The Book of Abraham - suggestions?

[_TrashcanMan79]

In the 10 or so years I have been interested in the criticisms and defenses of the Church, I have always avoided the Book of Abraham issues. I always thought it was over my head. But recently I took advantage of the free copy of By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus being offered by IRR, and now I'm hooked. I've got a big fat IRS check coming soon, and I'd like to blow it on the latest and greatest books about the Book of Abraham - maybe something that addresses the Missing Scroll and Catalyst theories. What have you read? What would you suggest?

(I also seem to recall mention of a forthcoming book by Metcalfe on the Book of Abraham. Anyone have any information on this?)

Thanks!

[_Alter Idem]

I got Hugh Nibley's "The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri--the Egyptian Endowment". If you're going to read the critics, you ought to read the defenders as well.

Personally, I get books out of the library first, read them and then if I like them, I'll buy a copy. I have too many books and I have trouble giving them away, so this helps control my book collecting.

Have you ever looked at Paul Osborne's website? He had a lot of interesting stuff and probably has good suggestions for books.

[_CaliforniaKid]

Trashcanman,

My number one recommendation after Larson's book is The Story of the Book of Abraham by H. Donl Peterson. After that, most of the best stuff is in journals like Dialogue and Journal of Near Eastern Studies.

-Chris

[_Alter Idem]

Trashcanman,

My number one recommendation after Larson's book is The Story of the Book of Abraham by H. Donl Peterson. After that, most of the best stuff is in journals like Dialogue and Journal of Near Eastern Studies.

-Chris

And I'll second Chris' recommendation. That's a book you want to own and keep for later reference.

[_TrashcanMan79]

Thanks fellas. Definitely gonna get the Peterson book and, against my better judgement, will probably check out some Nibley as well. ;)

Can anyone verify the forthcoming Metcalfe book? Or are the 'shrooms just catching up with me?

[_Kolohe]

here is my suggestian:

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Complete/ ... U-SBA.html

[_Who Knows]

...I always thought it was over my head...

That's the best apologetic defense of the Book of Abraham - assert that it's too complicated for the average joe schmoe - and then show how a few 'smart' people understand the issues (nibley, gee, etc.), and still believe in it.

It worked on you for a while, i guess.

[_Dale]

You might contact Kerry Shirts he did two Dvd's responding to Ch. 10 in Charle's Larsons book. When i got my copy of Larsons book from IRR i asked some people i know look at it. These were persons who advocate the missing papyrus, and catalyst ideas. Some of them presented why they did not feel his arguments rebutted their position. Paul Osbourne was one i asked, and i think i asked Benjamin McGuire of FAIR on the FAIR e-mail listing.

Kerry Shirts DVD's 2005 Answers to Criticism 1,2.

I have read his book a few times and am still open to the Missing papyrus, and Catalyst revelation ideas. I am just not a fan of Charles Larson.

[_Kolohe]

This is my favorite part of Ashment's book:

The "Any Egyptian Connection" Theory

An Egyptian connection to the Book of Abraham was still desired and actively sought, however. Quite early in the game Dr. Nibley had given the impression that he felt the Mormon people ought to be willing to accept any association that could be found -- even to pagan Egyptian mythology if need be -- so long as it left open possibilities.

However, Nibley's approach in this regard is certainly in sharp conflict with the Bible, one of the four LDS standard works. Throughout the Old Testament it is abundantly clear that God took great pains to dissuade the children of Israel from any contact with the false gods and idolatrous practices of their pagan neighbors. He ordered the Israelites to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan when they conquered the land, lest they should mingle His holy name with pagan deities, and so pollute the truth of divine revelation (Deuteronomy 6:14; 7:2-4, 16, 25,26; 12:2-4). God specifically admonished His people to repudiate and completely forsake the gods of Egypt, to whom they had been exposed during their years of captivity there (Joshua 24:14). The Old Testament records that every time the children of Israel fell into pagan idolatry, they experienced God's chastening (Judges 2:2,3, 11-15). Later in Israel's history, the prophet Ezekiel traced Israel's fall into idolatry all the way back to her failure to completely forsake the pagan religion of Egypt (Ezekiel 20:7-9).

The New Testament likewise teaches the same principle that God does not use pagan or ungodly vessels to bear His truth. Acts 16:16-18 records the incident of a demon possessed girl who followed the Apostle Paul and Silas, crying out that they were ''servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation." Although this testimony was true, Paul completely repudiated any such association between the Gospel and pagan occultism. He rebuked the evil spirit and cast it out of the girl.

The Catalyst Theory

However, the"Catalyst" theory is fatally flawed in requiring us to believe that God would associate His sacred truth with a document consisting of prayers to pagan Egyptian gods, and ripe with occultism. As was noted earlier in connection with the "Any Egyptian Connection" theory (pp. 119,120), it is inconceivable, given God's holy character as revealed throughout the Bible, that He would associate Himself or His truth in any way with such pagan occultic documents.

In otherwords,
if you find any evidence against the Book of Abraham, embrace it.
if you find any evidence in favor of the Book of Abraham put your fingers in your ears and chant "God hates pagan stuff" 10 times.

[_Brackite]

Hello TrashcanMan79 and All else here,
There have been a few Great Discussion threads about the issues of the Book of Abraham, and the Apologetics and the criticism surrounding some links to some of the Book of Abraham Discussion Threads on this Message Board: .


The Book of Abraham:
http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=32

The Book of Abraham II:
http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/vi ... .php?t=656

The Book of Abraham:
http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/vi ... php?t=1632

The KEPA Manuscripts as Oral Dictation Transcripts:
http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/vi ... php?t=3836

Question - Since we're on the topic of the Book of Abraham...:
http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/vi ... php?t=3882

A General FYI on missing papyrus and such:
http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/vi ... php?t=3942

Why Nibley and Gee cannot be trusted:
http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/vi ... php?t=3715


I recommend the most, Reading the last Discussion thread that I listed here, and that I linked to here.