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I am reading Sam Brown's essay Joseph (Smith) in Egypt: Babel, Hieroglyphics, and the Pure Language of Eden

Though he (Smith) echoed his broader culture, which agree that human language was corrupt (primarily as an indictment of Calvinist and Catholic theology), Smith took language much further....

Anyone care to explain why advocating a corrupt human language was/is "an indictment of Calvinist and Catholic theology"? Is it as simple as the Bible not being translated correctly or?

Thanks

Fence Sitter wrote:Anyone care to explain why advocating a corrupt human language was/is "an indictment of Calvinist and Catholic theology"? Is it as simple as the Bible not being translated correctly or?

My guess is that because Reformed and certain strands of Roman thinking (Augustinian, for example) places a heavy emphasis on the fallen nature of humanity. In addition to humans feeling the effects of the fall, there is also the Tower of Babel story. Given the biblical anthropology, it gives excuse to treat all the works of humanity with a deep suspicion, except Scripture, because of it’s inspired nature.

I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility for Mormonism to believe that a certain potency is lost by Hebrew Canon and Greek scriptures due to the nature of copying for preservation which opens to door to scribal tampering and the effects of the great apostasy. Something needed to be restored by the Book of Mormon (whatever that is, I don’t really know) and it couldn’t already be found in the current scriptures.

Perhaps the only uncorrupted way of communicating is through the pure Adamic language?

I had the good fortune of interacting with an Army Chaplain who came from the Disciples of Christ some years ago while working my way through LDS history. And, I'd add, my way out of LDS culture.

I think this concept was part of the zeitgeist at the time as we find similar concepts in the Stone - Campbellites.

Consider this: http://www.christianchronicler.com/History2/movement_unites.html

There is probably someone on the boards who is well versed on the Restoration Movement who is better able to delve into this. I bring it up only as something to consider, for context.