DiscussMormonism.com

1. What are the most important credentials necessary to evaluate and conclude upon, a historical setting of the Book of Mormon in Mesoamerica?

2. Should the Book of Mormon be considered as an accurate translation of an original source from the historical period it claimed to describe?

3. Are there any specific educational requirements necessary to read and comprehend the Book of Mormon above and beyond those that the Church asks its members or prospective members to read it and pray about it? (if so - what are they!)

Joey wrote:1. What are the most important credentials necessary to evaluate and conclude upon, a historical setting of the Book of Mormon in Mesoamerica?

No credentials necessary. Credentials may actually be a detriment.

2. Should the Book of Mormon be considered as an accurate translation of an original source from the historical period it claimed to describe?

First we need the plates. Otherwise it's impossible to put attach any historical period.

3. Are there any specific educational requirements necessary to read and comprehend the Book of Mormon above and beyond those that the Church asks its members or prospective members to read it and pray about it? (if so - what are they!)

No, none. A certain spiritual world view may come in handy, though.

Joey wrote:3. Are there any specific educational requirements necessary to read and comprehend the Book of Mormon above and beyond those that the Church asks its members or prospective members to read it and pray about it? (if so - what are they!)

To fully comprehend the Reformed Egyptian and Adamic Languages, it helps if you have a Ph.D in Arabic from UCLA. Other than that, religion is open to the masses whether they are huddled or bunched together at the BYU Jell-O Festival. As I understand it, there is an inverse relationship between educational attainment and degrees of religiosity on the Gimme That Ol' Time Religion scale.

moksha wrote:To fully comprehend the Reformed Egyptian and Adamic Languages, it helps if you have a Ph.D in Arabic from UCLA.

That made me laugh, lil penguin.

Joey! Hello?

Facts, evidences, and "historicity" are not allowed here in this forum!

Feelings are the only things allowed here.

Feelings. Feel em. Trust em.

You can find out all truths via them. Especially when these feelings arrive in the form of a self induced emotional epiphany which confirms a bias you already have like the Book of Mormon is TRUE!

I got an additional question for Peterson et al. with a followup:

Are the works of Joseph Smith considered scholarly?

???

If so, why did he make so many errors that it requires a scholar to interpret them?

If not, why are you wasting your time attempting to form scholarly interpretations of his works?

oh, one more:

If it's only the inspired words that you consider scholarly (the Mormon God, of course being the author), aren't you concerned about getting flamed by Him for all your Ark Steadying?

Joey wrote:1. What are the most important credentials necessary to evaluate and conclude upon, a historical setting of the Book of Mormon in Mesoamerica?

2. Should the Book of Mormon be considered as an accurate translation of an original source from the historical period it claimed to describe?

3. Are there any specific educational requirements necessary to read and comprehend the Book of Mormon above and beyond those that the Church asks its members or prospective members to read it and pray about it? (if so - what are they!)

I was actually very serious in the above questions presented.  

We have heard so much from Gardner and Peterson about a "30 year accumulation of LDS scholarship" that they apparently believe is a must read to understand the mesoamerican setting claim for the Book of Mormon historicity.  Yet it really does take very little in intellect and common sense to see and understand (through the three questions I have posed) that this supposed scholarship is completely irrelevant to an expert's,  in mesoamerican studies,  conclusion about the Book of Mormon's setting in mesoamerica.  

I suspect what it does demonstrate though is why the need for FARMS and the MI - to diffuse and redirect attention away from the obvious:  Why there is no interest in this supposed scholarship to begin with!!

Peterson and Gardner have no problem coming here and making it an issue until they are asked to defend their arguments, reason and rationale.  Since being asked, however, what have they said???

It brings 'me back to the quote by critical thinking expert Edward De Bono when he defined what an expert is with such simplistic clarity:

"An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore."

There is an obvious reason this LDS "scholarship" remains, as Peterson accurately stated, "ignored"!

Joey wrote:There is an obvious reason this LDS "scholarship" remains, as Peterson accurately stated, "ignored"!

Well, at least no more than the "scholarly" study of the Loch Ness Monster, Holy Grail, Big Foot, The Fountain of Youth, Cold Fusion, The Lost Dutchman Mine.. great stuff.

If apologists ever find something, I'd really like to know about it. Until then, it would do them well to stop declaring breakthroughs until there actually is one. Otherwise the best place to announce events like these are on Coast to Coast

Here Dan, why don't you drop them a line -

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/

Oh yeah, they got scholars.

1. What are the most important credentials necessary to evaluate and conclude upon, a historical setting of the Book of Mormon in Mesoamerica?

The ability to believe everything your parents tell you.

2. Should the Book of Mormon be considered as an accurate translation of an original source from the historical period it claimed to describe?

Only insofar as it's translated correctly.

3. Are there any specific educational requirements necessary to read and comprehend the Book of Mormon above and beyond those that the Church asks its members or prospective members to read it and pray about it? (if so - what are they!)

Yes, no education beyond elementary school promotes the highest level of understanding and commitment.


[Actually, I like the Book of Mormon. I don't even care if it's true because when I read it, I usually feel closer to God as a result. Some good principles and some important lessons about how to overcome pesky problems that require long periods of suffering, as well as a panoramic view of the consequences of righteous and unrighteous living -- I like it very much.

WE have a speaker coming about evidence the Book of Mormon is true from Meso American archeology. Couldn't care less quite honestly. No one knows for sure except by the power of the warm fuzzies. You can't even check with the 8 witnesses]

WE have a speaker coming about evidence the Book of Mormon is true from Meso American archeology.
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When he shows up ask him why Joseph was told by God the Lamanites were in Ohio, Missouri and North America. Maybe how long it took for the millions involved in the last great battles to get to New York and whether they were bothered by snow and cold during that time. How about Zelph, that great white Lamanite warrior known from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic shores?