Cicero wrote:...
they are mainly trying to prove that Joseph wrote the Book of Mormon by using various forms and textual analysis
....
Nothing unusual for researchers trying to discover data that proves
their thesis -- whether that thesis is a guess about some text's
authorship, or a guess about the moon being made of green cheese.
However, I keep hoping to see a more thoughtful approach to the
researchers' hobby of deconstructing the Book of Mormon text.
The first question I'd like to see answered: "Is the book a composite
text, with parts written by more than one author?"
Of course we first of all factor out the blatant KJV biblical plagiarism;
but what about the remaining parts of the book?
The second question I'd like to see answered: "Does the book show
clear signs of dependence upon non-biblical pre-existing texts -- such
as the Westminster Confession, or some early American history book?"
The last question I'd like to see answered: "Is there internal evidence
present in the Book of Mormon, showing that the writer(s) consulted
any particular biblical commentaries, in attempting to manufacture
quasi-scriptural narrative, oracles, parables, poetry, etc.?"
None of these potential investigative approaches asks anybody to
prove that Joseph Smith wrote some predetermined portion of the
Book of Mormon --- but, reliable outcomes and quantifiable data
from such examinations may help us determine how much Smith
contributed to the book.
There are some interesting patterns emerging, from the study of
the language used in the beginning and end of the book, compared
to language present in the "middle" (roughly Mosiah to 3rd Nephi).
When we stop to ponder the probable writing sequence of the
several "Nephite" books, it become apparent that this shift in
language parallels the timeline for textual finalization -- that is
to say, the first and last parts of the book were written LATER
than the middle section, and so the shift in language usage can
be roughly charted on an 1828-29 calendar.
Study of these sorts of textual oddities could be vastly enhanced,
if the Mormons themselves would devote some time and energy to
analyzing linguistic patterns preserved in the text. Computerization
of the process makes the study "do-able" if only there were interest.
I've concluded that the Mormons simply are not interested.
UD
