Couldn’t it have something to do with the fact that Mormons have been around a much shorter time and since there are fewer of them than those of the other faiths, there would also be fewer of them in academia? Given these facts, it’s hard to expect there would be a legendary academic like Arendt going to bat for Mormons. But just FYI, there are actually a lot of Mormon academics I do respect. And of course Georgetown beats out BYU. Do you know how old BYU is? Founded in 1875. Georgetown is almost 100 years older, and it’s located in the center of early U.S. civilization. And BYU was founded in a sparsely populated desert. A desert that until 100 years ago was very difficult to reach, because it is surrounded by some of the most strenuous mountains on earth. Not exactly a big draw for the world’s intellectuals. Mormons are also incredibly open to scientific exploration and scientific explanation for phenomena they still consider divine, like evolution, much more so than Catholics for certain.

Now, obviously I think the fact that Joseph Smith was a documented con man and that the “world history” he presents in the BoM can be disproved by even the most amateur of anthropologists is a problem for academics. But the truth is, for anyone who has religious faith, there is a level of acceptance of the irrational. The fact that this is perhaps more irrational than other religions could certainly be a factor in disapproval of it, but I think to say Mormons are less educated or less “high minded” because BYU isn’t Georgetown is probably playing fast and loose with history…

I think you’d have to visit Utah to understand just how much conservative ideology plays a role in their religion. While I’m no academic, I will say that the sexism, racism, and homophobia of the religion turned me off to it long before the fact that it was a lie did…Somin might be more correct than you think.