Jersey Girl wrote:From a historical perspective, what's missing?
Have you read Matt Roper's analysis of the question?
Or you might even consult Dan Vogel's demolition of the Spalding theory, here on this very board. (Yes, Virginia, there was once a substantive exchange on MDB.)
Answering my question with a question just isn't okay with me, Daniel.
Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.
Chinese Proverb
Uncle Dale could do a much better job of detailing this, but here are links to his site which present the two suspicions which predate Mormonism Unvailed:
Suspicion 1. Rigdon was involved from the start. ...The individuals who gave birth to this species of fanaticism are very simple personages, and not known until this thrust them into notice. They are the old and young Joe Smith's Harris a farmer, Ringdon a sort of preacher on general religion from Ohio, together with several other persons equally infatuated, cunning, and hypocritic... (Morning Courier New-York Enquirer dated 31 August 1831)
Suspicion 2. Spaulding's work appears in the Book of Mormon. ...Hurlbut only heard of the alleged Spalding/Book of Mormon connection after some people in and around Conneaut, Ohio were already talking about this oddity of textual similarity. He did not (as some apologists would have investigators believe) dream up the textual resemblance allegations himself and then induce people in the area to subscribe to them as deliberate falsifiers or largely ignorant puppets...
These suspicions would be sufficient to include Spaulding and Rigdon in a word-print analysis, if only for the purpose of eliminating them. In fact, given the popularity of the Spaulding hypothesis over the past 160odd years, including him for the purpose of elimination would be the smart thing to do even if the investigators themselves were not suspicious.
Also, Jockers et al did not claim to have rounded up samples from all the possible suspects - future testing of Joseph at least is planned.
Jersey Girl wrote:Answering my question with a question just isn't okay with me, Daniel.
Dan Vogel's comments about the Spalding theory are available right here on MDB at no cost whatever, and Matt Roper's meticulous examination of the latest historical case for the Spalding theory is easily accessible on line, and entirely free:
Sorry, but spending considerable time and energy to summarize what's easily reached, for no cost, via three or four mouse clicks just isn't okay with me.
liz3564 wrote:Thanks for my new signature, Daniel!
TAK wrote:I don't think Anderson's book and witnesses that saw with spiritual eyes is going to help with that case of logic...
Have you read it?
Do I really need to? Is there a slightest chance Anderson has said anything other than the witnesses were legitimate despite only seeing the plates with spiritual eyes? Absolutely not!
It is an apologetic piece designed to re-assure doubters with other doubts. In the end the LDS Church is left with a flaky story built upon a con-man, a Pre-Columbian Zombie and mythical gold plates.
God has the right to create and to destroy, to make like and to kill. He can delegate this authority if he wishes to. I know that can be scary. Deal with it. Nehor.. Nov 08, 2010
You're an ornament to this board, TAK. A paradigmatic exemplification of its ethos. Virtually an incarnation of its essence.
TAK wrote:Is there a slightest chance Anderson has said anything other than the witnesses were legitimate despite only seeing the plates with spiritual eyes? Absolutely not!
ROTFL.
TAK wrote:It is an apologetic piece designed to re-assure doubters with other doubts. In the end the LDS Church is left with a flaky story built upon a con-man, a Pre-Columbian Zombie and mythical gold plates.
I couldn't have improved on your response if I'd written it myself and placed it in your mouth.
God has the right to create and to destroy, to make like and to kill. He can delegate this authority if he wishes to. I know that can be scary. Deal with it. Nehor.. Nov 08, 2010
Daniel Peterson wrote:Sometimes I'm tempted to doubt that certain ex-Mormons were ever really Mormons.
Frankly I am embarrassed that I ever bought into that b***s*** and angry that I wasted two years peddling Jos. Smith door to door.
God has the right to create and to destroy, to make like and to kill. He can delegate this authority if he wishes to. I know that can be scary. Deal with it. Nehor.. Nov 08, 2010
Daniel wrote:Dan Vogel's comments about the Spalding theory are available right here on MDB at no cost whatever, and Matt Roper's meticulous examination of the latest historical case for the Spalding theory is easily accessible on line, and entirely free:
Sorry, but spending considerable time and energy to summarize what's easily reached, for no cost, via three or four mouse clicks just isn't okay with me.
Daniel,
What I was hoping for was discussion, not references. That is why I made inquiry to this community to which you responded. There is no obligation on your part to spend time composing a lengthy summary when you could have easily compiled a list of main issues of historical weaknesses in the theory as you see it for myself and the community to engage.
Perhaps another time, Daniel.
Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.
Chinese Proverb
