What is Climbing the Rainbows?
Climbing the Rainbows is a weekly long-form essay series about the intellectual foundations of LDS thought, treated from the perspective of philosophy, neuroscience, and the history of science.
New essays drop every Friday morning.
Beginning in 2022 and continuing into 2023 and beyond, Climbing the Rainbows has undertaken an intensive multi-year study of revelation as a means of knowing. The main goal of this study will be to develop and explain the principles by which revelation operates, so that we can better understand its role in our own lives.
This study of revelation will also allow us to develop new views on many other important parts of the restored gospel, including truth, priesthood, righteousness, sin, repentance, and others.
What have you written about already?
Lots and lots of stuff, about revelation and many other topics, including…
…the possibility of using neuroscience to explain spiritual experience,
…the possibility of using evolutionary psychology to explain spiritual experience,
…the “epistemology of revelation” as well as the “zeroth principle” of revelation,
…the project of demagicating the gospel,
…and many other topics.
The best way to see what I’ve already covered in previous essays is to check out the descriptive table of contents. It’s a document I update regularly with a brief summary of each essay and a link to where you can view it online.
Why do I have to pay to read it?
You can read my detailed explanation of why I charge here.
The short version is that I got tired of giving away my research and writing. The long version is that Climbing the Rainbows is doing something no one else is doing, and it’s worth the money.
See here for information about subscribing. The base price is $5 monthly or $30 yearly, which are the lowest prices Substack allows me to charge.
Can I see some free samples or something before I subscribe?
I’m happy to give you a free week of access to the essays so you can see what you think. Email climbing.the.rainbows at gmail to ask.
The descriptive table of contents also has links to full PDF versions of some essays. You’ll find them if you search for “Full Text (PDF)” or you can choose from the list below:
Neuroscience and Religious Experience Part 2: Framing Assumptions
Introduction to the Epistemology of Revelation Part 4: The Universality of the Gospel
The Foundations of Revelation Part 1: Framing Assumptions and Divine Communication
December Interregnum Part 2: The Ancient Greek Text and Reading the New Testament
The Constructive Nature of Revelation Part 4: God as Engineer
How to Study the New Testament in Greek Without Knowing Any Greek
What will I get from reading Climbing the Rainbows?
You’ll get a lot of new ideas and new ways of thinking about the gospel. You’ll also see connections you’ve never noticed between the gospel and other areas of thought. You will be entertained, provoked, and pushed to look at Mormon doctrine, theology, and scripture from powerful, challenging perspectives.
You’ll be welcomed into a community of people who want to grow in the light of Christ as it shines forth from the restoration.
Most importantly, you’ll deepen your conviction of Christ’s atonement and its implementation in the gospel plan.
Where are you on social media?
Nowhere. When I started, I promised that Climbing the Rainbows would never have any social media accounts associated with it, and I won’t go back on it.
Who are you?
Someone who loves the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
What’s with the name?
“I would make you think I was climbing a ladder when I was climbing a rainbow.”
