Bedrock of a Faith Is Jolted

latimes.com ^ | February 16, 2006 | William Lobdell

[tbird5]

DNA tests contradict Mormon scripture. The church says the studies are being twisted to attack its beliefs.

From the time he was a child in Peru, the Mormon Church instilled in Jose A. Loayza the conviction that he and millions of other Native Americans were descended from a lost tribe of Israel that reached the New World more than 2,000 years ago.

"We were taught all the blessings of that Hebrew lineage belonged to us and that we were special people," said Loayza, now a Salt Lake City attorney. "It not only made me feel special, but it gave me a sense of transcendental identity, an identity with God."

A few years ago, Loayza said, his faith was shaken and his identity stripped away by DNA evidence showing that the ancestors of American natives came from Asia, not the Middle East.

[Patrick1]

Oops.

[colorcountry]

A VOTE FOR OPENNESS: Salt Lake City attorney Jose A. Loayza, shown at Temple Square, says the Church of Latter-day Saints should embrace the controversy: “They should openly address it.”
(Steve C. Wilson / For The Times)

DISSENT: Molecular biologist and Mormon Simon G. Southerton concluded that his faith needed to be reevaluated.

[AZConcervative]

Shocker! There are numerous inaccuaracies in the book of Mormon. The only holy book that has none is the Holy Bible...

[ASA Vet]

Might prove to be a fun food fight to watch.

[tbird5]

Blind faith without reason is always a bad thing

[ahayes]

Gee, they couldn't tell that just by looking at the Indians comparing them to the Chinese?

[fix]

From the article...

Some longtime observers believe that ultimately, the vast majority of Mormons will disregard the genetic research as an unworthy distraction from their faith.

You wouldn't happen to be Morman would you? Sorry...couldn't resist.

[Minus_The_Bear]

I don't think it took a "scientist" to disprove that Native Americas are not Semitic, it's just basic common sense. The belief that God somehow punished evildoers and turned their skin dark is one of the stranger and racist Mormon beliefs.

[PatrickHenry]

This is gonna be sad.

[js1138]

They're wrong, but at least they have some religion.

LOL

[siunevada]

Otterson, the church spokesman, said Mormon leaders would remain neutral. "Whether Book of Mormon geography is extensive or limited or how much today's Native Americans reflect the genetic makeup of the Book of Mormon peoples has absolutely no bearing on its central message as a testament of Jesus Christ," he said.

Just change the interpretation from literalistic narrative to figurative and the 'bedrock' remains unshaken.

[VadeRetro]

"This may look like the crushing blow to Mormonism from the outside," said Jan Shipps, a professor emeritus of religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, who has studied the church for 40 years. "But religion ultimately does not rest on scientific evidence, but on mystical experiences. There are different ways of looking at truth."

Title of another web article somewhere: "Finally, An Honest Creationist!"

[longshadow]

Truth is a cruel mistress.

[AZConcervative]

I am by no means trying to attack the people of the mormon faith. That being said, I won't ignore the facts simply not to offend. Most mormons I know (and muslims, and atheists for that matter) are very nice people. But that does not mean that we should say they are right. In my opinion, come to by study, I have concluded that Chritianity is undeniably the truth. I give people my opinion when appropriate and one time. After that, they are free to ask me more, study for themselves, or continue at the status quo. While I pray for their clarity, I still show them the respect that they deserve from their actions.

[steelcurtain]

I believe God created DNA.