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In this KSL Radio interview, Religion Today host, Martin Tanner, talks with Tyler Livingston, Stephen Smoot and Mike Ash, some of the producers of the recently released DVD on the Book of Abraham called “A Most Remarkable Book: Evidence for the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Abraham”
This broadcast is posted here by permission of KSL Radio.
I recently received the video from FAIR and watched “A Most Remarkable Book: Evidence for the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Abraham.” Congratulations to Tyler Livingston, Stephen Smoot, Mike Ash, and the other producers. The evidences they present for the divine authenticity of the Book of Abraham are compelling.
About one third of the Book of Abraham is centered on the Creation. These brethren noted in the video that which I had also mentioned in a previous blog, that the elements of the earth obey the commands of God. They also noted that according to the Book of Abraham the Gods preplanned the Creation. The Gods preplanned every plant and animal before it grew in the earth. Contrast this preplanning of every plant and animal with the randomness postulated by the Theory of Macroevolution. The Theory of Macroevolution appears to be the antithesis of the Creation, and therefore also of the Creator. In fact, this antithesis is an excellent test for the validity of the Theory of Macroevolution:
Theodore
Theodore:
You are entitled to your rather literal reading of the creation accounts and to your understanding of the theory of evolution, but please allow for the fact that others — who are at least as well-read as you in these areas, some even more so — can honestly disagree with you and still be faithful, committed Latter-day Saints.
This post is for discussion of the KSL radio interview and the issues raised in it. Comments that attempt to turn it into a discussion of creation and evolution will be removed under our threadjacking policy.
Mike, you wrote:
Of course! I totally agree with you on this. Watching the “I am a Mormon” adds showing people of all races and walks of life, raises the question, “what is the main difference between Mormons and the rest of humanity?” I think the best answer is simply, Mormons know that The Book of Mormon is true and that it is the word of God; and the corollary of that, they know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.
Why is it that only devoutly believing Mormons find the common body of evidence concerning the Book of Abraham to be compelling for a divine origin and authenticity? Is a pre-existing “testimony” critical to a conclusion from that evidence that it is divine? Would it be rational to conclude from that common body of evidence that it is man-made?
“Why is it that only devoutly believing Mormons find the common body of evidence concerning the Book of Abraham to be compelling for a divine origin and authenticity?”
I can’t speak for others, but I have a feeling that only Mormons even allow the possibility that Joseph Smith was inspired as a viable option. A lot of non-Mormons aren’t even willing to grant the possibility that Joseph Smith was correct, and so no amount of evidence will persuade them of such.
“Would it be rational to conclude from that common body of evidence that it is man-made?”
My sentiments are those of Kevin Barney on the video. I believe that the evidence for the Book of Abraham’s authenticity is not so overwhelming as to compel everyone to believe it is divine. Faith is ultimately required, but it is not a blind or misguided faith in my own opinion.
Author: Stephen Smoot
“I can’t speak for others, but I have a feeling that only Mormons even allow the possibility that Joseph Smith was inspired as a viable option. A lot of non-Mormons aren’t even willing to grant the possibility that Joseph Smith was correct, and so no amount of evidence will persuade them of such.”
But that’s not what I asked concerning rational conclusions based only on a common body of evidence. On the other hand, maybe it’s the Mormons who won’t/can’t even allow the possibility that it’s all man-made and no amount of evidence would persuade them otherwise.
“My sentiments are those of Kevin Barney on the video. I believe that the evidence for the Book of Abraham’s authenticity is not so overwhelming as to compel everyone to believe it is divine. Faith is ultimately required, but it is not a blind or misguided faith in my own opinion.”
But if it requires the presence of a pre-existing belief originating in childhood indoctrination or adult ignorance, and if it’s rational based on common evidence to conclude that it’s really just human, it would be hard to totally dismiss the “misguided” if not the blind.
“On the other hand, maybe it’s the Mormons who won’t/can’t even allow the possibility that it’s all man-made and no amount of evidence would persuade them otherwise.”
It might be. I know that confirmation bias a sword that can cut both ways. As I said, I can only speak for myself. I have seen plenty of non-Mormons sneer at the possibility that Joseph Smith was inspired before even looking at the evidence offered by Mormon scholars.
“But if it requires the presence of a pre-existing belief originating in childhood indoctrination or adult ignorance”
Do you realize how incredibly arrogant you sound when you dismiss other peoples’ faith as “childhood indoctrination or adult ignorance”? Seriously, it doesn’t win you any points. In fact, it just reinforces my general policy of ignoring your posts that usually reek with a smug self-assurance that you are right about everything and everyone else is either too stupid to realize you are right about everything or just can’t bring themselves to admit it.
On another related note: have you even watched the DVD in question? Or are you content with following the general procedure of other non-Mormons and just dismiss it all a priori.
I live downunder Sydney Aust,and I would love to purchase a copy of the dvd…Thank you for the work that you do at Fair, it gives me strength and commitment to my testimony…I stand all amazed at the remarks that some people make about our Doctrine,PLEASE CONTINUE,We are so lucky down here because we do not have to deal with the rubbish that some people call comment…
Kindest Regards
Geoffrey.
(December 20th, 2011 at 10:49 am)
Smoot: “Do you realize how incredibly arrogant you sound when you dismiss other peoples’ faith as “childhood indoctrination or adult ignorance”?”
But I didn’t even make the dismissal on which you base your claim that I sound “incredibly arrogant.” The actual quote was, “But if it requires the presence of a pre-existing belief originating in childhood indoctrination or adult ignorance, and if it’s rational based on common evidence to conclude that it’s really just human, it would be hard to totally dismiss the “misguided” if not the blind.”
Sincerely, Shelama
I believe Shelama’s points are reasonable and worth honest responses and replies.
MMMillie,
Your comment to the effect that Shelama’s questions are reasonable and worth honest responses and replies has been posted. This is, of course, a matter of opinion, and to some degree calls for a debate, which is inconsistent with the mission of FAIR and the comment policy of the blog. FAIR tries to avoid engaging in contentious arguments and many of the questions posed by Shelama are rhetorical and only thinly veiled arguments rather than simple inquiries. You are free to answer any of Shelama’s questions that you believe remain unanswered if you can do so in a way that is consistent with the comment policy.
Thank you for your interest in FAIR.