Indeed.
Best wishes.
Regards,
MG
I have not followed everything Dan has said but have followed a bunch. I have not heard him say that he does not think the Book of Mormon is historical. I have heard him say a few times that the data does not support the book as history. He then has added faith can go beyond data, hope can go beyond what is demonstrated (referencing that line in Hebrews).Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 11:23 pmThat's how the leaders want you to believe all right....I Have Questions wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2026 9:10 amYes. I don’t know if Dan McClellan is a temple recommend holder or not. That’s not my business. However, I don’t know how a member could honestly answer that Yes, they do have a testimony of the Restoration, but also disbelieve that the Book of Mormon is an ancient record that was written on gold plates. The two positions seem to me to be mutually exclusive.
Yes, on the face of it Dan does seem to be trying to have a foot in both camps. He’s acknowledging that the evidence for it being of 19th century origin is strong, whilst also acknowledging that there’s room for people believing it’s of ancient origin despite the evidence. That’s intellectually inconsistent. But as you say, he’s not really articulating his own position. He’s sort of arguing for “belief despite evidence” which is fine when there aren’t in real life consequences. What I mean is, believing in the Book of Mormon’s ancient origins despite the evidence showing it isn’t ancient, is different to a wall street trader throwing good money after bad to try and rescue a losing position in the hopes the stock will come good despite the evidence that it’s bombing.huckelberry wrote: ↑Wed Oct 14, 2026 4:45 pmI have not followed everything Dan has said but have followed a bunch. I have not heard him say that he does not think the Book of Mormon is historical. I have heard him say a few times that the data does not support the book as history. He then has added faith can go beyond data, hope can go beyond what is demonstrated (referencing that line in Hebrews).Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 11:23 pmThat's how the leaders want you to believe all right....
I do not know what he thinks on that, he has declined to say. I imagine he may see it as something uncertain but hoped for.
For the reasons he’s given that may be perfectly reasonable…and honest. You’re a bit more diehard and dogmatically certain than he is. Jury’s still out.I Have Questions wrote: ↑Wed Oct 14, 2026 7:23 pmYes, on the face of it Dan does seem to be trying to have a foot in both camps.
That's a good point. I see the "arguing for 'belief despite evidence' " to be his acknowledgement that people actually do this and that it's not really relevant to his evidence and fact-based discussion about Book of Mormon historicity. He's absolutely correct in that. In no academic analysis would you find someone arguing that non-factually based beliefs should be considered as a factor in an evaluation of a fact-based assessment of something.I Have Questions wrote: ↑Wed Oct 14, 2026 7:23 pmYes, on the face of it Dan does seem to be trying to have a foot in both camps. He’s acknowledging that the evidence for it being of 19th century origin is strong, whilst also acknowledging that there’s room for people believing it’s of ancient origin despite the evidence. That’s intellectually inconsistent. But as you say, he’s not really articulating his own position. He’s sort of arguing for “belief despite evidence” which is fine when there aren’t in real life consequences. What I mean is, believing in the Book of Mormon’s ancient origins despite the evidence showing it isn’t ancient, is different to a wall street trader throwing good money after bad to try and rescue a losing position in the hopes the stock will come good despite the evidence that it’s bombing.huckelberry wrote: ↑Wed Oct 14, 2026 4:45 pmI have not followed everything Dan has said but have followed a bunch. I have not heard him say that he does not think the Book of Mormon is historical. I have heard him say a few times that the data does not support the book as history. He then has added faith can go beyond data, hope can go beyond what is demonstrated (referencing that line in Hebrews).
I do not know what he thinks on that, he has declined to say. I imagine he may see it as something uncertain but hoped for.
In argumentation theory, an argumentum ad populum (Latin for 'appeal to the people')[1] is an informal fallacy that asserts a claim is true, good, or correct because many people allegedly think so.[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum
For many religious believers historical data is viewed through a lens of meaning, covenant, heart, and personal spiritual experience rather than or exclusively as a strict laboratory hypothesis to be proven or disproven by secular standards such as the investigations of the 9/11 'conspiracy'.
Did you read the post you are responding to? Your paragraph above mangles every concept discussed.MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2026 11:06 pmFor many religious believers historical data is viewed through a lens of meaning, covenant, heart, and personal spiritual experience rather than or exclusively as a strict laboratory hypothesis to be proven or disproven by secular standards such as the investigations of the 9/11 'conspiracy'...
Alright, I tried to have a conversation with you. I will again on another thread and see how it goes. But no further on this thread. As I've mentioned to one or two others...I'm not playing that game anymore. You'll have to go solo and/or play with your tag team.Marcus wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2026 11:39 pmDid you read the post you are responding to? Your paragraph above mangles every concept discussed.MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2026 11:06 pmFor many religious believers historical data is viewed through a lens of meaning, covenant, heart, and personal spiritual experience rather than or exclusively as a strict laboratory hypothesis to be proven or disproven by secular standards such as the investigations of the 9/11 'conspiracy'...
First, no 'secular standards' re investigations of 9/11 conspiracy were mentioned, the argument was that argumentum ad populum is a fallacy.
Second, I noted that McClellan acknowledges that religious people may not use evidence like he does. My point was that he seems to consider that irrelevant to his evidence and fact-based discussion about Book of Mormon historicity. Your rehashing is pointless.
And last, you know that partial quotes should have ellipses due to the possibility of misreading a commenter's intent and yet you continue to do it, AND follow up with misreading intent. It's just another of your trolling mechanisms. It's become so obvious however that all you are accomplishing is reminding readers you are here to disrupt. But please, render forth another teeth-gnashing explanation of how you forgot.