2 thinkers, books, and ideas connected to this field.
American Mormon historian (1944-2021), excommunicated from the LDS Church in 1993 for his scholarly work. Known for meticulous archival research producing revisionist accounts of early Mormonism, particularly on folk magic, polygamy, and the institutional history of the Church. One of the most consequential and controversial Mormon historians.
D. Michael Quinn's landmark scholarly work demonstrating that Joseph Smith and early Mormon leaders operated within a pervasive folk magic world view involving treasure-seeking, divining rods, seer stones, ritual magic, and occult practices. Draws on extensive primary source research.