, both in general articles for the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies and in response to criticisms to the historicity of the Book of Mormon
.
, Hamblin published a paper in the 1994 FARMS Review which included an encrypted message stating "Metcalf is Butthead
." After the Review went to press, the editors became aware of this barb and hastily removed it. Metcalf expressed surprise that Hamblin "would stoop to such an inane level." Jerald and Sandra Tanner
, frequent critics of the LDS church, characterized this as simply another example of Hamblin's ad hominem
attacks on those who criticize his work or the LDS church.
Mormon apologetics
Mormon apologetics is the systematic defense of Mormonism against its critics. Notable Latter-day Saint apologists include early church leaders such as John Taylor, B. H. Roberts, James E. Talmage and modern scholars such as Hugh Nibley, Orson Scott Card, and Jeff Lindsay...
and associate professor of history at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU). He is a former board member of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies is an informal collaboration of academics devoted to Latter-day Saint historical scholarship. The group is formally part of the Neal A...
(FARMS) at BYU.
Biography
Hamblin served as an LDS missionaryMissionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in Italy from 1973–75.
Hamblin received his bachelors degree in history from BYU. He did his graduate studies from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, receiving an M.A. in history in 1981, an M.A. in Near East Studies in 1984, and a Ph.D. in history in 1985. The title of his Dissertation was The Fatimid Army During the Early Crusades. Prior to joining the faculty of BYU in 1989 Hamblin was a history professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, an instructor at Campbell University
Campbell University
Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...
and a middle east intelligence analyst for the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. Hamblin contributed many articles to The International Military Encyclopedia.
Hamblin lives in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
with his wife, the former Loree Peay. They have three children. He is now currently a professor at the BYU Jerusalem Center.
Apologetics
Hamblin is perhaps best known in his role as a Mormon apologist. He has written on archaeology and the Book of MormonArchaeology and the Book of Mormon
Since the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830, both Mormon and non-Mormon archaeologists have studied its claims in reference to known archaeological evidence...
, both in general articles for the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies and in response to criticisms to the historicity of the Book of Mormon
Historicity of the Book of Mormon
The question of the historical authenticity of the Book of Mormon has long been a source of contention between members of the Latter Day Saint movement and non-members. Many, but not all, Mormons hold the book's connection to ancient American history as an article of their faith. However, this view...
.
Controversy over ad hominen attacks
After becoming upset with Brent Metcalf, a scholar who had criticized the Book of MormonBook of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, Hamblin published a paper in the 1994 FARMS Review which included an encrypted message stating "Metcalf is Butthead
Butt-head
Butt-head is a fictional character from the MTV animated series Beavis and Butt-head. He was voiced by the show's creator, Mike Judge.Mike Judge got the name Butt-head from his university days, when he knew a couple of kids who had the nicknames 'Iron Butt' and 'Butt-head'...
." After the Review went to press, the editors became aware of this barb and hastily removed it. Metcalf expressed surprise that Hamblin "would stoop to such an inane level." Jerald and Sandra Tanner
Jerald and Sandra Tanner
Jerald Dee Tanner was an American writer and researcher who, with his wife Sandra McGee Tanner spent nearly fifty years annotating and publishing archival and evidential materials which, the Tanners claim, accurately portrayed the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, frequent critics of the LDS church, characterized this as simply another example of Hamblin's ad hominem
Ad hominem
An ad hominem , short for argumentum ad hominem, is an attempt to negate the truth of a claim by pointing out a negative characteristic or belief of the person supporting it...
attacks on those who criticize his work or the LDS church.
Writings
- Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC published by RoutledgeRoutledgeRoutledge is a British publishing house which has operated under a succession of company names and latterly as an academic imprint. Its origins may be traced back to the 19th-century London bookseller George Routledge...
in 2005. - Solomon's Temple: Myth and History (Thames and Hudson, 2007) (with David Seely)