QUOTE(JLord @ Jan 9 2006, 02:24 PM)
Right, but being later than the Gospels doesn't mean anything.
Yes, it does. Why wouldnt it?
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If Jesus returned to earth again today would any writings about it be invalid because they came after the gospels?
No, mainly because I am alive today and could see Jesus if I choose in order to validate my opinion on the matter?
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I could see your point if the book of Mormon was talking about the same events as the gospels. In that case, why would we believe writings from 2000 years after the fact, when we already have writing from 60-100 years after the fact.
Exactly.
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The point is that Joseph Smith obviously didn't have any say in the time that God chose to send an angel to visit him. So you can't knock the fact that it came later. Look at the Gospel of John for example. It was also written long after the time of Christ based on divine revelation.
200 years is a long time... 1700+ years is ridiculous...
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No, he did discover new information, thanks to God and Jesus.
It was 1700+, if there are gold tablets, where are they?
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Look at the followers and disciples of Jesus in the NT. Were they all outstandingly good people before Jesus came along?
Maybe not, but Christianity teaches forgiveness, and the appearance of Jesus can certainly change ones life. There is also quite a difference from being someone of ambiguous character, and a nutcase... You can see where a criminal could be rehabilitated, where as a nutcase is always a nutcase...
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Well I don't know if he personally hated natives. But the book of Mormon, which he translated, does tell the story of how God darkened the one tribe's skin as a punishment for their sins. This tribe killed off the other tribe, of which Moroni was the last survivor (I think), so God punished them like he has to millions of people before. Just look at the Bible for more examples of this.
Yes, in the other examples, is it not all pre-Jesus punishment? Id have to read the Book of Mormon to give a better accounting, but, in my mind, there are simply too many discrepancies and contradictions... too many instances where it seems God is just... out of character... for me to take it seriously.
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What do you think the Gospels were?
Writings of the life and teachings of Jesus as seen through the eyes of his disciples...
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By that logic, you should believe that much of the Bible is made up. Even looking at the gospels there are contradictions and oddities. But this does not mean they are made up.
I do not see contradictions(I swear, JLord, one, just ONE mention of a contradiction from the OT to the NT and I will personally hunt you down and torture until you sign a written confession stating that you now understand the difference between the OT and the NT and why there might be such contradictions/oddities) that rival those of the Book of Mormon...
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I think it was stone tablets that had to be translated by looking through a magic jewel.
Nah... it was gold tablets, Im pretty sure... regardless... gold tablets, magic jewell... both are out of character for the God of the NT...
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But anyways, why is this contradictory? It's like saying "why would god talk through a burning bush?" That is equally as wierd. Clearly God is not concerned with doing what is practical.
Let me ask you this, before you spout out some more old testament... if Jesus came down to the natives in America and taught them about God and what not, why did *none* of them remember this or have stories about this prior to the arrival of the Europeans?