Please Explain how Joseph Smith could have possibly authored the Book of Mormon.

[Autodidact]

Originally Posted by Starfish

How do we know he didn't? I'm not saying Christ did write anything, but how do we know?

I would think people would have kept it, don't you? And probably mentioned it. I mean, if you get this skeptical, then how do you know there ever was any such person?

The pattern of the prophets keeping written records is well established.

I think not doing so is more common: Jesus, Muhammed, Delphi, etc.

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by Starfish

To write off the BoM as a miracle of Satan, or some evil spirit, is ridiculous. Why would anyone evil want a book that moves one towards Christ. Anyone relying on this explanation has not read the book thoroughly.

Christians who use that explanation don't, of course, believe that the Book of Mormon moves one toward Christ. They believe the Christ of Mormonism is a false Christ, and Mormonism a false religion. From their point of view, it's possible that the devil cooked the whole thing up to lead people astray.

Originally Posted by Starfish

Others have done it? I still haven't heard of a comparable example. And the challenge to duplicate it is still out there. No one has.

The world is fairly well overrun with holy books, from the Vedas on down to the Book of Jeraneck. There are millions -- no, billions -- of people who find one or more of those books more impressive than the Book of Mormon. Of course, that's always going to be a matter of taste and opinion.

[madhatter85]

Or, ahow about this.

Why did so many religious leaders in that day harden thier hearts and cause persecutuions to fall upon a 14 year old boy who claimed to have seen God in a vision?

Why such Vehemency? so vehement in fact that he was martyred by an angry mob? That is not a chrisitan act. Violence and anger are not attributes of godliness, only attrubutes of evil.

but why pick out a 14 year old boy? Why care SO MUCH about a 14 year old boy? why not call him crazy and just let him be? why the persecutions?

seems to me that Satan did not want to let go of his hold on the hearts of men at the time and stirred them up to anger and violence against the young prophet.

Satan could not afford for the truth to be known, otherwise he would lose everything he has been working so hard to achieve. mainly our misery because he himself is miserable. "Misery Loves company"

[Autodidact]

Originally Posted by madhatter85

Or, ahow about this.

Why did so many religious leaders in that day harden thier hearts and cause persecutuions to fall upon a 14 year old boy who claimed to have seen God in a vision?

Because he was a liar, a con-man and a cheat.

Why such Vehemency? so vehement in fact that he was martyred by an angry mob?

Because he stole their money.

That is not a chrisitan act. Violence and anger are not attributes of godliness, only attrubutes of evil.

I have to disagree. Every religion is violent at times.

but why pick out a 14 year old boy? Why care SO MUCH about a 14 year old boy? why not call him crazy and just let him be? why the persecutions?

I think you're confused. No one paid much attention to Joseph Smith until he started accumulating some power and followers.

seems to me that Satan did not want to let go of his hold on the hearts of men at the time and stirred them up to anger and violence against the young prophet.

Or maybe he was just really annoying.

Satan could not afford for the truth to be known, otherwise he would lose everything he has been working so hard to achieve. mainly our misery because he himself is miserable. "Misery Loves company"

How do you tell who's acting, Satan or God?

[Autodidact]

btw madhatter, what is your avatar? It looks like some kind of nose.

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by Autodidact

I don't think so, although I'm not an expert. I believe the first scrap of a manuscript, "P51" dates from like 360 C.E. or something like that, and that the experts believe that the first gospels were actually written between 70 and 100 C.E.

I think you're missing the point.

What was written between 70-100 AD, may have been based on earlier documents and those earlier documents were lost AFTER 100 AD.

I.E, earlier documents probably existed. but now exist in the documents you cite.

Regards, Scott

[madhatter85]

Originally Posted by Autodidact

Because he was a liar, a con-man and a cheat.

oh yeah? when? how? please enlighten me

Because he stole their money. I have to disagree. Every religion is violent at times.

stole what money? you mean because of "sheep stealing" tithes were getting paid to the LDS church and not the bible thumpers?

I think you're confused. No one paid much attention to Joseph Smith until he started accumulating some power and followers.

wrong, he was persecuted and "cast out" from his parent's churches and ridiculed in the streets for being "the boy who saw God"

Or maybe he was just really annoying.

Is this just an atagonistic post? or do you actually have anything useful to add to this thread?

How do you tell who's acting, Satan or God?

You shall know them by thier fruits.
Matthew 7:

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

[madhatter85]

Originally Posted by Autodidact

btw madhatter, what is your avatar? It looks like some kind of nose.

Clearly you have never played Halo 3