BOM

[shakatany]

Well since Mitt Romney is still a strong contender amongst the  Rethuglicans (*g*) I thought I'd check out exactly what he supposedly believes in at The Skeptics Annotated Book of Mormon. I know it's not PC to comment on someone's religious beliefs but if the Mormons truly believe all that it just proves David Hannum's adage that "there's a sucker

Comments

[riani1]

As I think you know, I live in Utah, in one of the more right-leaning areas at that (a long, strange story to how I got here). I'm not a Mormon and never have been, but I've picked up a lot of the culture. As fenchurche said, the Israelites are only one factor in the Lamanites (ie, native Americans). Also, the most recent edition of the BOM has a note in the preface commenting briefly on the discrepancy between the scientific evidence and scripture.

The BOM is only part of the picture, though. There are two other books that are considered part of the standard scriptures, the Pearl of Great Price, which is supposed to be Joseph Smith's translation of an Egyptian papyrus (it's not a true translation of the papyrus, which has "mysteriously" gone missing, so people don't mention the Pearl much anymore) and the Doctrines and Covenants, AKA the D&C. Doctrines and Covenants are collected prophecies and pronouncements that the early leaders came up with, and they're very revealing on the important issues of the early days. They are the source of much of the behaviors and underlying philosophies of the faith.

[shakatany]

it's not a true translation of the papyrus, which has "mysteriously" gone missing, Didn't the gold tablets of the angel Moroni also conveniently vanish?

Basically I am tired of the people who rule trying to impose upon us the idea that we are a Christian nation and everything would be better if we all believed and who do their darnedest to weaken the walls separating church and state. When did religious belief become a politcal litmus test? Jefferson and the others must be turning over in their graves.

Shakatany

[riani1]

The golden tablets were taken back by the Angel Moroni, either because they were too sacred to leave or because they were not being treated correctly. Also, Joseph Smith's translation technique was to put two special rocks into his top hat and peer into the hat to receive revelation.

To their credit, the LDS folk know how that sounds, and try to deflect talk into the validity of the message rather than the means the message arrived. It's a touchy subject.

Apparently John Madison stated specifically in a treaty with the Barbary pirates or something that we are not a Christian nation. I've got the citation somewhere, but it can be found by Googling John Madison and Christian nation.

[shakatany]

I made a post about that treaty some time ago because Fargo is in the midst of a "Ten Commandments" fight and I thought it made a good point. Of course now I can't find that entry *sigh*

Shakatany

[riani1]

HEre's a good one.

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/farrell_till/myth.html