Internet Mormons, Chapel Mormons, Critics, Apologists, and Never-Mo's all welcome!
https://discussmormonism.com/
That's great. I hope you're right. I was edified to work through it.
Thanks. I'll check out your live sessions!Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 12:22 amWelcome to the board, lookin forward to more discussion...
You can go to Mormon Discussion Inc in the middle is the "Playlists" click on that then "Backyard Professor" and it will give you the videos.Jason Abbott wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 2:32 amThat's great. I hope you're right. I was edified to work through it.
Thanks. I'll check out your live sessions!Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 12:22 amWelcome to the board, lookin forward to more discussion...
A friendly approach to give members a heads up about the Book of Abraham is always a good thing, much better than being further hoodwinked by apologists. Like telling members that Joseph practiced polygamy with a spiritual codpiece; it might sound good in Provo, but can it be proven?Jason Abbott wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 8:29 pmI think I can address a couple of comments by saying I meant to write in terms that were friendly to Church members ("authenticating", "prophet", etc.) for as far as possible through the essay.
Jason Abbott wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 6:18 pmI decided to beat a dead horse (apparently) and put together an essay on the Book of Abraham.
https://jason-abbott.medium.com/authent ... 41d5cf14e8
I don't think the arguments will be new to anyone here but I'm happy to share high resolution copies of any illustrations. I made quite a few. The originals are in Photoshop or Affinity Designer format. Or I can just export any common image format preferred.
Peace.
Jason Abbott
Hi K Graham. Thanks for the comment. I have an Author's Note to mostly answer your question (quite understandable if you didn't scroll that far
).
While empathy has its place I think a good thrashing from the likes of Christopher Hitchens has merit in the market place of ideas.Jason Abbott wrote: ↑Sat May 07, 2022 7:12 pmHi K Graham. Thanks for the comment. I have an Author's Note to mostly answer your question (quite understandable if you didn't scroll that far
I can add a bit to that. I've never been LDS but grew up a devout Christian with a passion for study and writing. Years of loving and engaging in apologetics had the ironic (some here would say expected) effect of slowly convincing me that none of it was true. What seemed like palatial arguments were always, after enough footnotes were followed, revealed as no more than well-marketed houses of cards.
The experience also taught me that, although apologetics can be fun and gratifying ("I'm right!"), empathy is the real persuader, the real path to truth. So when I encountered the Book of Abraham with the friend I mention in the author's note, I was curious to learn it by writing as if I was talking to my friend from that place of empathy.
Maybe TMI there.
I think you're right. Forceful arguments can be the right thing for someone already on the fence about their beliefs. And they're good fodder for apologist-to-apologist conversations where the point is less persuasion than battle testing ideas.
Jason Abbott wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 6:18 pmI decided to beat a dead horse (apparently) and put together an essay on the Book of Abraham.
https://jason-abbott.medium.com/authent ... 41d5cf14e8
Thanks Shulem! I've appreciated and been impressed to see all the additional details in your research.Shulem wrote: ↑Mon May 16, 2022 4:14 pmBUMP!Jason Abbott wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 6:18 pmI decided to beat a dead horse (apparently) and put together an essay on the Book of Abraham.
https://jason-abbott.medium.com/authent ... 41d5cf14e8
I just want to say that Jason's presentation and graphics seem stellar and a worthy reference. I've not read it all or covered all the content but it's bookmarked.