An evening with Daniel Peterson

[_Thama]

Most scientists, like most people, are religious.

Interesting. I heard something quite different.

It really depends on what you mean by "religious". Devout members of organized religions would certainly be in the minority among scientists. People who have some level of faith or even hope in the existence of a God or other supreme being or force may well be a substantial majority even among scientists.

I honestly don't know many real atheists in the sciences, though I think a general disinterest in religion is common.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Ok let me rephrase this, It makes little difference that genetic information of American indians doesn't trace back to a particular family. Statistically genetic markers indicate ancestry of American Indians is Asian, from I believe approx 10,000 years ago. Genetic markers can be approx dated as to when they occurred. It is because of this that scientists can theorize migration route moderan man from about 100,000 years ago around the world. When groups separated and where migratory groups went.

Permit me, too, to rephrase: The Book of Mormon and DNA Research, edited by Daniel C. Peterson, addresses precisely such topics and is easily available from, among other places, Amazon.com.

Happy reading!



&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

[_The Dude]

Ok let me rephrase this, It makes little difference that genetic information of American indians doesn't trace back to a particular family. Statistically genetic markers indicate ancestry of American Indians is Asian, from I believe approx 10,000 years ago. Genetic markers can be approx dated as to when they occurred. It is because of this that scientists can theorize migration route moderan man from about 100,000 years ago around the world. When groups separated and where migratory groups went.

Permit me, too, to rephrase: The Book of Mormon and DNA Research, edited by Daniel C. Peterson, addresses precisely such topics and is easily available from, among other places, Amazon.com.

I think marg makes a good point. Since Daniel C. Peterson is a poster on this very thread, maybe he can address marg's point instead of lamely referring us to his book.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I think marg makes a good point.

And the book addresses it.

Since Daniel C. Peterson is a poster on this very thread, maybe he can address marg's point instead of lamely referring us to his book.

I have zero patience for the notion that familiarity with books and articles and serious discussions is no longer necessary in the day of the internet message board, and I won't indulge it.

Period.

[_harmony]

I think marg makes a good point.

And the book addresses it.

Since Daniel C. Peterson is a poster on this very thread, maybe he can address marg's point instead of lamely referring us to his book.

I have zero patience for the notion that familiarity with books and articles and serious discussions is no longer necessary in the day of the internet message board, and I won't indulge it.

Period.

And perhaps it helps that, if she buys the book, the author gets royalties. And if you don't want that point made, perhaps it would help if you just addressed her point, instead of hawking the book.

Perception is everything. Surely you don't want to add to Scratch's perception that you only do this for the money.

Perhaps if you addressed marg's point like this:

The answer to your question is in the book. However, I can give you the Reader's Digest version, which is

Point 1
Point 2
Point 3.

Unless you really do need the royalties. In which case, nevermind.

[Guest]

[Mod Scottie: personal attack on DCP deleted.]

[Personal attack towards me deleted.]

[_marg]

Here's also a question for DCP to address if he's serious about this topic.

What claims or theories, or stories does the Book of Mormon make or the LDS church makes, which is supported with DNA evidence?

[_The Dude]

I have zero patience for the notion that familiarity with books and articles and serious discussions is no longer necessary in the day of the internet message board, and I won't indulge it.

Period.

Serious discussion is precisely what is being asked for.

[Guest]

And perhaps it helps that, if she buys the book, the author gets royalties.

If she buys the book, I get precisely $0.00. Which is exactly what I receive if she doesn't.

Perception is everything.

Which demonstrates beyond reasonable doubt that railroad tracks really do converge in the mysteriously unreachable distance, that the sun really does go down into the Pacific Ocean, that far-removed objects are actually smaller and that they shrink as they move further away, that stage magicians' tricks are real, etc.

The last time, I think, that I made an effort to converse with Marg, she insisted at length that she did not need to read the Book of Mormon in order to have a solid and decisive opinion about it.

My inclination is always to let sleeping dogmatists lie.

I'm not surprised that this matter stirs you, in particular, though, since you've repeatedly declared that familiarity with books and articles and serious discussions is dispensable in this, our glorious day of the internet message board. I see you and marg as soul sisters on this particular matter, and I have absolutely no sympathy whatever for your position. If you decline to read, that's your problem. It's not mine. I won't indulge you.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Serious discussion is precisely what is being asked for.

By marg, who is uninformed, who has (in my experience with her) been militantly proud of being uninformed, and who wants me to recreate, for her personal sniping (her view on the matter is easily predictable, and it is extremely unlikely that she'll change it), a position that is developed and justified at length and in detail in a readily available book.

I think if you do a search here, you'll find the post in which I told marg that I saw no particular value in attempting further conversation with her on anything. I haven't changed my mind about that.

Complain as much as you would like. Last time I checked, I was still free to dispose of my time and energy as I choose.