Once again bcspace makes the claim that Mormonism (which speaks directly for God on Earth) and science are not in opposition.
Yes. And I predict it won't be long until I do it again.
Immediately thereafter bcspace admits that the LDS Church has no official position on evolution,
Hence no opposition.
but fails to acknowledge that the Church cannot take a position on evolution because Church doctrine and beliefs are so internally inconsistent, confused and contrary to science that neither position (for or against evolution) could not possibly be supported by the LDS Church.
Incorrect. The Church cannot take a position on evolution because it doesn't have enough information to do so; something it even says in some of the recent quotes refered to.
The Church’s failure to acknowledge the reality of evolution certainly does not give one confidence that science and Momromnism are not in opposition.
Actually, it's the scriptures and official doctrines which give one confidence to state that evolution is not in conflict with LDS doctrine.
And the problems with the unfounded claims of bcspace with regard to the lack of opposition of Mormonism to evolution and the lack of conflict between science and Mormonism go much deeper. Consider the following with regard to LDS beliefs that are related to evolution alone, let alone its beliefs (from scripture) that are incompatible with physics (special relativity , general relativity), cosmology, astronomy, and geology among other disciplines:
Having done so for the last three decades, ever since my teacher's quorum advisor and Bishop sought to disabuse me of the notion of evolution and the Stake president then rescued me with actual doctrine, I will now proceed to destroy your arguments:
In D&C 77:6, we read:
Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was asealed on the back with seven seals?
A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will,mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.
The bold emphasis is mine.
Thus we learn, from LDS scripture, that the age of the Earth is 7,000 years (and not 4.7 billion years). Since this is from scripture, the normal bcspace dodge that the absurdities of Mormonism are “not doctrine” cannot be applied here. Perhaps bcspace can explain how this word of God as revealed in LDS scripture is not in opposition to science, and is compatible with the theory of evolution in particular.
You have made a very serious mistake my friend by not looking up what the doctrine (interpretation of scripture) of the Church actually is on the matter:
Why Was the Book Sealed That John Saw? “‘The book which John saw’ represented the real history of the world—what the eye of God has seen, what the recording angel has written; and the seven thousand years, corresponding to the seven seals of the Apocalyptic volume, are as seven great days during which Mother Earth will fulfill her mortal mission, laboring six days and resting upon the seventh, her period of sanctification.
These seven days do not include the period of our planet’s creation and preparation as a dwelling place for man. They are limited to Earth’s ‘temporal existence,’ that is, to Time, considered as distinct from Eternity.” (Whitney, Saturday Night Thoughts, p. 11.)
Doctrine and Covenants Institute Manual Section 77
Notice that this puts a physical aspect onto the spiritual creation. Evolution certainly could have taken place during the earth's "preparation as a dwelling place for man". Of course this jives quite well with 2 Nephi 2:22 wherein we see that everying was created AND THEN placed into state of no death. The properties of this creative state are not given, therefore one cannot simply assume that it to was a state of no death. So by the scriptures it is shown that evolution can swim with LDS doctrine and not conflict.
See also the creation account in the Book of Abraham which makes the spiritual creation into a planning session and then the elements are commanded until it is seen that they have obeyed. String Theory, Big Bang, expansion and aging of the universe, the elements created in stars, Evolution of species; they all can fit within LDS doctrine with no conflict.
In addition, the Church counters your unfounded age of the earth claim thusly:
While it is interesting to note these various theories,
officially the Church has not taken a stand on the age of the earth. For reasons best known to Himself, the Lord has not yet seen fit to formally reveal the details of the Creation. Therefore, while Latter-day Saints are commanded to learn truth from many different fields of study (see D&C 88:77–79 ),
an attempt to establish any theory as the official position of the Church is not justifiable.
Old Testament Institute Manual, Genesis 1-2, (2-3) How Old Is the Earth?
So indeed we see that the notion that the earth is 4.5 billion years old can swim just as well as the 7000-10,000 year claim (except that the command to the Church is to learn these things from science and science doesn't teach a 7000 to 10000 year old earth). Once again, no conflict.
Boyd K. Packer, from "The Law and the Light"
BYU Symposiums are not doctrinal. We could now take BRM's admission in his Seven Deadly Heresies speech that evolution could be noncontradictory (he just doesn't understand how it could be).
Even though the “that is not doctrine” tactic used by bcspace would allow him skate on this one, I included it anyway for its combination of Mormon anti-science absurdity and arrogance (the way only BKP can do it).
It's not a "tactic". It's simply how the Church views doctrine. It is not absurd that BKP would not accept evolution. The reality though is that an indiviual's opinions do not count as doctrine and since the Lord has not revealed the details of creation, BKP can take whatever stand he wants and not come into conflict with LDS doctrine.
Finally, there is the article in the April 2011 Ensign, which pretty much shuts the door on evolution and shows that unsupported Mormon anti-science beliefs are alive and well in 2011. The quote below in that Ensign article is from Bruce R. McConkie, but a reading of the article shows that the Prophet Seer and Revelator of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson, preaches the same nonsense.
It teaches that all things were created in a paradisiacal state, without death and without procreation. Then came the Fall, by which Adam and Eve became the first mortal flesh on earth, and by which procreation and death entered the whole creation. The Atonement of Jesus Christ saves all things, not just the human race. As in Adam all things die, even so in Christ shall all things be made alive. (Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign, April 2011, 59; summarized.)
How does this diverge from 2 Nephi 2:22 or the doctrine I quoted on D&C 77? What earth? Answer: The already finsished being created earth. What flesh? Answer: That subject to temporal time, after the Fall.
Mormon anti-intellectualism and Mormonism’s anti-science beliefs have seldom been more in evidence than they are today - bcspace or no bcspace.
There is no anti-intellectualism in the Church. To be learned is good........