Kishkumen wrote:Saying that "some apologist once cited a work discussing pseudo-biblical language in the 19th century" isn't really addressing the similarities between these texts.
The similarity I see is that both works are written in a biblical style. I don't see evidence of actual borrowing.
DrW wrote:The critical thinkers have just been advised of still more contemporary sources for the themes, linguistic style, etc. that appear in the Book of Mormon. Alone these would be interesting.
Piled on top of the mountain of existing scientific and historical evidence against the historicity of the Book of Mormon, my guess is that a lot of Shelves of Disbelief will finally be breaking.
Critical thinkers consider weight of evidence, the explanatory power of the competing hypotheses, and then check to make sure that the selected hypothesis is does not require the violation of physical laws.
Well, what with all of the articles Mopologists have failed to write on Hunt and The First Book of Napoleon, one wonders exactly what it is they have been up to all these years? Surely not reading and analyzing contemporary literature in a similar genre. What kind of critical thinker would do that?
Much better to spin kooky Mesoamerican theories about amazing invisible ancient civilizations in America.
That's real critical thinking for you.
"Petition wasn’t meant to start a witch hunt as I’ve said 6000 times." ~ Hanna Seariac, LDS apologist
Nevo wrote:The similarity I see is that both works are written in a biblical style. I don't see evidence of actual borrowing.
You don't believe there is any evidence of borrowing so therefore you don't see it. You base your belief first and the evidence that challenges it second. That is very unscientific and illogical. I'm sure the Mormon cult welcomes you with open arms. You fit right in.
Everybody Wang Chung wrote:13. And their weapons of war were of curious workmanship
Also Chp L - 7
"Now these steam-boats were cunningly contrived, and had abundance of curious workmanship therein, such as surpassed the comprehension of all the wise men of the east, from the beginning to this day.
Pg 193
Just checked the King James Version and cannot find those words together. "Curious workmanship" Nearest is in Exodus.
"It's a little like the Confederate Constitution guaranteeing the freedom to own slaves. Irony doesn't exist for bigots or fanatics." Maksutov
Nightlion wrote: I suspect a backfire of the supposed 'smoking gun' when we compare authors. Young uneducated farmboy hickster against these others. Who were they? Let's compare and wonder how Joseph bettered them in his composition unaided by God supposedly. Sure.
And if Joseph was such a prolific genius where are his two dozen books? How could he have resisted but to bring forth the sealed portion of the plates? A serial, here a little and there a little. The money would have been vast. His poverty/vanity would have insisted upon it.....eh?
Nightlion, it doesn't require any kind of genius to write a bad story in voice of other well known works. I know you wouldn't consider the Book of Mormon to be a bad story, but for me personally, I got a lot more entertainment out of Late War than anything in the Book of Mormon.
Kishkumen wrote:Saying that "some apologist once cited a work discussing pseudo-biblical language in the 19th century" isn't really addressing the similarities between these texts.
The similarity I see is that both works are written in a biblical style. I don't see evidence of actual borrowing.
Nevo,
As one of the faithful who I most respect in the micro-verse that is online Mormon apologetics and criticism, I would be interested in hearing your views after some consideration and review.
Right now, it seems like this issue is too fresh to expect well grounded and developed points being made by either side. That said, if it isn't top two at least in significant issues in Mormon discussions this year, as 2013's October surprise, I'll be shocked.
ETA: the one exception being the presentation that originated Kish's excellent OP. I look forward to seeing it.
The world is always full of the sound of waves..but who knows the heart of the sea, a hundred feet down? Who knows it's depth? ~ Eiji Yoshikawa
Kishkumen wrote:Well, what with all of the articles Mopologists have failed to write on Hunt and The First Book of Napoleon, one wonders exactly what it is they have been up to all these years? Surely not reading and analyzing contemporary literature in a similar genre. What kind of critical thinker would do that?
Sara Cranford read and analyzed Hunt's The Late War for the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute's "Archive of Restoration Culture" project about a dozen years ago. Her report was published on the BYU Studies website in 2009 (see p. 215). Does that count?
Last edited by Anonymous on Sun Oct 20, 2013 11:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
