Quote:
Originally Posted by Rathji
As to your first question, I will refer you to the Articles of Faith, which is basicly a point for explaination of what mormons beleive.
Articles of Faith
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
So for the most part, scripture is considered correct and the truth. That does not mean that it should always be interpreted literally though. |
So in cases where something probably shouldn't interpreted literally in light of more modern knowledge / values, re-interpreting it isn't that big a deal?
Just trying to compare that to the very strict religious upbringing I had where if something (anything) said one thing and the Bible said another, the Bible superceded it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rathji
As to your second, yes the Book of Mormon tells of a family who escaped from Israel before Jerusalem was destroyed about 600 BC. This family managed to make it to the North American continent and established a civilization here. I am not sure of the actual Church position on this matter, but it is my belief that these people grew into the civilizations we know as the Aztecs, Mayans and eventually to what we know as Native Americans today.
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I think historical and genetic evidence pretty much eliminates that possibility though doesn't it? This is what made me think of the question in the first place; I thought the evidence was clearly against this so I'd wondered if the general thoughts of the church populace changed with the change in information.
I know one of the major criticisms levied against Mormonism when I was young by the preachers was how the beliefs had changed over the years whereas Christianity hadn't, so much more apparent since Mormonism is young. To them change was bad, even then I didn't really agree.
(Yes our preachers went out of their way to preach against Mormonism.. they had a whole series in youth and young adults on cults, Mormons were at the very top.)