Institute for Religious Research

The Institute for Religious Research (IRR) is an American 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. as executive director.[3]

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

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.[4]

Controversy and Mormonism

Peggy Fletcher Stack, religion columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune discussed IRR and 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 IRR's documentary was entitled The Lost Book of Abraham: Investigating a Remarkable Mormon Claim.[5] The University of Utah's student newspaper observed the absence of opportunity for Latter Day Saints to respond in the film.[6] 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".[7]

Additionally, the IRR has criticized the efforts of Richard Mouw of the Fuller Seminary to apologize for the actions of some evangelicals towards Mormons, which Mouw characterizes as divisive and sinful.[8]

References
  1. "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. "Luke Wilson, Joel Groat", Blythefield Hills Baptist Church, archived from the original on 2001-01-18
  3. "About Us". IRR.org. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  4. Boatwright, Phil (January 12, 2005). "FIRST-PERSON: Begin preparing for 'The Da Vinci Code'". Baptist Press. Southern Baptist Convention. Archived from the original on 7 February 2005.
  5. Stack, Peggy Fletcher (August 8, 2002). "Film Challenges LDS Translation". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. E5. Article Archive ID: 100E47F89C27BAB3 (NewsBank).
  6. Winstead, Chris (August 28, 2002). "Matters of Faith: New Documentary Questions the Authenticity of LDS Scripture". The Daily Utah Chronicle.
  7. 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.
  8. Moore, Carrie A. (January 15, 2005). "Speaker's apology to LDS stirs up fuss". Deseret News.


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