Kevin Graham wrote: I spoke with Kerry over the phone recently and he told me he is completely out of the loop on this Book of Abraham stuff for about a decade now. He didn't even know the two ink theory was abandoned/refuted.
I used to watch him get in Book of Abraham debates 10 plus years ago and he was always quick to point out that his opponents were not keeping up with current scholarship. Kerry was so high on Hugh Nibley I thought his brain was about to pop.
Keven, have you told him that there is such a thing as the KEP? He needs to know about that kind of stuff.
Kerry has really been in rare form these last few weeks. In the discussion of the "Swedish Rescue", he has this to say:
That's precisely why there is such an outflow going on. Until religion begins using reason more faithfully (GRIN!), the hemorraging will never stop. Faith simply cannot hold up to reason, there is simply no better way to learn than using our brains. I FIRMLY believe THAT, regardless of what cat-calling occurs when I mention it.
ALL apologetics, that is defending a position ends up as bashing. There is simply no way to avoid it. I have yet to see anyone in any religion remain calm when the pure light of reason begins taking down their faith, and I include myself in that. Religion is terrified of being examined carefully, so when science and reason come out in force and power religion does nothing but HOWL in great paroxyisms of anger, which, true to form, end up in war and killing. History can easily prove the proposition. Scientists do not go to war in trying to convince others of their view, even though they get pretty heated up at times, of course. Religion always says CONVERT OR DIE HERETIC. Again, history easily proves the proposition.
Droopy wrote:However, in recent years, he has, unfortunately, become ever more judgmental and critical of the Brethren along several major dimensions, and recent posts at the MDB indicate that he perceives himself to have moved well beyond the General Authorities of the Church in his own spiritual and intellectual development, and is on the verge of some kind of, what he appears to consider a personal transcendence regarding the Church and its claim of being the authoritative organized vehicle through which the the gospel is preached, its doctrines settled and established, and the Saints organized as a people.
This is unfortunate. This is intellectualism in the form that can be the most destructive to both the spirit and the intellect.
Droopy, you could put Kerry's spiritual growth in its place by pointing out to him that the General Authorities are probably more adept at reading spreadsheet reports than himself. The Mantle and the old ten key adding machine have much greater weight than Kerry's voluminous readings and intellect!
Kerry wrote:Scientists do not go to war in trying to convince others of their view, even though they get pretty heated up at times, of course. Religion always says CONVERT OR DIE HERETIC. Again, history easily proves the proposition
The slide rule died of attrition rather than howitzer.