David wrote: Lastly, all those who believe the Bible consider the Indians of the Western Hemisphere to have migrated here from the Middle East after Noah's flood, so there must be more of a connection established to the imaginary Nephites than simply art depicting beards.
Peace be with you. David Miller. BLAINE: Describing the connection I am making between art depicting men with beards and aquiline features, and BoM Nephites, Jaredites, and Mulekites as only "imaginary" is, I would say, very cynical. You on the one hand accept the record of Jesus Christ in the Bible as being true, yet on the other hand cannot even tell me one actual proof that any written materials about Him, Bible or otherwise, is anything but written myth. NO "proof" tells me he ever even lived. You can't even tell me what the man looked like. Was he tall, did he have a beard, was he brown-eyed, blue-eyed, fair-skinned, brown-skinned, or what? All you have to go on is your "imagination." Yet you accept him unquestioningly. How are you different than myself, and millions of other Mormons, who accept these bearded men evidences and assume they are "proof" that Nephites of Hebrew origin lived in the area of Meso-America? At least we know from BoM descriptions of them that they were "fair," large of stature, intelligent, and had a language that was unreadab le except by inspired seers. That is a lot, I would say. We also see huge quantities of evidence that a people did live in Meso America that apparently fits these descriptions, along with having cement houses, barley, etc., as stated in the BoM--all provable now by archeological findings that in the time of Joseph Smith were unprovable. Faith tells me there is a great deal to come. Bible experts and archeologists have had two thousand years to uncover the present wealth of knowledge largely substantiating the Bible, yet you complain that in 200 years we have not acquired a comparable wealth of exact information regarding these peoples. I say this is just plain cynicism on your part. -- "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Blaine wrote: > ... why not focus on the bearded men facsimilies > found in Meso-Amewrica? Neither you nor Kevin > apparently want to discuss this highly meaningful > archeological fact ... The existence of beards is not unheard of among Indians. Consider the following description of Membertou, an Indian chief in Canada who died in 1611 at over 100 years old: From: http://www.danielnpaul.com/Mi'kmaqGrandChiefMembertou.html Biard wrote that Membertou: "was the greatest, most renowned and most formidable savage within the memory of man; of splendid physique, taller and larger-limbed than is usual among them; bearded like a Frenchman, although scarcely any of the others have hair upon the chin; grave and reserved; feeling a proper sense of dignity for his position as commander." Note that even babies sometimes have beards. :-) See: http://www.secretlair.com/babieswithbeards/babies/index.shtml You also have to consider that statues do not necessarily depict what is common place, but rather what is idealized. Gods are depicted often with beards by primitive cultures. The Pharaohs wore false beards, even Egyptian Queens have worn them and have been depicted in statues with them. Statues sometimes depict dragons with beards too. The Egyptians have thousands of statues with animal heads such as dogs and falcons (e.g., remember the god Horus reproduced in your sacred writings?). Are you going to argue that these represent what the people of an ancient time once looked like? Norman wrote: "So how are the numerous sculptures and the terracotta portraits of heavy bearded 'Indians' explained? Considering their prominence, there had to be another dominant racial type in the high cultures of Mesoamerica that no longer exists." I hope you can see the erroneous logic used here. Such works of art do not necessitate another dominant racial type that is now extinct. Lastly, all those who believe the Bible consider the Indians of the Western Hemisphere to have migrated here from the Middle East after Noah's flood, so there must be more of a connection established to the imaginary Nephites than simply art depicting beards. 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. ---------- "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.
