tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post5658270701004292468..comments2024-03-28T10:44:30.518-06:00Comments on American Creation: Joseph Smith responds to Thomas PaineBrad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-90865109703161385762012-02-22T13:36:12.018-07:002012-02-22T13:36:12.018-07:00.
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Get a life based on reality, Anonymous.
..<br />.<br />Get a life based on reality, Anonymous.<br />.Phil Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06756814849309388483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-2817224785689762172012-02-22T13:23:00.863-07:002012-02-22T13:23:00.863-07:00In a time when science and evolution are undermini...In a time when science and evolution are undermining and eroding a belief in Christ, a time when the selfish gene takes its form in the odolness of reality TV and a welfare state, christianity is facing its toughest ever challenge, and looking at the next generation arising out of the school system, it's losing.<br /><br />I've always found it odd that those of faith will hold to the Bible and argue its perfection despite considerable evidence to the contrary, and yet decry the book of Mormon for comparable failings. <br /><br />I think oddly enough, the Book of Mormon may yet come to be the saviour of Christianity in the US. Personal revelation, a supporting text or witness of the divinity of Christ, these arguments would serve as a valid counter to many of the arguments that undermine christian credibility - and with little real trade off (since ultimately they believe in the same God although having some docrinal differences. <br /><br />The Book of Mormon, whether true, or false marks joseph smith as a remarkable man. A man who may yet save Christianity (at least for a while).<br /><br />If a true Prophet, then he stands vindicated and to be revered. If a false prophet, he is at least to be admired for his intellectual ability, and the sheer scale the impact of his idea on the US and the rest of the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-1536759217660812422009-07-22T15:17:54.992-06:002009-07-22T15:17:54.992-06:00Joseph Smith is one of the most fascinating charac...<i>Joseph Smith is one of the most fascinating characters on the early to mid-19th century American frontier, and he was a religious genius.</i><br /><br />Smith was genius, like PT Barnum was a genius perhaps. When the COLDS produces Zee Golden Plates--and say the seer stones too-- maybe a few reasonable Americans might take the strange myth of Moroni seriously--maybe not. Donde estan las placas???Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-80224001461496986182009-06-03T06:23:02.584-06:002009-06-03T06:23:02.584-06:00.
Hmmmmm.<br />HmmmmmPhil Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06756814849309388483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-20279214671740914432009-06-02T23:52:13.932-06:002009-06-02T23:52:13.932-06:00Joseph Smith is one of the most fascinating charac...Joseph Smith is one of the most fascinating characters on the early to mid-19th century American frontier, and he was a religious genius. I am not an LDS believer, and I do not believe that Smith was divinely inspired, but he was an incredible American thinker -- I think one of the most inventive and intuitive religious thinkers in American history. As far as being truly innovative, I would place him on a par with Emerson. And Smith's accomplishment is even more impressive given his lack of of formal education. <br /><br />I have read the first edition of Hullinger's book, and it really opened my eyes to Smith's genius and intent. While some of Smith's later activities at Nauvoo are questionable, his early work in composing the Book of Mormon is every bit the kind of insightful and brilliant narrative theology that Hullinger describes. <br /><br />Smith's genius was to avoid dry academic debate (debate that he was unsuited to as a result of his lack of education), but to express himself through the telling of stories that were powerfully resonant to the people of his day. <br /><br />Hullinger's book is well worth reading.Mark D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05000893614655251587noreply@blogger.com