Bible Archaeology

[Hagoth]

A retired BYU professor neighbor has been dropping by with issues of Biblical Archaeology magazine to share with me. Apart from being primarily a vehicle for advertising hearing aids, gaudy jewelry and Holy Land tours, it's kind of interesting. One thing that immediately stands out is that the Bible references a lot of places and people that actually existed. Which brings me to the Book of Mormon. No association with real people, places and events, apart from those that it borrows from the Bible. Hmmm.

Despite the fact that the Israelites left almost no inscriptions about themselves outside of what ended up in the Bible, they did get a couple of mentions by some of their neighbors. One example is the Mesha Stele that relates how the Moabites were subjected to the cruel Israelites until King Mesha, with the devine help of the Moabite God Chemosh overthrew the oppressors. I find this interesting because it is a window into the fact that other Kingdoms thought in pretty much the same way that we attribute to the Israelites. Sometimes they were humbled and placed in submission to people who worshipped other gods but when they were obedient to their god he bestowed power to defeat their enemies. It makes me wonder, if someone like the Moabites had written down all of their stories into a Hebrew volume that was perpetuated into modern times, and had the Israelites not done so, would we all be going to church every Sunday to testify of our faith in Chemosh? (not to be confused with the Chemish of the Book of Mormon - another Joseph Bible riff? )

Another thought that has been rolling around in my head is that the Book of Mormon, simply by existing, provides its believers with a sort of de facto power that resembles that of the Bible. People with a book to rally around as "proof" that their God cared enough to give them a divine source book seem to pass the test of time better than those who are not as Mohammed would say, "people of the book."

[Corsair]

Surely you have seen the valiant LDS attempts for this industry. There are companies which will give you that scriptural history tour in Central America. You can find places that will make a plaster replica of Izapa Stela 5, the vaunted (and discredited) "Tree of Life" . I have seen places that will produce a plaster cast of the Book of Abraham Hypocephalus. What more could you possibly want?

[MerrieMiss]

Surely you have seen the valiant LDS attempts for this industry. There are companies which will give you that scriptural history tour in Central America. You can find places that will make a plaster replica of Izapa Stela 5, the vaunted (and discredited) "Tree of Life" . I have seen places that will produce a plaster cast of the Book of Abraham Hypocephalus. What more could you possibly want?

A kid in my primary class went on a family trip to Central America and told the class he saw where the Nephites lived. I don't know if he went on a tour or if his parents just told him that. Anyway, I told him, "That's nice," and moved on with the lesson. I had no idea people were still believing this stuff. I thought it kind of ended with my parents' generation.

[deacon blues]

When you compare BOM and Bible archeology, it's like comparing a fart to a hurricane. (excuse the expression, it just popped into my head[I hope Mom isn't reading this ]) We can find the garden where Jesus prayed, but we can't find the city where hundreds of thousands of Nephites lived, or confirm the hill where they died.

[Corsair]

A kid in my primary class went on a family trip to Central America and told the class he saw where the Nephites lived. I don't know if he went on a tour or if his parents just told him that. Anyway, I told him, "That's nice," and moved on with the lesson. I had no idea people were still believing this stuff. I thought it kind of ended with my parents' generation.

The historicity of the Book of Mormon is literally gospel truth to your believing Mormon friends and family. This is backed up in correlated lesson manuals and in the attitudes of seminary, institute, and gospel doctrine teachers. It is assumed without a second thought. Obviously the complete lack of good evidence has not swayed them.

[moksha]

All I know about the Land of Moab is that Chemosh is alleged to have eaten at Milt's Stop & Eat and that Arches National Park is one of my favorite places.

[Hagoth]

Surely you have seen the valiant LDS attempts for this industry.

I am endlessly entertainment by the fact that you can take a tour of the same Book of Mormon locations either in Central America or in the American Heartland, depending on your budget.

[Corsair]

Surely you have seen the valiant LDS attempts for this industry.

I am endlessly entertainment by the fact that you can take a tour of the same Book of Mormon locations either in Central America or in the American Heartland, depending on your budget.

LDS Tour Operators are big fans of the hemispheric model for Book of Mormon Geography.

[deacon blues]

It's almost like the holy relics that cities laid claim to in the middle ages. There were multiple relics of single things. Google 'fake relics' or 'relic trade in the middle ages'. We Mormons have multiple Book of Mormon sites.