Posted on 12/22/2010 11:50:38 PM PST by delacoert
Thomas W. Murphy is the latest Mormon scholar to challenge key teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Murphy, 35, has likened the Book of Mormon, an essential LDS sacred text, to inspirational fiction.
Narrowly avoiding a disciplinary meeting, Murphy remains an LDS member of record for the time being.
Murphy is chairman of the anthropology department at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington. Last year he wrote an essay, "Lamanite Genesis, Genealogy, and Genetics," for a Signature Books anthology called American Apocrypha. Murphy concluded, "dna research lends no support to traditional Mormon beliefs about the origins of Native Americans." Murphy's doctoral dissertation is the basis of the essay. The Book of Mormon details migrations of Israelites to the Western Hemisphere more than 4,200 years ago. According to the book, some of the people were Lamanites, cursed with dark skin because of sin. The current introduction to the Book of Mormon claims that Lamanites were ancestors of American Indians.
In his essay, Murphy reviewed recent human molecular genealogy studies that contradict that claim. "To date no intimate genetic link has been found between ancient Israelites and the indigenous peoples of the Americas," Murphy said.
He noted that researchers genetically link American Indians with native Siberians. Murphy told The Chronicle of Higher Education that some Mormon intellectuals want to debate the Book of Mormon "as fiction, possibly inspired, but as fiction."
...
Excommunicated Mormon historian Lavina Fielding Anderson told Signature Books that at least two other scholars have faced expulsion in recent months. According to critics, six other scholars, including Anderson, faced church discipline in 1993.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
You know, Mormons really don't treat approaching abortion much different than how they tell others to approach the Book of Mormon!
From the official Lds newsroom:
Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have consulted with their local church leaders and feel through personal prayer that their decision is correct.
(There. The Mormon church leadership is "pro-choice" -- use of "pro-choice" words like pro-"decision" -- after all...only worse...they implicate God in these murders of pre-borns!)
I know many Mormons who, before their conversions, were Catholics, Evangelicals, and other mainstream Christians? If I posted some of their conversion stories, would that be evidence of the falseness of these religions?
I also know Mormons who also left and became Catholics, Evangelicals, or members of other mainstream Christians churches. Is this evidence of the falseness of the Mormon Church?
Godzilla, I have a feeling that you will say “no” to the former, but “yes” to the latter? Am I wrong here?
You want to know who started this lie and continued well into the 1960's you need to look no further than your dear protestants friends this is just one of many and there are those who would like to forget their history on this topic. Remember the first LDS converts came from the mostly protestant background sadly to say for a few the myth lingered.
I want to make it clear even though a few members spoke their opinion that the Church as a whole was slient on this topic, for it was many years before the true idenity to unfold to understand the meanings of those passage ment!
THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE CHAPTER 17
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Secret Combinations.
b TG Babylon.
c D&C 88: 94.
94 And another angel shall sound his trump, saying: That great church, the mother of abominations, that made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, that persecuteth the saints of God, that shed their blood—she who sitteth upon many waters, and upon the islands of the sea—behold, she is the tares of the earth; she is bound in bundles; her bands are made strong, no man can loose them; therefore, she is ready to be burned. And he shall sound his trump both long and loud, and all nations shall hear it.
... are just one of many yet try to impose your will
Lady Macbeth tried that too “Out damn spot!” which preyed upon her conscience
I say let the great and dreadful day be the judge of that!
Like Obama common sense is not apart of function of their brain!
Doesn’t matter, so long as the “average” Christian remains informed of the cult of mormonism and avoids its traps.
Merry Christmas.
I thank God everyday that my Baptist grandparents lived as long as they did. Their persistence in talking to me about the falseness of mormonism paid off and they lived long enough to see me escape from mormonism. I like to think that was why God kept them around for as long as He did.
Like this ex-mormon, I too can witness that what he’s saying is true. The dependence on manufactured feelings to justify what is obviously without substance leaves one empty.
RIP Buddie and PaPaw. I miss you.
With a broad brush I would say you are not wrong in my take. But fundamentally, one must look at the REASONS for such conversions, and that is a case by case work. In the case of this thread, the departure from mormonism was due to the demonstrated falseness of the bom story - that the Amerindians were descendants of hebrews.
I have found that mormon conversion stories generally focus upon FEELINGS, not facts and by emphasizing FEELINGS they sidestep the contradictions to smith's alledged first vision (9 different and contradictory accounts), the incredable method of bom translation, the absolute lack of evidence for the bom in the Americas, the demonstrated bogus translation of the book of abraham, the demonstrated immoral life style of polygamy that smith started (against the laws of the land AND mormon 'inspired' scripture), etc. (short list). What this is evidence of is a falsness in the convert's life as warned in the bible - that SOME will be drawn away by false doctrines and teachings.
Compare the two - the differences are apparent.
Merry Christmas to you too Resty!
Boy, what would a thread be like without resty’s persistent, “anonymous” ad hominems?
Intellectual maybe?
Indeed, and that is the apparent differences quickly noted between mormon 'testimonies' and the testimonies of those leaving mormonism. The FEELINGS are used to bypass and block the facts that lead one to reject mormonism, those same facts that pop up when real seekers of truth really investigate mormonism.
As far as I could decipher, the desires indicated in that post are quite apparent, destruction and damnation to all who question and oppose mormonism.
Oh...you mean there isn't anything NEW in that post? ;0)
Better than some here who gets their from....
You know, Mormons really don’t treat approaching abortion much different than how they tell others to approach the Book of Mormon!
From the official Lds newsroom:
Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have consulted with their local church leaders and feel through personal prayer that their decision is correct.
(There. The Mormon church leadership is “pro-choice” — use of “pro-choice” words like pro-”decision” — after all...only worse...they implicate God in these murders of pre-borns!)
An obsessed anti-Mormon activist making a deceptive posting. Not a surprise.
Why didn’t you post the entire statement in it’s context?
Golly that wouldn’t fuel your little tirade as well would it?
That statement doesn't belong -- even if it was an asterisk attached in the finest print to a footnote!
You don't "pray about" dismembering your offspring...
(Merry Christmas!)
And Merry Smithmas!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.