For Yesyd Ferney Rodriguez
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a religious group that is growing rapidly. According to its president, Mr Gordon B. Hinckley, on the television program Larry King Live every year there are 40,000 new Mormons, either because they were born into a Mormon family or because they were converted to this group. If one considers that the membership of this community is about ten million annual growth of 0.4%.
But what is special about this religious denomination to be looked at in disbelief by agnostics and atheists? The two main reasons are its supposed origin of the discrepancy prophetic and inspired books with pre-Columbian history of America. To further explore these two reasons it is necessary to review the history of this church. History
This
denominational religious group originated in the United States around 1830. The founder of this movement was the New Yorker Joseph Smith (1805-1844) who is both the "prophet" of this faith and the translator will divine, he says, the Book of Mormon, which is one of his books along with other guides such as The Bible, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. In the Book of Mormon tells the story of alleged Israeli who came to America from the Old World in pre-Hispanic times. Joseph Smith also claimed that American Indians are descendants of the Israelite tribes.
In 1820, Mr. Smith has his first vision in which he says that all religions are in error and therefore should not join any. This year is presented with the angel "Moroni" who speaks of the ancient history of the Israelites in America. He says that the book find written on plates of gold, and beside him are two stones: The Urim and Thummim, which will serve to translate. The next day the "prophet" is the gold plates in a stone chest on Mount Cumorah (New York).
From 1823-1827, the prophet is to mount each September 22 to attend a talk with the angel to receive instruction. Importantly, there are legal records of the State of New York showing the great fans of Mr. Smith to look for lost treasures and fortune-teller, this aspect leaves much to be desired.
Supposedly in 1827 received the gold plates, and between December 1827 and February 1828 Joseph Smith translated some characters, of course, resorting to the help of the Urim and Thummim. In the same year he joined as secretary Mr. Martin Harris, who ends up getting fired for showing a portion translated the Book of Mormon. In 1829, Smith appointed as new secretary to Oliver Crowdey, which serves as amanuensis to the Prophet Smith. On 15 May of that year are listed in the woods Crowdey Smith and John the Baptist himself. Also in this year three witnesses are granted the privilege of seeing the gold plates (clear, with three witnesses and there is no possibility that it is a fraud! Right?)
In 1837, the Mormons began their career capitalist Company founded the Bank of Kirtland, which is going bankrupt two years later. In 1838, an event occurs, it is very interesting to skeptical critics: Two special witnesses, Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were excommunicated, the year before had been excommunicated Martin Harris, therefore Mormonism is no witnesses the existence of the gold plates.
historical inconsistencies
Book of Mormon Book of Mormon
also raises the incredulity of the rationalists to examine the historical references contained therein. Examine three important reasons
peopling of America.
In the Book of Mormon is a story about an alleged Jewish second trip to America was made in 600 BC After arriving in America, Jews were divided into two groups: good (the Nephites) and bad (the Lamanites) . The latter, God punishes them, turning her dark skin for their wickedness, whence come the American Indians. However, genetic tests do not give the slightest indication that Native Americans descend from immigrants Semites. On the other hand, there is no evidence of any migration to America after 600 BC
In reviewing the data provided by archaeologists we realize that there are human presence in America 40,000 years ago. A recent discovery that corroborates this hypothesis was made in a cave in Alaska, by paleontologist Timothy Heaton (National Geographic, December 2000). These findings support the idea that America was inhabited since the Ice Age by people coming from Siberia. (Note that evangelical works, and confront the Mormon Adventists do not debate this issue as they themselves would be affected as the strict creationism (Old-earth creationism) argues the age of the Earth around 6 thousand years.
Cities, cereals, sheep and iron weapons in Latin
In the Book of Mormon is mentioned in America Hispanic flocks and crops were similar to those of the Old World, in addition to cities similar to the ancient Middle East.
The paleobotanical (scholars of the flora in prehistoric times) make holes in the ground and examine the pollen from plants of the past (the oldest species are lower and more found in the upper layers). It is curious to note that no study has revealed the discovery of pollen of wheat, barley or other plants grown in the Old World in pre-Hispanic times. Native Americans do not know the wool of sheep (as shown wrongly illustrated in the works Mormon) but concocted cotton clothes, only the Incas used the flames to provide raw materials for their clothes.
In the Book of Mormon is a book called Soul in its Chapter 53 mentions the 2000 youth meeting for a fight, illustrated weapons are swords, shields, spears, in short, a whole military strength similar to that used by peoples of the Old World. But again, never found an archaeological site that shows that these instruments existed in ancient times.
When a skeptic examines an idea makes a prediction on this and then see if this prediction is true or not, and on this basis is accepted or rejected the hypothesis. In this particular case, skeptics in America hope that if events unfolded as described in the Book of Mormon archaeological sites should find wool, bones of sheep, cereals, pollen, wheat, iron swords, or should be mentioned these objects in indigenous narratives. Does this happen? The answer is a resounding no.
The Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 8) notes the existence of several cities that were destroyed when Jesus died, supposedly in 33 AD But as always with the Mormon stories, there is no trace of any city devastated by that date . I do not think finding the remains of these cities, if any, were hard to find: where would be the largest population of America? The answer is easy: In the same place where today is plentiful, because the establishment of populations depends on the productivity of land. But again the findings of walled cities, with people with similar culture and religion to Jewish, sheep wool, swords and writings on metal plates are absent.
American Languages \u200b\u200bSemitic origin
Mormon
Under the proposals the native people of America would be of Semitic origin, but there is the slightest linguistic relationship between any Native American language and Hebrew. Another science more turns against the alleged facts of the Book of Mormon.
"Racism in the Book of Mormon?"
The Book of Mormon story manages a simple dichotomy: The good (the Nephites) and bad (the Lamanites). Apart from this it is curious that it is narrated that as punishment for the Lamanites God turned these dark skin.
The Book of Mormon quotes that show this trend are racist: 2 Nephi 5: 21, 24 and Jacob 1:14. The abbreviated text for children says, "Laman and Lemuel and his people were called Lamanites: These do not work: It was wicked. God made his skin was dark"
The illustrations that follow this part, each time they refer to the "Lamanites" Native Americans are drawn to look Incas, Mayans or Aztecs.
is important to note that in the nineteenth century, when Joseph Smith lived, had a strong belief in the racial inferiority of blacks and Indians. Many religious of the time came to say that dark skinned people descended from Ham, Noah's evil son in the myth of the flood, who told his brothers to see the nakedness of his drunken father. Other nineteenth-century religious thought that blacks had no souls and therefore did not need to make efforts for their evangelization.
The story of Joseph Smith reflects racial bias of the time Victorian and not a historical reality of America's past.
of divine origin Is the Book of Mormon?
A cloak of doubt covers the Book of Mormon, for the gold plates from which the message was removed, were always concealed. It is suspected that the angel Moroni been refused leave to see the gold plates to anyone other than Joseph Smith, for years after that three witnesses would observe them. If the action to show the public the gold plates three witnesses had as objective to present the evidence on which the Mormon faith is based, why not show everyone? Why not consider leaving by archaeologists for dating tests which confirmed its age and also allow students of dead languages \u200b\u200bto see these plates? I think that allowed the counting of archaeologists gold plates Joseph Smith rival in importance with the Rosetta Stone or the tablets of cuneiform writing of Mesopotamia. Why this distrust? In my opinion, the likelihood that the Book of Mormon is a fraud are very high.
A detailed study reveals that Joseph Smith drew on references from the Bible and Shakespeare to write this book. This analysis was done by Daniel Scarone Adventist pastor in his book Mormonism's history that few known. (Curiously, the skepticism KB Adventist pastor to discuss the prophesy of a creed in competition with his new converts and is not applied to examine the prophetess of its name, Mrs. Ellen G. White.)
The book
of Mormon, specifically in 2 Nephi 1:14, you can read a quote from Shakespeare:
"Awake and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose members soon depositaréis in the cold and silent grave, from which no traveler can return. "
This phrase sounds very similar to a line from Hamlet, Act III, scene first, in the passage where the known "to be or not ":
" but that the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country whose borders no traveler returns, he confuses the will. "
The resemblance is most noticeable in English:
Awake! and Arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, Whose limbs ye must-soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler dog return, (2 Nephi 1:14) That
But the dread of Something after death, / The undiscover'd country from Whose bourn / No traveler returns, puzzles the will (Hamlet, Act III, Scene I)
According to the Mormons, the passage from the Book of Mormon was written between 588 and 570 BC but the text which inspired it, Hamlet, was written in 1564 AD Another notable similarity is between the book of Alma and the Westminster Confession, which was written in November 1646.
An important prophecy unfulfilled
This text would be incomplete if it does not make reference to a prophecy that was fulfilled which was received, according to Joseph Smith on April 2, 1843. There you can see a belief in the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophecy can be read in the book Doctrine and Covenants, capitulo130, verses 12-15.
"I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, that the difficulties caused by the spill much blood before the coming of the Son of Man will start in South Carolina. Probably arise due to the problem of the slaves. This was said a voice as I prayed about the matter on 25 December 1832. I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: Joseph, my son, if you live until age 85, you'll see the face of the Son of Man and therefore that that enough for you, and do not bother me more about it. "
In this" prophecy "is actually Joseph Smith interpreted the political events of his time and then deriving predictions on that places its faith in a second coming of Jesus. Why do you say this? Because in 1843 the problem of the slaves was the most important political issue in the United States.
Although the "prophecy" is not mentioned a date for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ himself can be deducted. As the "voice" told him that if he arrived at the age of 85 years achieved see the face of Jesus, you can make the inference. Joseph Smith was born in 1805, the year of 1890 would be 85 years but 1890 came and went, and nothing happened. Moreover, the expression "if you live" and "likely to arise due to the problem of the slaves' placed on the lips of a god who knows everything, reveals many doubts about his omniscience. Do not know what would happen?
One final thought
religions of any clothing, and New Age mystics sell us the idea that faith is a virtue. But I maintain that this is an insult to human intelligence. Skepticism is a virtue. I think all human beings should critically evaluate what is presented before you accept it no matter how many people believe, or how old it is. In 1830 there were few who believed that there were American peoples descended from Semitic immigrants to whom Jesus visited in person after his resurrection a few years later almost the entire state of Utah's thought. Now, more than 10 million people around the world agree to these stories. So it is with the sacred stories. So it was with the myth of the ascent to heaven of the Virgin Mary, the virgin birth of Jesus or the 550 stories of Buddha's previous incarnations compiled in the book of Jataka.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a religious group that is growing rapidly. According to its president, Mr Gordon B. Hinckley, on the television program Larry King Live every year there are 40,000 new Mormons, either because they were born into a Mormon family or because they were converted to this group. If one considers that the membership of this community is about ten million annual growth of 0.4%.
But what is special about this religious denomination to be looked at in disbelief by agnostics and atheists? The two main reasons are its supposed origin of the discrepancy prophetic and inspired books with pre-Columbian history of America. To further explore these two reasons it is necessary to review the history of this church. History
This
denominational religious group originated in the United States around 1830. The founder of this movement was the New Yorker Joseph Smith (1805-1844) who is both the "prophet" of this faith and the translator will divine, he says, the Book of Mormon, which is one of his books along with other guides such as The Bible, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. In the Book of Mormon tells the story of alleged Israeli who came to America from the Old World in pre-Hispanic times. Joseph Smith also claimed that American Indians are descendants of the Israelite tribes.
In 1820, Mr. Smith has his first vision in which he says that all religions are in error and therefore should not join any. This year is presented with the angel "Moroni" who speaks of the ancient history of the Israelites in America. He says that the book find written on plates of gold, and beside him are two stones: The Urim and Thummim, which will serve to translate. The next day the "prophet" is the gold plates in a stone chest on Mount Cumorah (New York).
From 1823-1827, the prophet is to mount each September 22 to attend a talk with the angel to receive instruction. Importantly, there are legal records of the State of New York showing the great fans of Mr. Smith to look for lost treasures and fortune-teller, this aspect leaves much to be desired.
Supposedly in 1827 received the gold plates, and between December 1827 and February 1828 Joseph Smith translated some characters, of course, resorting to the help of the Urim and Thummim. In the same year he joined as secretary Mr. Martin Harris, who ends up getting fired for showing a portion translated the Book of Mormon. In 1829, Smith appointed as new secretary to Oliver Crowdey, which serves as amanuensis to the Prophet Smith. On 15 May of that year are listed in the woods Crowdey Smith and John the Baptist himself. Also in this year three witnesses are granted the privilege of seeing the gold plates (clear, with three witnesses and there is no possibility that it is a fraud! Right?)
In 1837, the Mormons began their career capitalist Company founded the Bank of Kirtland, which is going bankrupt two years later. In 1838, an event occurs, it is very interesting to skeptical critics: Two special witnesses, Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were excommunicated, the year before had been excommunicated Martin Harris, therefore Mormonism is no witnesses the existence of the gold plates.
historical inconsistencies
Book of Mormon Book of Mormon
also raises the incredulity of the rationalists to examine the historical references contained therein. Examine three important reasons
peopling of America.
In the Book of Mormon is a story about an alleged Jewish second trip to America was made in 600 BC After arriving in America, Jews were divided into two groups: good (the Nephites) and bad (the Lamanites) . The latter, God punishes them, turning her dark skin for their wickedness, whence come the American Indians. However, genetic tests do not give the slightest indication that Native Americans descend from immigrants Semites. On the other hand, there is no evidence of any migration to America after 600 BC
In reviewing the data provided by archaeologists we realize that there are human presence in America 40,000 years ago. A recent discovery that corroborates this hypothesis was made in a cave in Alaska, by paleontologist Timothy Heaton (National Geographic, December 2000). These findings support the idea that America was inhabited since the Ice Age by people coming from Siberia. (Note that evangelical works, and confront the Mormon Adventists do not debate this issue as they themselves would be affected as the strict creationism (Old-earth creationism) argues the age of the Earth around 6 thousand years.
Cities, cereals, sheep and iron weapons in Latin
In the Book of Mormon is mentioned in America Hispanic flocks and crops were similar to those of the Old World, in addition to cities similar to the ancient Middle East.
The paleobotanical (scholars of the flora in prehistoric times) make holes in the ground and examine the pollen from plants of the past (the oldest species are lower and more found in the upper layers). It is curious to note that no study has revealed the discovery of pollen of wheat, barley or other plants grown in the Old World in pre-Hispanic times. Native Americans do not know the wool of sheep (as shown wrongly illustrated in the works Mormon) but concocted cotton clothes, only the Incas used the flames to provide raw materials for their clothes.
In the Book of Mormon is a book called Soul in its Chapter 53 mentions the 2000 youth meeting for a fight, illustrated weapons are swords, shields, spears, in short, a whole military strength similar to that used by peoples of the Old World. But again, never found an archaeological site that shows that these instruments existed in ancient times.
When a skeptic examines an idea makes a prediction on this and then see if this prediction is true or not, and on this basis is accepted or rejected the hypothesis. In this particular case, skeptics in America hope that if events unfolded as described in the Book of Mormon archaeological sites should find wool, bones of sheep, cereals, pollen, wheat, iron swords, or should be mentioned these objects in indigenous narratives. Does this happen? The answer is a resounding no.
The Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 8) notes the existence of several cities that were destroyed when Jesus died, supposedly in 33 AD But as always with the Mormon stories, there is no trace of any city devastated by that date . I do not think finding the remains of these cities, if any, were hard to find: where would be the largest population of America? The answer is easy: In the same place where today is plentiful, because the establishment of populations depends on the productivity of land. But again the findings of walled cities, with people with similar culture and religion to Jewish, sheep wool, swords and writings on metal plates are absent.
American Languages \u200b\u200bSemitic origin
Mormon
Under the proposals the native people of America would be of Semitic origin, but there is the slightest linguistic relationship between any Native American language and Hebrew. Another science more turns against the alleged facts of the Book of Mormon.
"Racism in the Book of Mormon?"
The Book of Mormon story manages a simple dichotomy: The good (the Nephites) and bad (the Lamanites). Apart from this it is curious that it is narrated that as punishment for the Lamanites God turned these dark skin.
The Book of Mormon quotes that show this trend are racist: 2 Nephi 5: 21, 24 and Jacob 1:14. The abbreviated text for children says, "Laman and Lemuel and his people were called Lamanites: These do not work: It was wicked. God made his skin was dark"
The illustrations that follow this part, each time they refer to the "Lamanites" Native Americans are drawn to look Incas, Mayans or Aztecs.
is important to note that in the nineteenth century, when Joseph Smith lived, had a strong belief in the racial inferiority of blacks and Indians. Many religious of the time came to say that dark skinned people descended from Ham, Noah's evil son in the myth of the flood, who told his brothers to see the nakedness of his drunken father. Other nineteenth-century religious thought that blacks had no souls and therefore did not need to make efforts for their evangelization.
The story of Joseph Smith reflects racial bias of the time Victorian and not a historical reality of America's past.
of divine origin Is the Book of Mormon?
A cloak of doubt covers the Book of Mormon, for the gold plates from which the message was removed, were always concealed. It is suspected that the angel Moroni been refused leave to see the gold plates to anyone other than Joseph Smith, for years after that three witnesses would observe them. If the action to show the public the gold plates three witnesses had as objective to present the evidence on which the Mormon faith is based, why not show everyone? Why not consider leaving by archaeologists for dating tests which confirmed its age and also allow students of dead languages \u200b\u200bto see these plates? I think that allowed the counting of archaeologists gold plates Joseph Smith rival in importance with the Rosetta Stone or the tablets of cuneiform writing of Mesopotamia. Why this distrust? In my opinion, the likelihood that the Book of Mormon is a fraud are very high.
A detailed study reveals that Joseph Smith drew on references from the Bible and Shakespeare to write this book. This analysis was done by Daniel Scarone Adventist pastor in his book Mormonism's history that few known. (Curiously, the skepticism KB Adventist pastor to discuss the prophesy of a creed in competition with his new converts and is not applied to examine the prophetess of its name, Mrs. Ellen G. White.)
The book
of Mormon, specifically in 2 Nephi 1:14, you can read a quote from Shakespeare:
"Awake and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose members soon depositaréis in the cold and silent grave, from which no traveler can return. "
This phrase sounds very similar to a line from Hamlet, Act III, scene first, in the passage where the known "to be or not ":
" but that the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country whose borders no traveler returns, he confuses the will. "
The resemblance is most noticeable in English:
Awake! and Arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, Whose limbs ye must-soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler dog return, (2 Nephi 1:14) That
But the dread of Something after death, / The undiscover'd country from Whose bourn / No traveler returns, puzzles the will (Hamlet, Act III, Scene I)
According to the Mormons, the passage from the Book of Mormon was written between 588 and 570 BC but the text which inspired it, Hamlet, was written in 1564 AD Another notable similarity is between the book of Alma and the Westminster Confession, which was written in November 1646.
An important prophecy unfulfilled
This text would be incomplete if it does not make reference to a prophecy that was fulfilled which was received, according to Joseph Smith on April 2, 1843. There you can see a belief in the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophecy can be read in the book Doctrine and Covenants, capitulo130, verses 12-15.
"I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, that the difficulties caused by the spill much blood before the coming of the Son of Man will start in South Carolina. Probably arise due to the problem of the slaves. This was said a voice as I prayed about the matter on 25 December 1832. I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: Joseph, my son, if you live until age 85, you'll see the face of the Son of Man and therefore that that enough for you, and do not bother me more about it. "
In this" prophecy "is actually Joseph Smith interpreted the political events of his time and then deriving predictions on that places its faith in a second coming of Jesus. Why do you say this? Because in 1843 the problem of the slaves was the most important political issue in the United States.
Although the "prophecy" is not mentioned a date for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ himself can be deducted. As the "voice" told him that if he arrived at the age of 85 years achieved see the face of Jesus, you can make the inference. Joseph Smith was born in 1805, the year of 1890 would be 85 years but 1890 came and went, and nothing happened. Moreover, the expression "if you live" and "likely to arise due to the problem of the slaves' placed on the lips of a god who knows everything, reveals many doubts about his omniscience. Do not know what would happen?
One final thought
religions of any clothing, and New Age mystics sell us the idea that faith is a virtue. But I maintain that this is an insult to human intelligence. Skepticism is a virtue. I think all human beings should critically evaluate what is presented before you accept it no matter how many people believe, or how old it is. In 1830 there were few who believed that there were American peoples descended from Semitic immigrants to whom Jesus visited in person after his resurrection a few years later almost the entire state of Utah's thought. Now, more than 10 million people around the world agree to these stories. So it is with the sacred stories. So it was with the myth of the ascent to heaven of the Virgin Mary, the virgin birth of Jesus or the 550 stories of Buddha's previous incarnations compiled in the book of Jataka.
union
