Blainer wrote: > ... the area most scholars believe to be the setting for most > of the events described in the BoM is also part of what is > called the Ring of Fire--which is where the continental plates > meet. Earthquakes and volcanic activity are frequent in these > areas. Japan is part of this ring, and has earthquakes so > frequently that houses and buildings are built to sustain them > with minimal damage.
Sloppy scholarship. You know full well that Japan was not part of what the Book of Mormon was talking about. Blainer wrote: > The darkness described in the BoM was so thick it could be felt. There > were lightnings and quakings. There was a great storm. Anyone familiar > with the Mt. St. Helens volcanic activity in recent years knows that the > BoM describes quite well what happens when there is volcanic activity in > a specific area. The ash that came from that volcano spread for hundreds > of miles, and created darkness so thick it could be felt--people could > hardly breath. There were thunderings and lightnings all over the > place. But Mount St. Helen's lasted much more than 3 days, and most areas were not at all affected with darkness. Was it dark for 3 days at your house when Mt. St. Helen errupted? Furthermore, the Book of Mormon says that not even fires could not be made for 3 days. I think you either need to go with a miraculous viewpoint here, or a natural one, but stick with whatever viewpoint you choose. Otherwise, it is impossible for us to consider your arguments. Blainer wrote: > The cataclysmic events in the Americas during BoM times were far more > devastating, however, than the activity around Mt. St. Helens. Smooth > places were made rough, and mountains were made level. Entire cities > were dumped into the sea, and others were swallowed up in the earth. > Many cities burned. This was no ordinary event. That there was an > earthquake corresponding to the death of Christ supports the probability > that earthquakes were happening elsewhere. >From a scientific viewpoint, an earthquake happening in Israel says nothing about an earthquake happening in Mexico. Again, you need to choose whether this was a natural event or a supernatural event. Why try and give natural explanations for this if it was supernatural? Please be consistent. Now the point is that if this event were supernatural, the effect would be so severe that every culture affected by it would reflect evidence of its event. None of them do. Not a single clue from any early American culture. The primary objection I have is that the death of Christ was not a time of judment upon the earth. Joseph Smith took some things from the book of Revelation and mixed them in with the death of Christ. This is completely out of character for what God was doing at this time. God was opening up salvation to mankind, and Joseph Smith presents in the Book of Mormon a time of cataclysmic judgment for sin. Such foolishness, a spiritual man with even dim sight can see the foolishness of this passage that Smith wrote. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
