There is a call for papers for the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology annual meetings that MattW announced here.  When I saw that the theme was “The Measure of Their Creation—Theological Anthropology”, and that one of the suggested topics was spirit birth, I got a bit excited.  Spirit birth was among my favorite blogging topics, and several of my posts on this topic can be read here.

I have never submitted a paper to anything like this before, and I readily admit that I am likely not up to the task of putting together a paper that will meet the appropriate standards.  But since this is a topic that interests me, and because I have been wanting to piece together the ideas and thoughts of all the posts and comments on this topic – I think I am going to make a go of it.

I thought I might spit out a possible outline for such a paper in this post, and solicit advice from any who care to give it.  I might organize such a paper thus:

Establish that literal spirit birth is a legitimate idea in Mormonism

- Key scriptures (Heb 12, Rom 8 etc.)
- Proclamation, TTTF
- BH Roberts, Truman Madsen, Brigham Young, John Widtsoe quotes

Discuss theological Implications

- Necessity of a tripartite model
- Relationship between God and Man
- Christ as Elder Brother
- Eternal families and Exaltation

Common Objections

- Sexual relations and viviparous birth for Heavenly parents
- Billions + of spirit offspring
- Resurrected being giving birth to spirit bodies
- Why did it take so long?
- Fixed/finite number of intelligences

Alternative View

- Spirit adoption
- Advantages/disadvantages

Conclusions

So, feel free to mock me, give me encouragement and advice, ignore me.  Whatever you want.