I guess Dr. Lund writes a lot of Mormon self-help books sold by BYU, etc.
A retired American college lecturer has been arrested in Israel on suspicion of trafficking in stolen antiquities and attempting to smuggle them out of the country.
This is his book: Mesoamerica and the Book of Mormon: Is This the Place?
“This guy committed several offenses against our domestic antiquities law,” Bar-Tura said. “He will be indicted for the offenses he has committed and he is looking at a maximum jail sentence of three years or a severe fine. And this is in addition to the antiquities that were seized from him and the checks in the sums of tens of thousands of dollars.”
Some of the items included a rare Roman-era lamp decorated with a seven-branched menorah and silver coins from the Second Temple period, 2,000 years ago. Lund, a lecturer and expert on Egyptian history and culture, couldn’t be reached for comment.
“This guy had no license and no legal standing to do what he did. We are absolutely certain that the origin of these items is in wrong doing,” Bar-Tura said.
Evidently, John Lund was well aware of Israel's antiquities exporting laws.
Which means he broke hierarchy rule #1: don't get caught
It appears situational ethics doesn't seem to be a valid line of defense in the real world. I wonder if the suits will excommunicate him or secretly give him a pass.
Inconceivable wrote:Evidently, John Lund was well aware of Israel's antiquities exporting laws.
Which means he broke hierarchy rule #1: don't get caught
It appears situational ethics doesn't seem to be a valid line of defense in the real world. I wonder if the suits will excommunicate him or secretly give him a pass.
Personally, I find this sort of thing appalling (I'm a history buff).
The fact that a man who styles himself as an historian would sell stolen antiquities to tourists to make a few extra bucks is like a policeman that takes bribes. He knows better and it points to a total lack of integrity.
This, or any other post that I have made or will make in the future, is strictly my own opinion and consequently of little or no value.
"Faith is believing something you know ain't true" Twain.
If they let him leave, doubt he will be back. Probably a plea in absentia followed by a ban on travel to the country.
"I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. ... Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I." - Joseph Smith, 1844
He apparently carried on with his activities even after it was clear that the police were on to him:
Agency officials said they were first alerted to Mr. Lund's alleged trafficking two weeks ago by a sale at a Jerusalem hotel where he offered items to a group of American tourists he was guiding. Mr. Lund was detained, and a search of his room revealed "hundreds of ancient archaeological artifacts in his possession, ... which had allegedly been stolen by antiquities robbers from different sites throughout the country," the agency said in the statement.
He was questioned and released, but officials continued their surveillance. "He resumed his evil ways and continued selling antiquities to tourists—this time to another group that arrived in Israel," said the Antiquities Authority.
On Monday officials searched the luggage of a group that had been guided by Mr. Lund as they prepared to cross the border from Eilat to Egypt. They found 20 of the group carrying dozens of illegally purchased archaeological items, including Roman-era bronze and silver coins, 1,500-year-old clay oil lamps, and ancient pottery and glass vessels. The items appeared to have been stolen from tombs and antiquities sites and most were allegedly purchased from Mr. Lund. The travelers were permitted to leave after the items were confiscated.
It looks like the Israeli authorities went out of their way to let him know the game was up - but he took that as a free pass to carry on making money. How could he have been so foolhardy?
Another case of 'calling and election made sure, so I can do what I want and get away with it', perhaps?
Zadok: I did not have a faith crisis. I discovered that the Church was having a truth crisis. Maksutov: That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Baker wrote:If they let him leave, doubt he will be back. Probably a plea in absentia followed by a ban on travel to the country.
Well, that will at least put a dent in his wallet. Looks like he was making a good living guiding tours and selling illegal artifacts. Not to mention the complete loss of his standing as an apologist.
This, or any other post that I have made or will make in the future, is strictly my own opinion and consequently of little or no value.
"Faith is believing something you know ain't true" Twain.
Anyone who's ever been through Ben-Gurion security should have absolutely known that these items would be found. In all the times I've visited Israel, I've probably had all by bags opened and completely taken apart 80% of the time. Even when I have the paperwork showing my sponsorship from an Israeli company, which is intended to smooth your way through security, I still expect them to see every tiny thing I have with me. They've found things in my laptop case I hadn't seen in years.
I wonder if this man was either incredibly naïve, or he had never been through security at Ben-Gurion before.
eschew obfuscation
"I'll let you believers in on a little secret: not only is the LDS church not really true, it's obviously not true." -Sethbag