Blainer wrote: > Is it not a fact that legends are usually based upon real > happenings?
Yes, many legends do have a basis in fact. For example, Santa Claus is based upon St. Nicholas who lived in the 4th century, but St. Nick didn't live at the North Pole, neither did he have reindeers that flew his sled all over the world in a single night. Also, he never went down chimneys to gain entrance into all the homes of the world. It is important to separate fact from fiction when considering legends and myths. Blainer wrote: > Especially when the legend is found among many peoples, > such as the legend of the Flood. This legend is found among > almost all peoples of the world, regardless of whether they > have ever even heard of the Bible. I think this is strong > supporting evidence that the FLOOD story in the Bible is true. Yes, I agree, these observations do seem congruent with the idea that all people descended from an ancestor who had experienced the flood. Blainer wrote: > Likewise, legends found among many that there was > a white God who visited the Americas and the Polynesian > Islands are strong supporting evidence that the BoM story > of Christ visiting the American Indians is true. I'm looking into this, but you shouldn't be so hasty to conclude this. There are many other considerations. For example, it is possible that these myths arose from people who had heard the true gospel in Asia and then told the stories to their children. It is conceivable that they changed the location to be their location instead of some far away and unknown land. If the Santa Claus myth could be changed so drastically in such a short period of time, clearly these American legends are fair game as well. I haven't checked the original sources yet, but some authors suggest that Joseph Smith actually got his idea for the book of Mormon from the publication of legends such as these that you mention. Have you ever heard that? Do you think it is a possibility? Some books published prior to Joseph Smith's book, which suggest a Hebrew heritage for the American Indians are: John Adair, 1775, "The History of the American Indians"; Elias Boudinot, 1816, "A Star in the West"; and Ethan Smith, 1823, "View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of Israel in America." This last man, Ethan Smith, was a pastor in the same small Vermont town where Oliver Cowdery lived. He published his first edition in 1823, and it summarized other books available at the time which also considered the American Indians to be from the lost tribes of Israel. Oliver Cowdery, who helped Joseph Smith write the Book of Mormon, lived in this town until 1825, when the second edition was printed. He surely would have had knowledge of Ethan Smith's book. Ethan Smith says the following in his book (remember that this was published before Joe Smith wrote his book): "It seems the Spanish missionaries found such traces of resemblance between some of the rites of the religion of the natives of Mexico, and the religion which they wished to introduce, that our author says, "they persuaded them that the gospel had in very remote times, been already preached in America...." It is a noted fact that there is a far greater analogy between much of the religion of the Indians, and Christianity, than between that of any other heathen nation on earth and Christianity." [View of the Hebrews, p. 187] So it is possible that knowledge of these legends actually inspired Joseph Smith to write the Book of Mormon rather than thinking that the legends are evidence that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the "which came first, the chicken or the egg" dilemma. Do you think it is possible, or do you refuse to consider the idea? 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.
