1.) An overwhelming avalanche of evidence from disciplines as diverse as linguistics, anthropology, geography, zoology, botany, metallurgy, ethnology, and most importantly, molecular biology, has exploded virtually every single Book of Mormon claim about the indigenous peoples of America. And...what? Most Mormons don't care. Like certain MD posters, they simply find mental "outs", privately re-define key words, retroactively change 160 years worth of LDS doctrine, and voila! - no problem;
Pure posturing bloviation. These disciplines have done nothing of the kind, except in Tal's overactive imagination. Mesoamerican Archeology is far too young a discipline, and too much a data poor and theory rich discipline to make any final or certain statements about the Book of Mormon. The DNA flap is long dead and buried, and we know, of course, that molecular biology, at its present state of development at least, can tell us utterly nothing about the genetic make up of Book of Mormon peoples and there possible genetic connection to Amerindians (most of which, let it be said yet again, never survived the European's smallpox to be tested).
This kind of gobbledigook--throwing a plethora of academic disciplines together in an academic name dropping exercise, and then making authoritative sounding pronouncements about them is something anyone can do. Tal's problem, as always, begins when we begin discussing the details.
2.) Same with the Book of Breathings scrolls. Does the fact that Smith's "translation" have no relationship to the source text matter to devout Mormons? No.
Too bad there's no plausible reason to believe that the materials we have are the materials from which Joseph made his translation isn't it?
4.) Same with doctrines like evolution. LDS doctrine could not be clearer on this. It has been announced in an official First Presidency statement which declares itself to reveal "eternal truth"; it is in LDS scriptures; it is reiterated in the LDS Bible dictionary. Yet a few mind games, a bit of selective blindness and amnesia, are all that's needed for this to be no problem whatsoever for devout Mormons.
The Church has never had any official position on evolution. What on earth are you talking about? Or, is it the case that, as you say about faithful Latter Day Saints, you just don't care?
5.) The list goes on forever - Smith didn't use any plates for the translation? No problem. He stared into a stone and dictated? No problem. He was charged with fraud ("disorderly conduct")? No problem. He tried to get rid of all those "Books of Commandments" and re-wrote some of his "prophecies" in the subsequent edition ("D&C")? No problem. The sun doesn't draw its light from a star called Kolob? No problem. DNA evidence refutes Smith's claims? No problem. He deflowered a bewildered 14 year old? No problem. He changed his "first vision" story fundamentally over the years? NO PROBLEM.
One day you may actually become interested in serious, sustained, critical analysis and discussion, as opposed to the Deckeresque demagoguery and scattergun pseudo-philosophizing you engage in now (the very idea Tal, that you're really interested in evidence, logic, and facts is a little hard to swallow without a chaser. When will we actually see some evidence of this?).