Book of Abraham as Autobiography

[_CaliforniaKid]

Hi David,

Clearly you've identified some intriguing parallels. While very interesting, the links, however, tells us nothing about authorship, since as you acknowledge, Abraham's journey in the Book of Abraham derives from the biblical account.

Moreover, both Abraham and Joseph's story reflect the pattern for nearly every heroic adventure ever told where a hero ventures forth from a troubled world into a region of supernatural wonder, encounters a fabulous mystical force, secures a decisive victory, only to return to his promised land with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.

Joseph's leg, Abraham's experiences upon the altar, Moses slaying the Egyptian, Gilgamesh exhausting the citizens of Uruk, etc., etc., etc.

The structure of the cosmos parallel is more specific, and may indeed tell us something about authorship. But actually, the point of this post wasn't to prove Smithian authorship. I think it's already very clear to most of us here at MDB that Joseph was the author. Rather, I'm simply trying to get a feel for what the prophet was up to when he penned these episodes.

Best,

-Chris

[_Enuma Elish]

Hello Chris,

The structure of the cosmos parallel is more specific, and may indeed tell us something about authorship. But actually, the point of this post wasn't to prove Smithian authorship. I think it's already very clear to most of us here at MDB that Joseph was the author. Rather, I'm simply trying to get a feel for what the prophet was up to when he penned these episodes.

And that certainly is a topic worth exploring. I think your observations would make an interesting article and would enjoy seeing the finished product.

I'll simply state that while yours is an intriguing idea, since the pattern is not only directly biblical, but reflective of every hero story ever told, I have my doubts that Joseph either intentionally or subconsciously dictated the Book of Abraham to parallel his own journeys.

I would agree that the structure of the cosmos parallels the order of the priesthood, but would also note, as I have on more than one occasion, that the attestation of astrological imagery in the account immediately prior to the story concerning the council of the gods creates an intriguing parallel with biblical and Near Eastern tradition.

In my mind, the direct link between the stars, humanity, Priesthood order, and the council of gods provides evidence for the book’s scriptural authenticity.

P.S. Having briefly read your comments regarding the exchange with the LDS scholar concerning your previous research, I had a very good idea who you were referring to and will state that I couldn't disagree more with his position.

I have heard him express the same view on several occasions and have always disagreed.

Scholars cannot simply ignore the issue of scriptural historicity when the implications for our understanding of Israelite history would be so heavily impacted if LDS scripture was proven to derive from ancient texts.

If he was a biblical scholar and/or Near Eastern historian rather than a specialist in American history, he wouldn't have criticized your work as polemical.

best,

--DB

[_harmony]

Like the Abraham narrative, Joseph's life was cut short before a return to the Promised Land could be effected. Neither return was ever completed, for Brigham Young set his sights past Egypt/Nauvoo, to the vast and unknown frontiers beyond.

Had Joseph lived, I think he would have destroyed the church through his own excesses. I think the entire PoGP stands as the best example of Joseph's unbridled ego. His ego was writing fantasies his followers could not live up to. He took a myth, concealed by eons of time, changed beyond recognition, attached it to a legitimate piece of ancient papyrus, and tried to give it human feet on a stone foundation. There is no proof that Abraham even existed, let alone that the mythical story has any basis in truth or history. Joseph thought it did, though, and he spun a fine tale out of nothing, and managed to keep getting fed and housed at someone else's expense throughout the whole process.

Fanny. Remember Fanny. The man has much to answer for.

[_CaliforniaKid]

I would agree that the structure of the cosmos parallels the order of the priesthood, but would also note, as I have on more than one occasion, that the attestation of astrological imagery in the account immediately prior to the story concerning the council of the gods creates an intriguing parallel with biblical and Near Eastern tradition.

In my mind, the direct link between the stars, humanity, Priesthood order, and the council of gods provides evidence for the book’s scriptural authenticity.

I can agree with you that these things provide an intriguing parallel with biblical tradition, and even that they parallel extra-biblical ancient Near Eastern commentary on the Bible. But since Joseph's great chain of being is so deeply biblical and archetypal, I can't agree with the conclusion that it provides strong evidence for the book's scriptural authenticity except insofar as "scripture" is understood to refer to the timeless human project of mythmaking. (Hmm, that sounded remarkably like your critique of my view. )

P.S. Having briefly read your comments regarding the exchange with the LDS scholar concerning your previous research, I had a very good idea who you were referring to and will state that I couldn't disagree more with his position.

I have heard him express the same view on several occasions and have always disagreed.

Scholars cannot simply ignore the issue of scriptural historicity when the implications for our understanding of Israelite history would be so heavily impacted if LDS scripture was proven to derive from ancient texts.

If he was a biblical scholar and/or Near Eastern historian rather than a specialist in American history, he wouldn't have criticized your work as polemical.

Glad to hear I'm not alone on that one!

As I commented in that thread, the issue of scriptural historicity has far-reaching implications for the stories we tell about the past; I mentioned Joseph Smith biography, which is of particular interest to me, but your field of Ancient Near Eastern history is an equally good example.

And as I mentioned to Dan there, the anonymous historian's view seems to condemn apologists just as roundly as it condemns "critics".

Best,

-Chris

[_CaliforniaKid]

Had Joseph lived, I think he would have destroyed the church through his own excesses. I think the entire PoGP stands as the best example of Joseph's unbridled ego. His ego was writing fantasies his followers could not live up to. He took a myth, concealed by eons of time, changed beyond recognition, attached it to a legitimate piece of ancient papyrus, and tried to give it human feet on a stone foundation. There is no proof that Abraham even existed, let alone that the mythical story has any basis in truth or history. Joseph thought it did, though, and he spun a fine tale out of nothing, and managed to keep getting fed and housed at someone else's expense throughout the whole process.

Fanny. Remember Fanny. The man has much to answer for.

I don't think he would have destroyed the church. The amazing thing to me is how consistently and even artfully he pulled all this off. I believe that Joseph Smith was a fraud, but he was definitely one of the greatest and most fascinating frauds in all of remembered human history!

[_harmony]

I don't think he would have destroyed the church. The amazing thing to me is how consistently and even artfully he pulled all this off. I believe that Joseph Smith was a fraud, but he was definitely one of the greatest and most fascinating frauds in all of remembered human history!

He was unravelling at the end. Anyway, that's what it looks like to me. Destroying the printing press was the act of a desperate man, a man who feared the spotlight being shown on his hidden activities. I think if his shenanigans had been exposed to open criticism, the regular church members would have been in open revolt. The best thing that could have happened to preserve the church was for that mob to kill him.

[_Enuma Elish]

Fanny. Remember Fanny. The man has much to answer for.

Well off course he does. And don’t we all?!!

At least the one thing that both critic and defender of the Prophet Joseph can agree upon is that Joseph believed with his entire soul that God had chosen Joseph as a prophet, responsible for restoring ancient scriptural traditions and practices.

Obviously he made mistakes in his efforts. Joseph himself regularly admitted as much.

Yet whether one agrees or not with the Prophet’s restoration of the biblical practice of plural marriage, as Danel Bachman convincingly illustrates in his M.A. thesis written at Purdue, there’s no question that Joseph’s religious views stood at the heart of the restoration rather than an abusive sex drive.

[_harmony]

At least the one thing that both critic and defender of the Prophet Joseph can agree upon is that Joseph believed with his entire soul that God had chosen Joseph as a prophet, responsible for restoring ancient scriptural traditions and practices.

No. He had one gift and he knew it. After he finished with that one gift, he was on his own... and proceeded to rewrite revelations, interpret every lust of his own libido as God's proding him to carry on his extramarital affairs, and gaze at ancient papyrus completely unrelated to the eventual myth, fabricating and embellishing the most ancient Biblical myth in an effort to establish a kingdom big enough for his ego.

Obviously he made mistakes in his efforts. Joseph himself regularly admitted as much.

You consider Fanny a "mistake"? I don't think I've ever heard of her referred to quite that way before.

Yet whether one agrees or not with the Prophet’s restoration of the biblical practice of plural marriage, as Danel Bachman convincingly illustrates in his M.A. thesis written at Purdue, there’s no question that Joseph’s religious views stood at the heart of the restoration rather than an abusive sex drive.

In the beginning, yes. But then it all went to hell in a handbasket, when he couldn't keep his hands off Fanny. I think Fanny was Joseph's own private Watergate.

[_Enuma Elish]

No. He had one gift and he knew it. After he finished with that one gift, he was on his own... and proceeded to rewrite revelations,

One gift?

I happen to love the way Joseph revised the Bible. I’m especially impressed that his revision alters the Sitz im Leben for the opening chapters of Genesis into a temple setting.

I love the Book of Abraham, including Joseph’s interpretations of the facsimiles. When read through the lenses of ancient Near Eastern tradition, the Book of Abraham comes alive with theological meaning.

I find the revelations in the D&C on God, man, and the universe incredibly profound and spiritually uplifting.

No doubt beauty is the eye of the beholder, but seriously, Harmony, “one gift.”

The man established one of the most successful religious movements since Muhammad with only “one gift.”

Witnessing the way you view Joseph, I sincerely hope that you’re not that critical of yourself, Harmony.

interpret every lust of his own libido as God's proding him to carry on his extramarital affairs,

You do realize that this assertion runs contrary to the historical evidence?

You consider Fanny a "mistake"? I don't think I've ever heard of her referred to quite that way before.

Clearly not. Though I’m willing to acknowledge the fact that Joseph’s actions with Fanny, together with the restoration of plural marriage itself, might have been a mistake.

I see no reason to defend plural marriage. I’m not a fan of the system.

In the beginning, yes. But then it all went to hell in a handbasket, when he couldn't keep his hands off Fanny. I think Fanny was Joseph's own private Watergate.

Again, whether or not the institution of plural marriage and Joseph’s actions went to "hell in a handbasket" will never change the fact that in Joseph’s mind he had clearly been called of God to restore the biblical practice.

best,

--DB

[_harmony]

Again, whether or not the institution of plural marriage and Joseph’s actions went to "hell in a handbasket" will never change the fact that in Joseph’s mind he had clearly been called of God to restore the biblical practice.

best,

--DB

Those are very nice rose colored glasses you wear, DB/EE.

Have you hung out your shingle as a Mind Reader of Long Dead Men now? Standard rates, of course.

I don't think anything of the sort. He invented a lot of things, including a very convenient angel with a flaming sword.

He wasn't protecting anyone, like Abraham was supposedly protecting Sarah. The only person Joseph was protecting was himself. He lost his prophetic mantle the instant he laid Fanny down on the straw. God will not be mocked.