The Book of Mormon as Codex/Confessional Allegory

[Limnor]

Kish? Malkie? Marcus? Gad? Doc Cam? iHQ? Paul? Beuller?

Any comments or feedback?

The lack of historical record outside the book itself is a gap?

[MG 2.0]

Not even a nibble.

Ok now I’m embarrassed but I’m glad I put it out there. It is my answer to the fellow that asked me about the origins all those years ago.

Ultimately it’s been a waste of time trying to figure it out. An interesting hobby but no more.

That's a possibility, isn't it?

Regards,
MG

[malkie]

Kish? Malkie? Marcus? Gad? Doc Cam? iHQ? Paul? Beuller?

Any comments or feedback?

The lack of historical record outside the book itself is a gap?

Sorry, Limnor - I haven't been following this thread, because I see it as quite a bit beyond my expertise, and don't feel that I can add anything useful

[MG 2.0]

Kish? Malkie? Marcus? Gad? Doc Cam? iHQ? Paul? Beuller?

Any comments or feedback?

The lack of historical record outside the book itself is a gap?

Sorry, Limnor - I haven't been following this thread, because I see it as quite a bit beyond my expertise, and don't feel that I can add anything useful

Limnor, to the best of my knowledge it is true that there is little if any independent archaeological or historical sources that corroborate fully the events or civilizations described in the Book of Mormon. From the point of view of the critics this IS a genuine and insurmountable problem, not something that can be reconciled through faith and/or other frameworks of investigation.

Regards,
MG

[Limnor]

Thank you MG.

Just to clarify, though, I’m not talking about ancient archaeology or proving the Book of Mormon’s civilizations historically. My point is more textual than historical.

There’s some evidence that people like Joseph Smith Jr, Rigdon, Cowdery, Pratt, Whitmer, and Harris show up as encoded counterparts within the narrative itself—through historical evidences about the life of Joseph compared with the lives of Nephi and Mormon, Rigdon’s specific set of theological beliefs, and the significance of editorial shifts.

In short, I’m looking at how the book might reflect its own circle of authors and editors from within, not whether the ancient world described in it can be verified externally.

The problem of a lack of ancient historicity represents a different challenge to believers, yes, but my intent is solving the puzzle of “who wrote it” by examining internal evidences and comparing them to the lives and circumstances of those involved in its creation.

[Limnor]

I’ve conducted a similar approach with the Qur’an’s composition, looking at how Muhammad may have situated himself within an existing historical and scriptural framework, drawing on texts and traditions available in his time.

My aim is not about questioning faith claims but understanding the literary process—how a professed prophet or compiler might weave older sources and contemporary voices into a new revelatory narrative.

I see Joseph Smith operating in a similar way — “placing” himself within ancient history through adaptation.

I think Joseph - through Nephi - called it “likening yourself to the scriptures” or something like that. He essentially described the methodology himself.