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In a new article in "Scientific American" it seems that Syphilis was first introduced to Europe by the returning crew of Columbus's first voyage to the Americas.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=case-closed-columbus

This poses an interesting question. If the disease didn't exist in the Old World prior to 1495, how is it that the Lamanites carried it? They certainly didn't bring it with them from Judea. Since we know that there is no such thing as evolution :), the bacteria could not have evolved from some common one into a venereal disease.

Could this be yet another curse placed by God on the less valiant, dark skinned Lamanites. Maybe for being promiscuous?

Definitely a puzzle for the apologists to solve.

Theories, anyone?

*snort*

It was actually a curse on the Old World for killing so many Lamanites.

Interesting!

I don't think the skin/syphilis curse came from being permiscuous. At least, there is no evidence in the Book of Mormon pointing to that. It seems to me that their hatred of the Nephites and wearing of loincloths actually brought the syphilis curse on.

just me wrote:*snort*

It was actually a curse on the Old World for killing so many Lamanites.

Nice to think that Native Americans did get some revenge.

zeezrom wrote:Interesting!

I don't think the skin curse came from being permiscuous. At least, there is no evidence in the Book of Mormon pointing to that. It seems to me that their hatred of the Nephites and wearing of loincloths actually brought the syphilis curse on.

I guess loincloths could be an incitement to promiscuity. Ease of access and all that.

You're right, Quas. I guess a loincloth is more evil than a miniskirt.

How did they wear their garments - over or under the loin cloth?

I'm guessing syphilis originated among the millions of indigenous Americans who lived there long before the Jaredits and Nephites arrived.

Looks as if God may not have been too careful when (as Jeffrey Holland explains it) he cleansed the whole Earth with the flood, separated the New World from the Old World, and kept the New World uninhabited in preparation for the migration of the remnant of the Jews.

DP