Gray Posted March 7, 2014 Posted March 7, 2014 There is no part of LDS doctrine that is mythology. You may tend to think so- but that only exists in your mind. The Church makes very clear that they do not teach nor promote their doctrine as mythology. A myth is a sacred narrative. If we didn't have myths we wouldn't really be a religion.
Kevin Christensen Posted March 7, 2014 Posted March 7, 2014 If you accept the claim of the BOM, which is that it IS literal history, then the evidence will follow. Simply finding a hiddin city somewhere is not going to suddenly change the landscape. THe evidence is too overwhelming in every other area. DNA, Archeological, Linguistic, etc. The fact that the evidence shows that the western world was settled over 10,000 years ago, dismisses the literal claims of a Global food, 6000 year old earth, and jew settling the new world 1500 years ago. Apologists keep holding out for that one discovery that will be a game changer. Hasn't happened.People like Nibley and Sorenson not holding out for that one discovery that will be a game changer. They are rather, doing a close reading of the Book of Mormon, and seeing how the book fits in the contexts that is claims for itself. It's not a matter of a single thing (say, Nahom in the right time and place), but of innumerable details that fit between text, and context, and mutual illuminations of text and context. The best close readings of the Book of Mormon are compatible with early settling of the Western Hemisphere. See Matt Roper's detailed essay on "Nephi's Neighbors" for instance, to get an idea of what shows up in a close reading. And Gardner's "The Social History of the Early Nephites" at FAIR. The most important game change happens in the paradigms adopted by the investigators. N. R. Hanson observed that "all data are theory laden." That is, the framework through we we approach a topic both filters what we select for notice, and applies significance. That data doesn't speak for itself. Those who change their frameworks, that is, those who remove the beams from their own eye before attempting surgery on LDS beliefs, don't have to wait around for data to change things. Clearer vision works wonders. A global flood is not necessary for LDS. Nor is a young earth. See Nibley's "Before Adam", for instance, or Duane Jeffrey here: https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/134-27-45.pdf or the recent volumes by Jeff Bradshaw and David Larsen. By using different set of rules, a different cultural mindset, and reading very carefully, we can often see some wonderfully enlightening things in the Book of Mormon and other scriptural accounts. Fundamentalism is not the only way to read literally. Historically such approaches also demonstrate presentism, which means not "literally" but "according to the unquestioned assumptions of my own culture." Margaret Barker has described her own method as trying to stand where the the ancient authors stood, in order to see what they saw. That sort of thing also changes the game. It helps sort out the metaphor from the photograph, the local from the absolute. FWIW Kevin Christensen Pittsburgh, PA 4
Rob Osborn Posted March 7, 2014 Posted March 7, 2014 A myth is a sacred narrative. If we didn't have myths we wouldn't really be a religion.Like I previously challenged-Go to www.lds.org and search for "myth". There is no LDS doctrine that is myth. We dont go around telling people about the "myth" of Adam and Eve. Neither do we go about telling people about the "myth" of Jesus Christ. We teach the opposite.In religious terms ans the way we use it in context of religion a "myth" is not true.
DaddyB Posted March 7, 2014 Posted March 7, 2014 The problem is though that when we let science decide everything then we get removed cleanly away from all that is true with God's word- we cease to exist as a religion. If the Church allows science to become their go to guy then it isn;t no time before we have that very science telling us that God doesn;t exist or that BoM peoples weren't real- its all mythical.I think we need to rely on the wisdom of Jesus here. He said to render things of Ceasar to Ceasar and things of God to God. We can use the same reasoning here by saying, render things of science to science and things of God to God. Again, this issue is not what the Book of Mormon is about. This is not an issue God has chosen to speak out about. You might notice that he has chosen that position on several issues, like evolution or how the earth was created or what was the purpose of the dinosaurs. He wants us to have things to explore and figure out on our own. There just isn't enough said in the Book of Mormon or known to science to determine scientifically if the BoM peoples were real or mythical. That can only be known through spiritual means at this time.
Rob Osborn Posted March 8, 2014 Posted March 8, 2014 I think we need to rely on the wisdom of Jesus here. He said to render things of Ceasar to Ceasar and things of God to God. We can use the same reasoning here by saying, render things of science to science and things of God to God. Again, this issue is not what the Book of Mormon is about. This is not an issue God has chosen to speak out about. You might notice that he has chosen that position on several issues, like evolution or how the earth was created or what was the purpose of the dinosaurs. He wants us to have things to explore and figure out on our own. There just isn't enough said in the Book of Mormon or known to science to determine scientifically if the BoM peoples were real or mythical. That can only be known through spiritual means at this time.I see plenty of evidence fir the BoM peopoles its just that my views do not line up with mainstream science. Mainstream science pretty much is at almost complete odds with Gods words. Whom should I put my faith in? The failings of man or God?
Tiki Posted March 8, 2014 Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) I think we need to rely on the wisdom of Jesus here. He said to render things of Ceasar to Ceasar and things of God to God. We can use the same reasoning here by saying, render things of science to science and things of God to God. Again, this issue is not what the Book of Mormon is about. This is not an issue God has chosen to speak out about. You might notice that he has chosen that position on several issues, like evolution or how the earth was created or what was the purpose of the dinosaurs. He wants us to have things to explore and figure out on our own. There just isn't enough said in the Book of Mormon or known to science to determine scientifically if the BoM peoples were real or mythical. That can only be known through spiritual means at this time.The Lord has spoken out against the Theory of Evolution.Feb 2002 Ensign: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/02/the-origin-of-man?lang=eng"It is held by some that Adam was not the first man upon this earth and that the original human being was a development from lower orders of the animal creation. These, however, are the theories of men.""The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, basing its belief on divine revelation, ancient and modern, proclaims man to be the direct and lineal offspring of Deity."DaddyB quote:"He wants us ...to figure things out on our own." LOL!Well, that was working well, until He appeared to Joseph Smith. Edited March 8, 2014 by Tiki
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