Brant Gardner, Bill Hamblin: Intellect in Isolation

[_truth dancer]

I like Brant and think he, unlike manly apologists, is honest.

What strikes me as odd is that his "interpretation" of the Book of Mormon is NOTHING like the actual text.

He has expanded the paradigm so far that his belief doesn't even resemble the Book of Mormon narrative.

I recall a conversation regarding (If I recall correctly) fourth Nephi where the most correct book on the Earth claims ALL of the inhabitants were converted after the visit from Jesus. I asked him about this due to the fact that his understanding is that the Nephites were only a very small group of folk amidst the larger Maya community; a virtual handful of folk. His reply was that in this Book of Mormon story, the author took extensive, "creative license." In other words, this was his way of dismissing what the text says.

It really struck me to realize how easily it is for some people to completely rework the story to make it fit in the brain.

;-)

I'm pretty sure Brant knows that there are NO experts who even remotely buy into the apologists explanations and rationalizations regarding the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon story simply did not happen and apologists know it. They may try to come up with another story that sort of makes sense but then even these make-believe narratives do not work with anyone outside the LDS church.

~td~

[_Runtu]

I'm pretty sure Brant knows that there are NO experts who even remotely buy into the apologists explanations and rationalizations regarding the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon story simply did not happen and apologists know it. They may try to come up with another story that sort of makes sense but then even these make-believe narratives do not work with anyone outside the LDS church.

~td~

I like Brant, also, but I agree with your assessment. It's as if he's drawing random lines between his reading of the Book of Mormon and whatever feature of Mesoamerican history and culture might possibly fit.

But if you look at it from a broader perspective, the peoples of ancient Mesoamerica are about as close a match to what it described in the Book of Mormon as Provo today is a match for wizard culture described in Harry Potter.

But, you know, as Deborah put it, "Some people just don't get it." No, they don't.

[_Mike Reed]

Say what you will of polemisists Pahoran and Bill Hamblin... but I think you are being unfair to Brant.

[_Analytics]

I like Brant and think he, unlike manly apologists, is honest...

While I agree that Brant is honest, I take issue with your insinuation that he isn’t manly.

[_Phaedrus Ut]

When the best input for evidence of Book of Mormon historicity, on a church controlled board like MADB, comes from a computer salesman in New Mexico, can anyone really be surprised that LDS scholarship is ignored? Who else has it convinced to take an interest into outside of Provo????

Repeating the ad hominem "computer salesman in New Mexico" is just the same as FARMS poisoning the well concerning the character of critics. You should challenge his claims directly rather than imply they should be dismissed because of his lack of credentials.

Phaedrus

[_Runtu]

Say what you will of polemisists Pahoran and Bill Hamblin... but I think you are being unfair to Brant.

I would never put Brant in the same category as those two. (Full disclosure: I've had multiple unpleasant experiences with Pahoran and Bill Hamblin, so I'm not speaking from nothing.)

Brant is a good man with good intentions, and has presented as reasonable a case as can be made for the Book of Mormon. That said, I don't find any of these arguments compelling because it just doesn't fit. The people and cultures I studied in college don't bear much of a resemblance at all to Nephites and Lamanites.

[Guest]

Moderators would it be possible to place the portions of this thread dealing with Book of Mormon history into another thread? If Brant would not mind maybe it could be called Brant Gardner on Book of Mormon Correlations or something like that. Perhaps even a move to Celestial Kingdom forum?

[_Infymus]

Do folks at that board really find sustenance is this suedo intellect because of it's isolation or will they ever ask where such "scholarship" even generates an interest outside of Provo??!!

This question gets asked a lot - and yet, those on MAD continue to post the same things.

The answer is yes. Yes they do. It helps them reaffirm with group think.

[_harmony]

Moderators would it be possible to place the portions of this thread dealing with Book of Mormon history into another thread? If Brant would not mind maybe it could be called Brant Gardner on Book of Mormon Correlations or something like that. Perhaps even a move to Celestial Kingdom forum?

Do the players want me to do this? Brant? Runtu? Themis? Anyone?

[_Brant Gardner]

Moderators would it be possible to place the portions of this thread dealing with Book of Mormon history into another thread? If Brant would not mind maybe it could be called Brant Gardner on Book of Mormon Correlations or something like that. Perhaps even a move to Celestial Kingdom forum?

Do the players want me to do this? Brant? Runtu? Themis? Anyone?

It seems reasonable to me.