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Anyone read this guy’s stuff? Any good? [
Admin note: The site is explicitly anti-Mormon, and our rules state that we don’t link to explicitly anti-Mormon sites. Literally, the home page calls Mormonism a “hoax” and says it’s not designed for active Mormons who want to “keep their delusion”. Thus, I deleted the link. – Ray] I know nothing of this author, but, given he spends a whole page wittering on about Nephite coins, I’ve already lost interest in him. The coins issue has about as much weight as a criticism as ‘adieu’ in Jacob. I suppose I should find out more about before dismissing him wholesale, but his whole approach in the coins article lacks any balance, so expect his books to be the same.
I think there are some very strong arguments for and against the Book of Mormon’s authenticity, but I’d prefer to at least approach in a reasonable way. Perhaps the only way to do that though with Mormonism is to read the two extremes as I don’t think anyone is particularly balanced. So saying all that, maybe I should read a few more books like this.
@mackay11 Agreed. I get enough non-biased info accidentally without the need to go looking. What we read influences our thoughts. If our goal is to stay LDS, reading books whose intent is to expose the fraud is counter productive. I doubt he reveals any new info, just more of the same with a strong anti slant.
Ultimately, who cares whether the BofM is historical or allegorical or just plain made up? If it inspires you to live a godly life, then great… if not, then find something that does. There was no Noah or Job. So what? They are great, symbolic, stories that have a much deeper and better meaning than what is on the surface. See my note in the original post. It’s unfair for me to comment as I only read the front page and synopses… But I really don’t think there are any more bombshells out there… most of what’s been said has been said before.
The last big things, IMHO are the September Six and the Hoffman carry on, but there’s little new under the sun.
On Own Now wrote:Ultimately, who cares whether the BofM is historical or allegorical….
Most active Mormons care.
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SamBee wrote:It’s unfair for me to comment as I only read the front page and synopses…
But I really don’t think there are any more bombshells out there… most of what’s been said has been said before.
The last big things, IMHO are the September Six and the Hoffman carry on, but there’s little new under the sun.
I had an ‘ahah moment’ of my own a while back. I was reading through the John Dehlin research and it listed all the historical things that might be causing people to leave. I got to the end of the list and thought, wow, I know all those and I’ve not left. It was odd to realise that I might be reaching the end of the line/bottom of the barrel.
My shelf is very full. It still creaks from time to time. Occasionally something new comes to mind (like my gripe about McConkie’s speculation a few weeks ago), but I wonder if there’s anything waiting to be found that will provide the final straw that breaks my camel back. But maybe there is. Who knows.
In the end I realise there’s enough to justify leaving but insufficient to make staying untenable. In the end, I choose. And that’s sometimes a strange feeling. Maybe most religious and philosophical viewpoints are that way by design. Enough to let you choose for yourself and not enough to close all other options off to you. Nothing perfect, but lots of working options. Vehicles for the same path. Fit for purpose.
Really interesting, and i completely agree mackay. I think the only new things that will emerge will be self inflicted by the church (such as Prop8.) Sent from my Windows Phone 8X by HTC using Board Express
kristmace wrote:Really interesting, and i completely agree mackay. I think the only new things that will emerge will be self inflicted by the church (such as Prop8.)
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True, although Prop8 again represents recurrent issue rather than a new one. As does City Creek.
So it would appear that the latest edition of “Mormon Delusion” is on the D&C and compares the goings on of the times with the revelations being received. Obviously the slant is that these revelations were convenient and self serving. I do have a spark of interest because I feel like I have never had a good review of the D&C in their cultural context – all the SS lessons, seminary, and institute focus on the principles embedded within and likening it to ourselves. I don’t want an anti-mormon slant but I would like a good historical study guide companion to the D&C (possibly to include revelations that didn’t make it in)- does anyone have any suggestions?
Roy, there are good scholarly pieces about those things, but the “Revelations in Context” additional material that now is linked to the D&C Sunday School lessons is quite good – and really good in some cases. I certainly wouldn’t limit your reading to those materials, but I wouldn’t ignore then, either. Roy wrote:So it would appear that the latest edition of “Mormon Delusion” is on the D&C and compares the goings on of the times with the revelations being received. Obviously the slant is that these revelations were convenient and self serving. I do have a spark of interest because I feel like I have never had a good review of the D&C in their cultural context – all the SS lessons, seminary, and institute focus on the principles embedded within and likening it to ourselves.
I don’t want an anti-mormon slant but I would like a good historical study guide companion to the D&C (possibly to include revelations that didn’t make it in)- does anyone have any suggestions?
I have read the first three journals available through the Joseph Smith papers.
http://josephsmithpapers.org/the-papers It has given me some insight into how people thought back then, especially JS. I’m sure some of the dates line up with revelations in the D & C. Each journal has an introduction that gives a historical account of what is happening in the church when the journal was written. I’m really impressed with the work that has gone into transcribing the journals and other documents.
Included in other documents are two books. Revelation book 1 and 2. Book one contains 11 revelations that did not make it into the Book of Commandments or D&C. I haven’t read through those yet and don’t know which ones, but it would be interesting to know which ones they left on the cutting room floor.
That website it fantastic. Thanks for the link. Ilovechrist77 wrote:That website it fantastic. Thanks for the link.
Really? What’s to like? I guess you’re catching me on a good day but I found it a little too mission orientated. Mission to pull down faith that is.
ETA: It’s been pointed out that I was mistaken on the link you were referencing. I agree josephsmithpapers is a great site.
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