LifeOnaPlate wrote:Yet no one has shown what is wrong with Sorenson's or even Larry Poulson's proposed geography. It quite literally fits the text. These have been dismissed by critics (and sometimes accepted by members) without even trying to analyze them.
That's if you haven't read, for a start, what archaeologists like Ray and Deanne Matheny have written, quite contrary to Sorenson. Apart from the archaeology question, analyses like David Wright's "Historical Criticism: A Necessary Element in the Search for Religious Truth".
I'll even link you to Kevin Christensen's
ReplyOne of Kevin's conclusions:
Perhaps the arguments of Korihor represent the real sore point. Wright has studied Alma 30 closely, and cannot be unaware that his arguments often demonstrate homogeneity with Korihor's. An attack on the Book of Mormon via selected Lamanite epithets provides a stance of moral superiority, whereas a frontal attack on the Alma's dismissal of Korihor might be tactically unwise. For example, Wright dismisses the notion of predictive prophesy: Korihor says "No man can know of anything which is to come" (Alma 30:13).
Wright dismisses the notion that gospel knowledge has been withheld because he sees no evidence of a pre-Christian gospel. He debunks Latter-day Saint scriptures, traditions, and teachings on the topic.
Korihor says "Ye cannot know of things which ye cannot see" (Alma 30:15) and attacks "traditions . . . which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so" (Alma 30:16).
Wright undermines the value of spiritual experiences, and asks us to consider them in light of "psychophysiological"69 factors: Korihor talks about how such things come from "the effect of a frenzied mind" (Alma 30:16).
Of course, Wright does not go so far as to preach the social Darwinism and moral nihilism of Korihor. He does see some value in the religious life, and that is all to the good. But still, this sort of thing should give him pause, and I hope that in his personal ponderings, he addresses these issues in some way.
Yeah, that's the crux of it. When you can't answer a biblical scholar, one who once had the ambition to be "another Hugh Nibley" to boot, bring Korihor into it. His learning doth blind him to the truth. Expertise in biblical scholarship doesn't count in this instance.
David Wright Speaks First of all, scholarship is not some sort of sin, a "failing of the flesh," which an individual recognizes to be an error and which that individual considers to be a blemish to his or her personal integrity. Scholarship, rather, is a constructive activity and is one of the purest expressions of a person's character. Scholarship involves a failing of the flesh, paradoxically, only when one is not forthright with his or her conclusions, when one holds back evidence, when one dissembles about his or her views in the face of social--or ecclesiastical--pressure. To express one's views, especially when they fly in the face of tradition, in other words, is hardly a sin but rather a virtue. Because Church disciplinary proceedings treat scholarship as if it were sinful, and even employ along the way the polemical myth that sin is what is responsible for a scholar's unorthodox views, the proceedings are an attack on the individual's integrity.
Another objection I have is that these proceedings are a matter of killing the messenger for the message. In my articles I discussed evidence that suggests that some traditional understandings of Mormon history and scripture are in need of revision. The sorts of difficulties I discussed are real. Many scholars have recognized them. And many members of the Church have accepted nontraditional solutions to them similar to mine. The questions and evidence cannot be pushed out of view or made innocuous by disciplinary actions. It is necessary for these issues to be talked about openly and the discussion should go forth without threat of punishment. Punishment especially should be avoided when scholars, such as I, have tried to be constructive. I have had no desire whatsoever to injure our--my!--religious tradition and community. My only desire has been to be honest with regard to the evidence as I have seen it and suggest how this may be viewed positively within our tradition. I would urge you to reread my articles with an eye open to my positive assertions and solutions. You may not accept them, but a positive and constructive attitude is there.
And where is David Wright today? Drowned out by apologetics, excommunicated by the Church.