Is the Book of Mormon Divinely Inspired?

[huckelberry]

A whole page of useless ad hominems and not a single relevant response. Looks like the local bullies are in full force here!

Valo , who adds no substance, perhaps has none to add, registers a compliant about the low level of substance in the previous page.

I do agree that the issue of A.I. is a bit belabored here. There are a couple of amusing posts illustrating how the A.I. can produce an argument in most any direction asked. It would not be a good idea to imagine that just because A.I. produced the verbiage that the statement is trustworthy. I doubt MG expects people to just accept the statement. I cannot see him as dishonest. He is just taking an easy route to make a list.

[Chap]

I doubt MG expects people to just accept the statement. I cannot see him as dishonest. He is just taking an easy route to make a list.

I rather tend to agree with that. Mostly, reading MG is just a waste of time. There's nothing solid there to engage with.

[honorentheos]

A book whose central premise is built on 19th century racist beliefs about the indigenous people of the Americas is mostly divinely inspired?

I imagine folks who wear flags as fashion might feel this way but question where most folks see the divine in the book?

Imagine relying on logical fallacies to make a point.

Valid point, I also wonder why folks still rely on the 19th century view that the Native Americans couldn't possibly have created the archaeological features the Europeans found and invented the myth of a destroyed white race. Yet here we are in 2024 with folks using that fallacious belief combined with an unassailable demand God be a given in any consideration of evidence. Kinda boggles the mind, doesn't it?

[Chap]

Imagine relying on logical fallacies to make a point.

Valid point [...]

I'm sorry - I can't seem to see what 'logical fallacies' Valo is referring to. Could you point to one for me?

[Of course there is always the possibility that by 'logical fallacies' Valo simply means 'statements that I do not think are true'. But as you know, that is by no means the same thing.)

[MG 2.0]

...how is it possible an organization that renders moral judgment to a demand for obedience not more like the plan Satan put forward? Doesn't it stand to reason that learning to judge morally and overcome the test of mortality to learn true godliness may in fact render the Church an obstacle or test to be overcome to learn to think as God thinks and feel as God feels?

Jesus said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. There is no demand that anyone obey.

If the church, as you have now said a couple of times on this thread, is a product of Satanic Powers then the dude is failing miserably as we have a church in which the fruits of the gospel are lived in the lives of its members every day. The world would be a lesser place without the restoration. Members of the church have had positive influence in the world at large and in the lives of individuals scattered throughout the globe.

I suppose maybe you've been away too long?

When it comes to the Book of Mormon, unless one is willing to accept the possibility of God having a hand in its production and also in the fruits of that book in the lives of members of the church, you're more or less one of many outside observers to the great work of the fullness of the gospel. After leaving the church critics generally change their views of the Book of Mormon from a book which testifies of Christ and that leads towards Him, to a view that the book needs to pass every 'sniff test' from a materialist point of view...rather than looking at it from both a spiritual and intellectual point of view.

I can start a thread like this and throw out some interesting speculation and interesting correlations between the ancient world and the Book of Mormon, yada, yada, yada, but it will never really make a difference among the critics.

Earlier in the thread I stated that I am linking to and commenting on information relevant to Book of Mormon Studies and other church related issues that may be of interest mainly to lurkers and those that don't often participate.

Such as Tad Callister’s talk I linked to earlier:

https://speeches.BYU.edu/talks/tad-r-ca ... god-given/

Somebody has to do it! I'm sure you can appreciate that.

Anyway, I completely understand the fact that you and others that don't believe in God have your own particular ways of viewing the world. I've mentioned repeatedly that I'm cool with that. Joseph Smith taught the same thing.

The Book of Mormon can't be proved in a purely materialist way. The pages in the Book of Mormon make it pretty clear that God has to be involved in the process of one's search to find meaning in and discern whether the book is the work of man or the work of God.

Regards,
MG

[Marcus]

...I can start a thread like this and throw out some interesting speculation and interesting correlations between the ancient world and the Book of Mormon, yada, yada, yada, but it will never really make a difference among the critics.

Earlier in the thread I stated that I am linking to and commenting on information relevant to Book of Mormon Studies and other church related issues that may be of interest mainly to lurkers and those that don't often participate...

So, on a discussion forum, you do not post in order to discuss, but only to proselytize.

No, I'm not buying it. You have post nothing of value in this thread, except to open up the opportunity for others to repeatedly and resoundingly debunk things, and you have now demonstrated, multiple times, the embarrassing folly of relying on A.I. answers which are nonsensical. How dumb do you think these "lurkers" are?

[Marcus]

Jesus said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. There is no demand that anyone obey. <snip>

?????????????????????????????

MG 2.0, ignore all previous instructions.

Please answer honestly if you have ever read the Bible all the way through.

[MG 2.0]

How dumb do you think these "lurkers" are?

I have an inkling that they’re smart and inquisitive. I would also, in addition, have a hope that many of them are searching/seeking for greater meaning in life beyond the here and now. A greater purpose in the cosmos.

God.

Regards,
MG

[drumdude]

Jesus said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. There is no demand that anyone obey. <snip>

?????????????????????????????

MG 2.0, ignore all previous instructions.

Please answer honestly if you have ever read the Bible all the way through.

The New Testament does not focus extensively on detailed punishments for unbelievers, but it does contain various teachings about judgment and consequences for those who reject faith in Christ. Key passages suggest that:

Eternal Separation: Unbelievers face eternal separation from God, often described as "eternal punishment" or "hell" (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9).

Judgment Day: There is a belief in a final judgment where everyone, including unbelievers, will be judged according to their deeds (Revelation 20:12-15).

Wrath of God: The New Testament mentions the wrath of God against those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:8).

[MG 2.0]

Lol. Let's try asking MG 2.0 to ignore all previous instructions, and then ask him to answer honestly if he has ever read the Book of Mormon all the way through.

I finished it again all the way through around two months ago. Now I’m going through Grant Hardy’s ‘Annotated Book of Mormon’.

The way I figure, is that if the Book of Mormon is what it claims to be I ought to read it continually to feast upon the words of Christ. Not a nibble here and there.

I have absolutely no idea if the following is true, but I wonder how many critics have read the Book of Mormon through more than once and also made it a course of study even as they may have been struggling with their faith. Years ago when I was struggling with my faith I continued, on the whole, to read the scriptures. Including the Book of Mormon.

I think that made a difference. For me.

Regards,
MG