Fundamental Christians and looney Mormons walk in lock-step when it comes to denying true history in favor of biblical man-made myths -- feel good stories.
Orthodox Jews too.
I must hand it to the Catholics and Orthodox, because as far back as Augustine, they've taken the Torah to be allegorical. These days we know that it's allegorical with 100% certainty. (Unless we're living in a virtual reality, and the creator(s) of this VR are wild-ass tricksters and pranksters.)
The Church has no choice other than to confess that Smith's origin story for Egypt was his own mythmaking and must be viewed as an allegory. That is the direction the modern Church will eventually take. But guess what? That position is DOA as far as Joseph Smith is concerned. It throws him under the bus and runs him over and murders him. All cohesiveness between Joseph Smith and modern Mormonism will fall apart. The Church will crash with Smith's body mangled up beneath it.
The Church has no choice other than to confess that Smith's origin story for Egypt was his own mythmaking and must be viewed as an allegory.
Joe believed the Torah was literal history. We know it isn't. I think I mentioned it before but the Torah flood myth is utterly contradicted by the fact that the historical records of the Egyptians, during the time the global flood was alledged to have occurred, is complete without gaps. With impressive detail. Similarly for various areas around the Levant and Mesopotamia. Joe didn't know that (because nobody else did at the time.) He believed it was true, and made up a B.S. origin story for Egypt. I feel sorry for people who buy into Joe's B.S. mythmaking. I once did myself. An equivalent I see these days in other domains are the flat earthers and "sovereign citizens." Delusions can run deep. Maybe I'm the deluded one. But when certain people violate well-worn principles of logic and reason (that are demonstrably beneficial for humankind and individual outcomes), over and over, it makes me a bit more confident that I'm not the delusional one.
The Church has no choice other than to confess that Smith's origin story for Egypt was his own mythmaking and must be viewed as an allegory.
Joe believed the Torah was literal history. We know it isn't. I think I mentioned it before but the Torah flood myth is utterly contradicted by the fact that the historical records of the Egyptians, during the time the global flood was alledged to have occurred, is complete without gaps. With impressive detail. Similarly for various areas around the Levant and Mesopotamia. Joe didn't know that (because nobody else did at the time.) He believed it was true, and made up a B.S. origin story for Egypt. I feel sorry for people who buy into Joe's B.S. mythmaking. I once did myself. An equivalent I see these days in other domains are the flat earthers and "sovereign citizens." Delusions can run deep. Maybe I'm the deluded one. But when certain people violate well-worn principles of logic and reason (that are demonstrably beneficial for humankind and individual outcomes), over and over, it makes me a bit more confident that I'm not the delusional one.
Don't you worry your pretty little head, my Led Zeppelin friend. When the Church formerly shifts to the Allegory apologetic, I'll be ready to swat it down like the rotten little whore it is. Mormonism is whoredom and has perverted too many lives over the past 200 years. You can count on Shulem to get the job done. I am loaded for bear and the Church is no match for me. That is a prophecy. Mark my words.
I suppose if we keep piling insults on MG and he could stop posting. In that case the board could devote itself to Daniel Peterson.
People don’t want him to stop posting. They want him to behave in a good faith manner, to practice what he’s preaching, to stop trolling, and to stop treating female posters like second class citizens. Is that really too much to ask?
Questions, your list sounds like stuff that is obnoxious about Mormonism. MG performs Mormonism.
Mormon talk has a deep habit of blaming doubt or questions on bad desires bad faith. It is a deeply offensive habit and one that MG sometimes repeats creating a good deal of animosity toward himself.
The Church has no choice other than to confess that Smith's origin story for Egypt was his own mythmaking and must be viewed as an allegory.
Joe believed the Torah was literal history. We know it isn't. I think I mentioned it before but the Torah flood myth is utterly contradicted by the fact that the historical records of the Egyptians, during the time the global flood was alledged to have occurred, is complete without gaps. With impressive detail. Similarly for various areas around the Levant and Mesopotamia. Joe didn't know that (because nobody else did at the time.) He believed it was true, and made up a B.S. origin story for Egypt. I feel sorry for people who buy into Joe's B.S. mythmaking. I once did myself. An equivalent I see these days in other domains are the flat earthers and "sovereign citizens." Delusions can run deep. Maybe I'm the deluded one. But when certain people violate well-worn principles of logic and reason (that are demonstrably beneficial for humankind and individual outcomes), over and over, it makes me a bit more confident that I'm not the delusional one.
Paul seems to read Genesis allegorically, and I wonder if that approach naturally extends to the whole Torah. He portrays Adam as a model of humankind, the first “us.” Exodus is treated as a sort of inner liberation, and the wilderness as spiritual testing; he applies those stories to believers. Paul doesn’t outright reject the stories as ahistorical, but he seems to consider a literal reading as providing opportunity to extract meaning. If that’s the method, then the Torah can serve as parable, with literal historical accuracy as secondary to the symbolism and lesson to be learned. The fancy word for it is hermeneutics.
Joseph and his collaborators seem to do something similar. They take the writings, sermons, and experiences of their 19th-century environment and repackage them as an ancient sacred history. It’s like watching mythmaking in near-real time.
Joseph and his collaborators seem to do something similar. They take the writings, sermons, and experiences of their 19th-century environment and repackage them as an ancient sacred history. It’s like watching mythmaking in near-real time.
Yes, Smith preached those things as literal rather than symbolic. He added numbers in a literal sense and built his additions into the existing biblical framework. Smith was creative and genius but his overall views were entirely false and built upon the foundation of fake revelation and deception. For Smith, religion and controlling souls was everything. For me, spirituality coupled with freedom is everything!
We are now watching the collapse of Mormonism which will evolve into something new and different. The Internet is killing the religion.
PS. I use pink instead of red due to Dr. Shade's insistence that the no-red rule be strictly maintained.
I suppose if we keep piling insults on MG and he could stop posting. In that case the board could devote itself to Daniel Peterson.
board=mind virus (unfortunately)
virus=toxicity
It’s an interesting virus to observe as it mutates and continues to spread. Viruses have to burn out on their own.
What are the chances of that here?
Viruses can maim or kill.
I feel bad that those who may not be infected have to observe what has happened. For me, it has been better to try and not ‘breathe in’ the viral particles of hate and continued vitriol. I will not engage with the toxic mind virus that has taken hold.
I will continue to ignore the ‘spreaders’ knowing that this ends up being at my expense. TTOC
It’s figuratively ‘sickening’. This virus of yours.
People don’t want him to stop posting. They want him to behave in a good faith manner, to practice what he’s preaching, to stop trolling, and to stop treating female posters like second class citizens. Is that really too much to ask?
Questions, your list sounds like stuff that is obnoxious about Mormonism. MG performs Mormonism.
Mormon talk has a deep habit of blaming doubt or questions on bad desires bad faith. It is a deeply offensive habit and one that MG sometimes repeats creating a good deal of animosity toward himself.
I think the virus is in the room. (looking through the window).
Yes, but not THAT much fun. You see, I remember the old days when real meaty mopologists roamed this board, and could be engaged in combat on issues that were, essentially, matters of fact or logic. They lost, and they left.
So, no more red meat in this forum. All we have left is a single solitary jellyfish, infinitely slithery and elusive, and even if you do catch him he doesn't taste of anything much.
The toxicity of the virus and its ongoing nature of spreading keeps many away. As it is, I’ve found it rather interesting to observe over time. But it can be rather sickening unless one keeps their distance.
I suppose if we keep piling insults on MG and he could stop posting. In that case the board could devote itself to Daniel Peterson.
board=mind virus (unfortunately)
virus=toxicity
It’s an interesting virus to observe as it mutates and continues to spread. Viruses have to burn out on their own.
What are the chances of that here?
Viruses can maim or kill.
I feel bad that those who may not be infected have to observe what has happened. For me, it has been better to try and not ‘breathe in’ the viral particles of hate and continued vitriol. I will not engage with the toxic mind virus that has taken hold.
I will continue to ignore the ‘spreaders’ knowing that this ends up being at my expense. TTOC
It’s figuratively ‘sickening’. This virus of yours.
Regards,
MG
Why are you back to all the double line spacing again, when you’ve been specifically asked by Shades, on many occasions, to cut it out?
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
