From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Book of
Mormon is the subject of criticism relating to its origin,
text, and historical accuracy. Critics of the Book of Mormon claim
that the book was fabricated by Joseph Smith.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Criticism related to the
origin
Criticism
related to the circumstances of creation
Critics have called into question the circumstances of the books
creation, including the existence of golden plates from which the book was
purportedly translated.
Criticism related to
method of dictation
Critics question the method used to translate the book,
including the technique of using seer stones.
Criticism related to
plagiarism
Critics assert that portions of the Book of Mormon were
plagarized from works including the King James
Bible,[7][8] The
Wonders of Nature,[9][10] View of the
Hebrews,[2][3][11]
and an
unpublished manuscript written by Solomon Spalding.[12][13][14]
Criticism related
to the text and language
Criticism related to
Reformed Egyptian
Joseph Smith claimed that he translated the Book of Mormon from
a language called Reformed Egyptian, yet critics claim
that no such language exists.
Criticism related to
linguistics
Critics claim that language patterns in the Book of Mormon
indicate that it is not of divine origin, but rather was fabricated
by mortals.
Criticism related to words that are not consistent with the time
period of the story
Critics point out that the Book of Mormon contains many words
and phrases that are not consistent with the time frame or location
of the stories included in the book.
Criticism related to unusual names that were available to
Smith
Criticism related to
historical accuracy
Criticism related to
flora and fauna
Critics point out that the Book of Mormon contains references to
various plants and animals (horses, swine, etc) that did not exist
in the Americas at the time of the story.
Criticism related to
technology
Critics point out that the Book of Mormon contains references to
various technologies (chariots, steel, etc) that did not exist in
the Americas at the time of the story.
Criticism related to
geography
Map showing the possible lands and sites of the Book of Mormon in
Mesoamerica (speculative)
Critics point out that there are many inconsistencies and
implausibilities in the story of the Israelites came from the
Mid-East to the Americas, and in the geographical descriptions of
the lands in the Americas in which the stories take place.
Criticism
related to Native Americans and genetics
The Book of Mormon suggests that the Native Americans are
descended from people who came to the Americas by boat from the
Middle East, yet scientists note that the genetic evidence shows
that Native Americans are actually descended from peoples that
migrated from Siberia over the Bering Strait.
Criticism
involving miscellaneous factual errors
Critics claim that the Book of Mormon contains several factual
errors and implausibilities, such as the existence of a river in
Saudi Arabia, the existence of synagogues before Babylonian exile,
use of precious metals for weights and measures, and knowledge of
Hebrew and Egyptian in the Americas.
Criticism
calling into question the divine nature of the book
Criticism that Josesph Smith also fabricated the Book of
Abraham
Critics point out that Joseph Smith also translated the Book of
Abraham, and that the accuracy and method of the translation of
that book is widely discredited, so that calls into question the
translation of the Book of Mormon.
Criticism
related to revisions to the Book of Mormon
Critics assert that the Book of Mormon could not be of divine
origin because of the numerous changes that have been made to the
text over the years. [2]
[3]
[4]
[5][6][15][16][17][18][19][20]
See also
References
- Abanes, Richard
(2003), One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon
Church, Thunder's Mouth Press, ISBN
1568582838
- Bennett, John
C. (1842), The History of the
Saints; or An Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism, Boston:
Leland & Whiting, http://books.google.com/books?id=bAnMckqrfeoC&dq=The+History+of+the+Saints%3B+or+An+Expos%C3%A9+of+Joe+Smith+and+Mormonism&pg=PP1&ots=_46O82jCgG&sig=2YbAmC3Aei8kWNSu2wwYbZGINXg&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPP1,M1
.
- Brodie, Fawn M.
(1995), No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith,
Vintage, ISBN
0679730540
- Howe, Eber D. (1834), Mormonism
unvailed [sic] or, A faithful account of that singular imposition
and delusion, from its rise to the present
time
Online copy
- Ostling, Richard and Joan
(1999), Mormon America, Harper Collins, ISBN
0060663715
- Quinn, D.
Michael (1994), The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of
Power, Signature Books, ISBN
1560850566
- Smith, Andrew F.
(1971), The Saintly Scoundrel:
The Life and Times of Dr. John Cook Bennett, Urbana and
Chicago: University of Illinois
Press, p. 141, http://books.google.com/books?id=BWM7yHuIyAUC&pg=PA113&vq=abortion&dq=The+Saintly+Scoundrel:+The+Life+and+Times+of+Dr.+John+Cook+Bennett&source=gbs_search_s&sig=ACfU3U3qUtlPuIP5sHXY_i7FhEiBLQDBbA
.
- Tanner, Jerald and Sandra
(1979), The Changing World of Mormonism, Moody Press, ISBN
0802412343
- Tanner, Jerald and Sandra
(1987), Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?, Utah Lighthouse Ministry, ISBN
9993074438
- Twain, Mark (1872),
Roughing
It
- Wymetal, Wilhelm
Ritter von (1886), Joseph Smith, the Prophet,
His Family, and His Friends: A Study Based on Facts and
Documents, Salt Lake City, UT: Tribune Printing and
Publishing Company, p. 60–61, http://olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1886WWyl.htm#pg061a
.
Notes
- ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987).
Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry.
pp. 91. ISBN
9993074438.
- ^ a
b
c
Brody, Fawn (1971). No Man Knows My
History: The Life of Joseph Smith (2d ed.). New York: Alfred
A. Knopf.
- ^ a
b
c
Krakauer, Jon (2003). Under the Banner
of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. New York:
Doubleday.
- ^ a
b
Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation
Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth
Press. pp. 73. ISBN
1568582838.
- ^ a
b
Beckwith, Francis (2002). The New
Mormon Challenge. Zondervan. p. 367–396. ISBN
0310231949.
- ^ a
b
Cowan, Marvin (1997). Mormon Claims
Answered.
- ^
Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation
Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth
Press. pp. 72. ISBN
1568582838.
- ^
Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987).
Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry.
pp. 73–80. ISBN
9993074438.
- ^
Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation
Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth
Press. pp. 68. ISBN
1568582838.
- ^
Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987).
Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry.
pp. 84–85. ISBN
9993074438.
- ^ Roberts, Brigham
H. (1992), written at Salt Lake City, UT, Brigham D. Madsen,
ed., Studies of the Book of
Mormon, Signature Books, ISBN 1-56085-027-2, <http://books.google.com/books?id=EXgFAAAACAAJ&dq=Studies+of+the+Book+of+Mormon>
- ^
Howe, Eber D
(1834), written at Painesville, Ohio, Mormonism Unvailed,
Telegraph Press, <http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs/1834howb.htm>
- ^
Spaulding, Solomon (1996), Reeve,
Rex C, ed., Manuscript Found: The Complete Original "Spaulding"
Manuscript, Religious Studies Center,
Brigham Young University
- ^
Roper, Matthew (2005), "The Mythical "Manuscript
Found"", FARMS Review (Maxwell Institute)
17 (2): 7-140, <http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=584>.
Retrieved on 2007-01-31
- ^
There have been numerous changes to the text of the Book of Mormon
between the 1830 edition and modern LDS editions, almost four
thousand changes according to one count at 3913 Changes in The Book
of Mormon Jerald and Sandra Tanner
- ^
The majority of these changes are spelling and grammar corrections:
http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/response/qa/bom_changes.htm
- ^
Critics claim that even changes in spelling and grammar are
important when considering the claims concerning the translation
which were made by Joseph Smith and the witnesses to the book
(Smith claimed that the Book of Mormon was "the most correct of any
book on earth," and Martin Harris said that the words which
appeared on the seer stone would not disappear until they were
correctly written): J. and S. Tanner, The Changing World of
Mormonism, p. 132
- ^
Some critics claim that some revisions were systematic attempts to
remove evidence that Joseph Smith fabricated the Book of Mormon,
and other revisions were made to hide embarrassing aspects of the
church's past: Abanes, Richard (2003).
One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church.
Thunder's Mouth Press. pp. 59–80. ISBN
1568582838.
- ^
Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987).
Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry.
pp. 50–96. ISBN
9993074438.
- ^
"Criticism of changes to Book
of Mormon". http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/3913intro.htm.
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