Racism Slowly Being Removed from Book of Mormon

[Kevin Christensen]

On 3/4/2016 at 0:06 AM, Sevenbak said:

It's a fine line isn't it.  When one accuses another of taking the text literally, then one has to assume the other does not take the text at it's word.  3 times the BoM states that the sign of the curse effected the skin. It's disingenuous to minimize that with the single change to one verse by Joseph, which, btw, I agree with.  In that instance it makes sense for pure to be substituted.  

I'm not a big fan of political correctness when it becomes more important to the reader than what the text actually says.

 

Here are the 3 "skin" references.

3 Nephi 2:15

And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites; 

Alma 3:6

And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men. 

Jacob 3:5

Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the  cursing which hath come upon their skins 

It's particularly important when considering what the text actually says to consider more context, including the passages equating skins with garments and those that apply filthiness and cursing, or cleanliness and blessing to garments.

I tried posting a listing of these from the Book of Mormon twice today, but they didn't go through for some reason.

Kevin Christensen

Bethel Park, PA

 

[omni]

43 minutes ago, USU78 said:

So  ...  it isn't supposedly racist teachings that offend you, but rather allegedly racist scriptures?

I find racism offensive period.   Masking it as scripture doesn't change that.

[USU78]

16 minutes ago, omni said:

I find racism offensive period.   Masking it as scripture doesn't change that.

And I find hair on fire hysteria offensive, especially when the hysteric finds the object of its hysteria where it ain't. 

[rodheadlee]

Probably the Lamanites mingled with the local population, who had darker skin, interracial marriage. What would it take ? One generation to effectively change their skin color?  At what point does this occur in the BoM?

Edited March 7, 2016 by rodheadlee

[Sevenbak]

On March 7, 2016 at 7:45 AM, rodheadlee said:

Probably the Lamanites mingled with the local population, who had darker skin, interracial marriage. What would it take ? One generation to effectively change their skin color?  At what point does this occur in the BoM?

The problem with that theory is that it wasn't the next generation, it was the same one.  It happened BEFORE Jacob and Joseph were ordained priests.   It happened BEFORE Nephi says they had been gone from Jerusalem for 30 years.   The text said it happened to them because of wickedness, and then also it happened to those who mixed with their seed after.   1st generation.

 2 Nephi 5.

Edited March 10, 2016 by Sevenbak

[Atheist Mormon]

"Racism Slowly Being Removed from Book of Mormon"

I hope this is not a complaint or lament on your part..... The Bible is stuck with all kinds of profanities.....

 

[rodheadlee]

On 3/10/2016 at 9:11 PM, Sevenbak said:

The problem with that theory is that it wasn't the next generation, it was the same one.  It happened BEFORE Jacob and Joseph were ordained priests.   It happened BEFORE Nephi says they had been gone from Jerusalem for 30 years.   The text said it happened to them because of wickedness, and then also it happened to those who mixed with their seed after.   1st generation.

 2 Nephi 5.

The reading doesn't require the curse to be instantaneous, especially in view of verse 22 and 23. .