That’s how I see Mormons dealing with the book of Abraham. A lot of hand waving and sound bite level arguments about why it’s not a problem.
Shulem is dying to flesh these out with you, and it doesn’t seem like you’re interested in diving in.
That’s how I see Mormons dealing with the book of Abraham. A lot of hand waving and sound bite level arguments about why it’s not a problem.
This is another example of MG2.0 trying to project his own behaviour into others. The only times he attempts to provide something other than a sound bite, he uses A.I. responses. Take his OP on this thread, it’s Sound Bite Central.
This is why the church doesn’t talk about the book of Abraham. Heck, even Smoot- the self professed expert- basically just waves his hands in the air and says “IDK guys lol but answers are out there, somewhere!”Shulem wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 2:26 pm
MG has spent years and years researching the problems and studying it out in his own mind with meticulous interest according to his desire and has carefully and prayerfully considered the very issues that perplex faithful apologists as well as those matters highlighted by critics. He is not ignorant and understands the implications of what the problems and contradictions suggest -- the work is a fraud.
MG solemnly stated seven years ago, "My approach also parallels that which has been stated by Professor Gee," who said, "the relationship between the Joseph Smith Papyri and the Book of Abraham is a situation in which both believers and detractors must rely on their faith." Note how they contend how believers have to rely on faith including the critics which is not true. There is no faith on my part when it comes to criticizing the Book of Abraham. My criticisms are based only on facts coupled with rational and logical thinking. Faith has nothing to do with it!
In the thread seven years ago, MG said, "I have a natural curiosity for looking at different points of view and information from as many sources as I can." So, you can see he's had plenty of time to continue his research and follow along with the apologists as well as threads on this board in which he's a member. MG is quoted saying the following while confessing his frustration with the Book of Abraham:
- It is a juggling act.
- Book of Abraham? I go with the "nuanced view".
- I suppose it's a matter of just how much of Joseph's mind is allowed to come into the Book of Abraham project, along with any error that would be part of that process.
- The Book of Abraham in some ways is an enigma to me.
- The fact that it has some really cool doctrine/theology and yet has the hand prints of error is a conundrum.
- I haven't been able to work it all out in my own mind to my own satisfaction.
Smoot claims we are not asking the "right" questions! Therefore we are asking the wrong questions or questions that are inferior! For example: What's the king's name in Facsimile No. 3? That must be a wrong question because Smoot doesn't have a right answer!
Stephen Smoot wrote:I have questions certainly about the book of Abraham I'm sure many of our listeners have questions about the book of Abraham that's okay it's okay to have those questions you should be asking the right questions or the better questions and keep looking with what we know and what we perhaps will know in the future right so in other words I like to tell people don't give up on the book of Abraham...
The Book of Abraham Translation with Stephen O. Smoot
He thinks the problems with the Book of Abraham are small and peripheral....
noel: "I might live to see the day when the facsimiles are removed from the Book of Abraham."
You might. You probably won't.
But you almost certainly won't live to see the day when you stop fixating on a very small number of peripheral issues and on the opinions of a small number of authors
Very peripheral. It only calls into question the process by which Joseph Smith received revelation and its validity.Rivendale wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 4:18 pmHe thinks the problems with the Book of Abraham are small and peripheral....
noel: "I might live to see the day when the facsimiles are removed from the Book of Abraham."
You might. You probably won't.
But you almost certainly won't live to see the day when you stop fixating on a very small number of peripheral issues and on the opinions of a small number of authors