Book of Abraham as Autobiography

[_solomarineris]

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.
best,
--DB

Do you realize that, you'd be chased away, ridiculed, tarred and feathered if you'd express this opinion in any serious Astronomy board.
Actually this hypothesis of yours far more imaginary than any conspiracy theory man concocted; including & not limited to; Mars Face, UFO abductions, Fake Moon Landing, Astrology, etc.

[_Enuma Elish]

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.
best,
--DB

Do you realize that, you'd be chased away, ridiculed, tarred and feathered if you'd express this opinion in any serious Astronomy board.
Actually this hypothesis of yours far more imaginary than any conspiracy theory man concocted; including & not limited to; Mars Face, UFO abductions, Fake Moon Landing, Astrology, etc.

I'm sorry but you clearly didn't understand my assertion or position on the matter. The science of Astronomy is irrelevant to my view and the Book of Abraham.

--best

[_Dr. Shades]

. . . 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.

What attestation of astrological imagery?

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.

What link--direct or otherwise--between the stars, humanity, priesthood order, and the council of the gods?

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?

It doesn't. The historical evidence clearly establishes that Joseph used religion as a convenient excuse to talk women into polygamy.

[_Enuma Elish]

Hello Dr. Shades,

What attestation of astrological imagery? What link--direct or otherwise--between the stars, humanity, priesthood order, and the council of the gods?

For Joseph Smith's portrayal of the cosmos in the Book of Abraham and KEP as a reflection of Priesthood structure see Dan Vogel and Brent Metcalfe, “Joseph Smith’s Scriptural Cosmology,” The Word of God: Essays on Mormon Scripture, 187 – 220.

I haven’t yet written up all of my views regarding Near Eastern enthronement, ancient astrological imagery, the divine council, and the Book of Abraham, but for a brief treatment see here:

http://www.mormonapologetics.org/blog/d ... php?&st=10

I

t doesn't. The historical evidence clearly establishes that Joseph used religion as a convenient excuse to talk women into polygamy.

Clearly, Dr. Shades, no one would deny that Joseph used religion to talk women into polygamy.

He did.

Again, I’m not about to attempt to defend the institution of plural marriage or even the way the Prophet put it into practice.

However, anyone who claims that whether right or wrong, Joseph Smith’s religious convictions were not the driving influence behind his efforts to restore the biblical practice rather than an excessive libido is unfamiliar with the historical record.

Like him or hate him, Joseph was a deeply religious individual who believed that God had called him to restore ancient religious practices including plural marriage.

I happen to love him and believe that he was profoundly inspired in his efforts, including the production of the Book of Abraham.

[_solomarineris]

I'm sorry but you clearly didn't understand my assertion or position on the matter. The science of Astronomy is irrelevant to my view and the Book of Abraham.
--best

Maybe I misunderstood you.
But then you come back with an ignorant statement like this:

The science of Astronomy is irrelevant to my view and the Book of Abraham.

This is called "Cognitive Dissonance" (no pun or offense intended).

[_Chap]

Maybe I misunderstood you.
But then you come back with an ignorant statement like this:

The science of Astronomy is irrelevant to my view and the Book of Abraham.

This is called "Cognitive Dissonance" (no pun or offense intended).

I think you did misunderstand him. Enuma Elish appears to be saying that the ideas in the Book of Abraham about the role of the stars in their relations to the human/divine interface are close to those in the ancient Near/Middle Eastern texts that interest him. This suggests to him that the Book of Abraham may be (in some way that I am not clear about) a genuine channel of access to ancient ideas.

He is not saying that the Book of Abraham contains statements that are true from the point of view of modern astronomy, and that the text is therefore validated.

[_Enuma Elish]

Hello Solomarineris,

This is called "Cognitive Dissonance" (no pun or offense intended).

And I would agree. Clearly you're experiencing a considerable amount of cognitive dissonance.

I claim that the Book of Abraham has no relationship whatsoever with the modern scientific study of celestial objects, yet you assert that if I expressed my views regarding the Book of Abraham in any serious Astronomy board I would be "chased away, ridiculed, tarred and feathered."

What can I do to help?

--DB

[_Enuma Elish]

I think you did misunderstand him. Enuma Elish appears to be saying that the ideas in the Book of Abraham about the role of the stars in their relations to the human/divine interface are close to those in the ancient Near/Middle Eastern texts that interest him. This suggests to him that the Book of Abraham may be (in some way that I am not clear about) a genuine channel of access to ancient ideas.

He is not saying that the Book of Abraham contains statements that are true from the point of view of modern astronomy, and that the text is therefore validated.

Thanks, Chap.

That's a fair summary of my position, though I would also add that I believe that the Book of Abraham provides a genuine channel of access to views regarding the divine (not just ancient) world, even though I'm convinced that Joseph did not have a literal book of Abraham in his possession.

Somehow, in a way that I don't for a moment pretend to fully understand, I believe that by pondering over those ancient Egyptian funerary texts, the Prophet gained access to profound religious truths regarding human deification, enthronement, temple ritual, and the divine council of deities.

I find the connection forged between the Book of Abraham and ancient Near Eastern concepts concerning these precise issues really quite extraordinary.

best,

--DB

[_harmony]

I think you did misunderstand him. Enuma Elish appears to be saying that the ideas in the Book of Abraham about the role of the stars in their relations to the human/divine interface are close to those in the ancient Near/Middle Eastern texts that interest him. This suggests to him that the Book of Abraham may be (in some way that I am not clear about) a genuine channel of access to ancient ideas.

He is not saying that the Book of Abraham contains statements that are true from the point of view of modern astronomy, and that the text is therefore validated.

Thanks, Chap.

That's a fair summary of my position, though I would also add that I believe that the Book of Abraham provides a genuine channel of access to views regarding the divine (not just ancient) world, even though I'm convinced that Joseph did not have a literal book of Abraham in his possession.

2 points:

1. virtually every ancient civilization has essentially the same myths repeated over and over again. So isn't it possible that the ancient feel of the Book of Abraham is simply a result of leftovers from the Old Testament, which Joseph obviously read?

2. channeling the divine requires a leap of faith, assuming the ancients had a channel, that doesn't resonate with reality, at least, not for me.

[_harmony]

That's a fair summary of my position, though I would also add that I believe that the Book of Abraham provides a genuine channel of access to views regarding the divine (not just ancient) world, even though I'm convinced that Joseph did not have a literal book of Abraham in his possession.

Somehow, in a way that I don't for a moment pretend to fully understand, I believe that by pondering over those ancient Egyptian funerary texts, the Prophet gained access to profound religious truths regarding human deification, enthronement, temple ritual, and the divine council of deities.

I find the connection forged between the Book of Abraham and ancient Near Eastern concepts concerning these precise issues really quite extraordinary.

best,

--DB

How would a person with a similiar educational background to yourself but without the faith in Joseph as a prophet view the same information? Would that person find a connection between the Book of Abraham and ancient Near Eastern concepts mentioned above?