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Let's make this a thread about word studies.
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:24 pm
by _lulu
consiglieri wrote:MCB wrote:Multiple studies identify them as having the strongest Spalding signal of any chapters in the Book of Mormon. And he was a veteran of the Revolution, and suffered financial reverses with the War of 1812. You can see some of the same themes in Oberlin Manuscript Story. War narrative was his strength.
Without making this thread about word studies, I should probably say that I find the Jockers, Criddle, et al, study unpersuasive.
All the Best!
--Consiglieri
I'd be interested in any insights.
Re: Let's make this a thread about word studies.
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:51 pm
by _Aristotle Smith
For the most part I think word studies are a waste of time and I wouldn't bet a dime on their being correct or even useful. I've seen statistical studies conclude virtually everything about Book of Mormon authorship. The tests are simply too sensitive to small variations in data and assumptions to be useful.
This isn't a problem unique to the Book of Mormon. Various statistical analysis of the Pauline corpus in the New Testament have also been inconclusive and sometimes downright bizarre (one study identified 1 Peter as authored by Paul, a conclusion no one believes). I don't think this kind of stuff resolves anything.
For a pdf talking a little about the Pauline version of this whole problem:
http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/p ... porter.pdf
Re: Let's make this a thread about word studies.
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 6:36 pm
by _Ludd
Aristotle Smith wrote:For the most part I think word studies are a waste of time and I wouldn't bet a dime on their being correct or even useful. I've seen statistical studies conclude virtually everything about Book of Mormon authorship. The tests are simply too sensitive to small variations in data and assumptions to be useful.
This isn't a problem unique to the Book of Mormon. Various statistical analysis of the Pauline corpus in the New Testament have also been inconclusive and sometimes downright bizarre (one study identified 1 Peter as authored by Paul, a conclusion no one believes). I don't think this kind of stuff resolves anything.
For a pdf talking a little about the Pauline version of this whole problem:
http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/p ... porter.pdf
I agree with this analysis. I think it's beyond argument that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon.
Re: Let's make this a thread about word studies.
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:58 pm
by _MCB
I think we will need to wait to see Craig's recapitulation before we can get into this in depth-- again. Word studies need to be backed up with analyses of parallels, and parallels within the claimed authors' lives. They should not be accepted on their own. Once they are backed up with other evidences, we can accept them. It has to be both qualitative and quantitative.