The Most Correct Book On Earth

[Rommelator]

Wes. You are attacking a straw man. Note what Joseph Smith went on to say:

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."

As has been pointed out, the Book of Mormon itself never claims infallibility. Read the title page and Mormon 9:33. When Joseph Smith says it is the "most correct book" he is speaking of doctrinal import and its ability to draw men to God. Which, BTW, I can personally testify of. I don't care if this gets the Evs riled up on the board, I'm going to say it:

My reading of the Book of Mormon has drawn me closer to God than my reading of the Bible or any other book.

There, I said it. Now, moving on.

When you think of the hundreds of thousands of textual changes in the Bible, the changes in the Book of Mormon pale in comparison and it looks a lot more correct to me than the Bible.

[Rommelator]

I don't know how anyone can say the Book of Mormon is boring. Every time I read it I find it utterly fascinating and exciting. Also, I wonder how Twain would have felt about his sarcastic remarks about "and it came to pass" if he knew that that phrase is a Hebraism that is used a lot in Hebrew texts and poetry.Like other critics, probably not too different than before, I'm sure.

it is also not considered good literature by anyone outside of LDS circles (that I am aware of).

Penguin Classics would disagree.

[Rommelator]

Mark Twain who was one of the BOM's harshest critics:

One of its harshest critics? Hardly. Twain was a humorist who made fun of things like any modern comedian. And thats what he did with the Book of Mormon. He made fun of it.

Do you really think that Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe or Thomas Murphy are less harsher critics of the Book of Mormon than Mark Twain?

[Zakuska]

One of its harshest critics? Hardly. Twain was a humorist who made fun of things like any modern comedian. And thats what he did with the Book of Mormon. He made fun of it.

Do you really think that Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe or Thomas Murphy are less harsher critics of the Book of Mormon than Mark Twain?

From what I gather he was harsher on the Bible than the BOM.

[Rommelator]

Poking fun at a book is one thing, but his criticism of the BOM goes way beyond that.

Have you even read Twain's article on the Book of Mormon? You can't seriously think that he was criticizing the Book of Mormon. His little report on the Book of Mormon is no different than that modern South Park cartoon poking fun at Mormons.

[selek]

Do you really think that Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe or Thomas Murphy are less harsher critics of the Book of Mormon than Mark Twain?

Definitely less amusing critics than MT.

Definitely more full of themselves than MT.

Definitely less genteel.

Hmmmm........less amusing, more arrogant, less genteel- nope, they're harsher than Twain (and far less eloquent to boot).

[wes]

Have you even read Twain's article on the Book of Mormon? You can't seriously think that he was criticizing the Book of Mormon. His little report on the Book of Mormon is no different than that modern South Park cartoon poking fun at Mormons.

I think it's more than clear that Twain thought the BOM was a joke.

[selek]

I think it's more than clear that Twain thought the BOM was a joke.

And he thought precisely the same about the Bible.

Why do you keep trying to leave that out?

[Rommelator]

I think it's more than clear that Twain thought the BOM was a joke.

Yes he did. And he responded by making jokes about it.

Like I said, no difference between it and the South Park cartoon.

[wes]

Yes he did. And he responded by making jokes about it.

Like I said, no difference between it and the South Park cartoon.

Yes, both Twain and the South Park creators think Mormonism is absurd.

[Rommelator]

Yes, both Twain and the South Park creators think Mormonism is absurd.

You can thinks something is absurd without criticizing it. You can also make fun of things and think that it is absurd without criticizing it.

Face it wes, Twain is no more harmful to the Book of Mormon than a butterfly.

[ttribe]

Yes, both Twain and the South Park creators think Mormonism is absurd.

If those are the standards by which you judge "proof", you have significant issues which cannot be addressed on a message board.

[thesometimesaint]

ttribe:

Those are the "credentials" they use. Sometimes it makes my want to give a BIG SIGH.

[LifeOnaPlate]

Not at all, but his criticsim matches exactly the way I felt reading the BOM growing up in Mormonism. I was always bored out of my mind. I was amazed when I discovered that there were versions of the Bible written in a way that I could actually understand it. My only exposure to it in Mormonism was the KJV. The Bible continues to be interesting and profound in many ways each time I read it.

Mr. Keith Richards, on how he feels about the Bible (unfortunately the article doesn't specify why anyone should care if a person finds the Bible 'boring'):

Keith Richards: 'The bible is boring'

Monday, March 10 2008, 17:31 GMT

By Alex Fletcher, Entertainment Reporter

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has said that he doesn't like the Bible because it's boring.

The veteran rocker revealed that he regularly reads the religious text to try to understand why people find it "fascinating".

He told Sun Media: "I read the Bible sometimes but it bores me to death. I just want to know what other people find so b****y fascinating.

"Why are they all hung up on all that, 'In the beginning' stuff? Ah, well. At least life is stable. It has said the same thing since I was a kid."

Richards was speaking at a promotional event for Martin Scorsese's new documentary about the legendary rock 'n' roll band Shine A Light.

[LDSMusic483]

Let's look at some other quotes by Twain on religion, shall we?

The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also. I would not interfere with any one's religion, either to strengthen it or to weaken it. I am not able to believe one's religion can affect his hereafter one way or the other, no matter what that religion may be. But it may easily be a great comfort to him in this life--hence it is a valuable possession to him.

- Mark Twain, a Biography

I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.

- Mark Twain in Eruption

I do not take any credit to my better-balanced head because I never went crazy on Presbyterianism. We go too slow for that. You never see us ranting and shouting and tearing up the ground, You never heard of a Presbyterian going crazy on religion. Notice us, and you will see how we do. We get up of a Sunday morning and put on the best harness we have got and trip cheerfully down town; we subside into solemnity and enter the church; we stand up and duck our heads and bear down on a hymn book propped on the pew in front when the minister prays; we stand up again while our hired choir are singing, and look in the hymn book and check off the verses to see that they don't shirk any of the stanzas; we sit silent and grave while the minister is preaching, and count the waterfalls and bonnets furtively, and catch flies; we grab our hats and bonnets when the benediction is begun; when it is finished, we shove, so to speak. No frenzy, no fanaticism --no skirmishing; everything perfectly serene. You never see any of us Presbyterians getting in a sweat about religion and trying to massacre the neighbors. Let us all be content with the tried and safe old regular religions, and take no chances on wildcat.

- "The New Wildcat Religion"

Alas! those good old days are gone, when a murderer could wipe the stain from his name and soothe his trouble to sleep simply by getting out his blocks and mortar and building an addition to a church.

- The Innocents Abroad

Twain didn't hold any esteem for religion as a whole.

[LifeOnaPlate]

One of its harshest critics? Hardly. Twain was a humorist who made fun of things like any modern comedian. And thats what he did with the Book of Mormon. He made fun of it.

Exactly. Twain gave Mormonism a passing glance early in his career because it was fashionable to comment upon the Mormons when talking about the "wild wild west," which is what Roughing It was all about. His comments are hardly a solid investigation, though some of his one-liners were pretty funny.

[LifeOnaPlate]

I think it's more than clear that Twain thought the BOM was a joke.

Remind me (keeping in mind his thoughts on your holy book) why I should give a damn.

[wes]

Twains comments on the BOM speak for themselves. Nothing you guys say really changes that fact.

Remind me (keeping in mind his thoughts on your holy book) why I should give a damn.

Not saying you should.

[selek]

Twains comments on the BOM speak for themselves. Nothing you guys say really changes that fact.

Do Twain's equally damning comments on the Bible also speak for themselves?

You seem to be awfully selective in your citations.

[Zakuska]

You can thinks something is absurd without criticizing it. You can also make fun of things and think that it is absurd without criticizing it.Face it wes, Twain is no more harmful to the Book of Mormon than a butterfly.

Actually since he thought his writting pros was better than the Bible and wes compared the bible to his writting.... It does a lot to damage wes's contention.

Do Twain's equally damning comments on the Bible also speak for themselves?You seem to be awfully selective in your citations.

He used the BOM to distain the Bible at the same time.Imaginary History is Imaginary History after all.

[Flyonthewall]

Yes, both Twain and the South Park creators think Mormonism is absurd.

But...but...I thought South Park said the mormons were right!

[Zakuska]

Let's look at some other quotes by Twain on religion, shall we?

Twain didn't hold any esteem for religion as a whole.

WOW... looks like he would have been right at home with the "No on 8" Crowd!

[urroner]

Twains comments on the BOM speak for themselves. Nothing you guys say really changes that fact.Not saying you should.

Again, wes, as a typical AMer, holds the Church to a much higher standard of proof then he does his own beliefs. This is known as having a double standard. If MT says something derogatory of the Church or SouthPark puts the Church in a bad light, then it's God speaking through them, but if they do the same about all religions, especially Christianity, it is not to be spoken of and when asked, pretend you didn't hear, and if shown, go blind for a time.

Honestly wes, it is great having you around. Seeing you fumble around in the dark, pretending you're in the light, and yelling at us, "Follow me boys, I know the Way" as you bash your nose against the wall, bang your shins on the furniture, and fall down the stairs are pretty entertaining. I urge you to continue your comedy of errors. Now, there is one piece of great literature wes, is it also scripture?

[LDSMusic483]

Twains quotes on the Bible:

It is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies.

- Letters from the Earth

The two Testaments are interesting, each in its own way. The Old one gives us a picture of these people's Deity as he was before he got religion, the other one gives us a picture of him as he appeared afterward.

- Letters from the Earth

When one reads Bibles, one is less surprised at what the Deity knows than at what He doesn't know.

- Mark Twain's Notebook

The Christian's Bible is a drug store. Its contents remain the same; but the medical practice changes...The world has corrected the Bible. The church never corrects it; and also never fails to drop in at the tail of the procession- and take the credit of the correction. During many ages there were witches. The Bible said so. the Bible commanded that they should not be allowed to live. Therefore the Church, after eight hundred years, gathered up its halters, thumb-screws, and firebrands, and set about its holy work in earnest. She worked hard at it night and day during nine centuries and imprisoned, tortured, hanged, and burned whole hordes and armies of witches, and washed the Christian world clean with their foul blood.

Then it was discovered that there was no such thing as witches, and never had been. One does not know whether to laugh or to cry.....There are no witches. The witch text remains; only the practice has changed. Hell fire is gone, but the text remains. Infant damnation is gone, but the text remains. More than two hundred death penalties are gone from the law books, but the texts that authorized them remain.

- "Bible Teaching and Religious Practice," Europe and Elsewhere

1000 lies? Surprised at what the Deity doesn't know? Deity not having religion?

Yeah...he definitely loved the Bible more than the Book of Mormon.

[wes]

Again, wes, as a typical AMer, holds the Church to a much higher standard of proof then he does his own beliefs. This is known as having a double standard. If MT says something derogatory of the Church or SouthPark puts the Church in a bad light, then it's God speaking through them, but if they do the same about all religions, especially Christianity, it is not to be spoken of and when asked, pretend you didn't hear, and if shown, go blind for a time.

Honestly wes, it is great having you around. Seeing you fumble around in the dark, pretending you're in the light, and yelling at us, "Follow me boys, I know the Way" as you bash your nose against the wall, bang your shins on the furniture, and fall down the stairs are pretty entertaining. I urge you to continue your comedy of errors. Now, there is one piece of great literature wes, is it also scripture?

I never said Twain or South Park were inspired by God. This is why I ignore posts by people like you urroner.