Posted on 01/18/2006 11:50:52 AM PST by johnk
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8594203721530427132
"DNA vs. The Book of Mormon" presents the evidence from DNA researchers, including Mormon scientists, who are wrestling with the DNA dilemma that now faces Mormonism.
Participants: Thomas W. Murphy; Dr. Simon Southerton; Dr. Randall Shortridge, and others. Director / Producer: Joel Kramer Director / Producer: Jeremy Reyes Editor: Scott Johnson Narrator: Ken MacHarg
ping for later watching
I have read the Book of Mormon and to say the least, it is a bit strange. Now I am assuming you're an Evangelical Christian. Evangelicals make a strong point in saying that Mormons (and jehovah's witnesses) are not Christian even though Jesus is included in their belief system & theology. On this point, the evangelicals are right. They are not Christians in the sense that most Christians define Jesus, the Trinity etc. Now, this is where I ask a question. Evangelicals are also quick to call Mormonism a cult. Now how do thy mean that? In the wacky sense, that they'll kidnap you, lock you in a basement and brainwash you till your mid is goo? Or in the more benign sense based on the that the belief system is not revealed from God, but rather a man made concoction?
ping for later
The National Geographic Society is doing a Genographic Study with thousands of participants worldwide.
This will give a much larger sampling of anything previously done and should show migration trends of different peoples by their DNA. The information already gleaned is quite damaging to the LDS claim of Israelite migration to the Americas.
I wonder how the LDS will treat the information when it is released. Anyone care to guess?
Read Walter Martin's excellent book "Kingdom of the Cults". In it he defines a cult as a religion that makes a claim of Christianity while denying one or more of the basic tenets of Christianity.
Nonsense! A cult is any religion too small to buy a politician.
That is the definition that I hold to. Denying Christ his Lordship, Kingship and Creator roll. Also putting other gods equal or bofore Him.
“A cult ... is a group of people polarized around someone's interpretation of the Bible and is characterized by major deviations from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly the fact that God became man in Jesus Christ.”
Also the book of Revelation warns not to add or take away from the Book. Some argue this means only the book of Revelation, but that is denied by most fundementally minded folk. :-)
Here is a interesting quote....
...The Saints have a radically different approach, said Shipps, believing God and Jesus to be separate beings — each with a literal body and parts. They say Jesus was sired by God, with a divine Mother in Heaven. “The Trinity, the Trinity, the Trinity there is no way around the Trinity” said Shipps. “But you know it would also help if Christians — if they are going to use the word ‘cult — would admit that Christianity changed the very nature of the Jewish God. Christianity then grew up to become a new religious tradition. “Mormonism is a new religious tradition that has grown out of Christianity. It is an entity unto itself It is what it is.”
That should be enough to keep most from joining LDS.
Please pass video link along to anyone who may be caught up in LDS, a dangerous cult.
watch later
Seriously, you are a hairsbreadth from banning if form holds true
I think they would be a cult, but in this case it is a cult of some of the nicest people.
So being they don't hurt other people and are often nice, this is one cult I have no problem with.
All religions begin as a cult. Including Christianity.
All? Including Torah?
No need to guess, colorcountry. The issue has been discussed at length by LDS scholars and scientists. A readable summary is to be found here. Other articles are linked here.
The short answer is that DNA does not (and probably cannot) "disprove" the Book of Mormon.
Not yet! The study has not been released.
But will they believe it when it happens, or will they issue the same type statement as always, that all one requires is faith.....that science, reason, and God have not suceeded in revealing the untruthfulness of the Isrealite migration?
I'm sure Jeff Lindsey, FARMS and FAIR already have a press release prepared.
Torah's not a religion, you mean Judaism?
Definition of a cult, see bottom of link:
http://www.ex-cult.org/
Any such press release, if not issued by an official arm of the church, will carry a similar disclaimer to this one (found at the bottom of FAIR's homepage here. Thus, any press release, article, or response from these types of organizations can be completely disregarded as carrying any weight of authority, sanctioning, or blessing from the LDS church whatsoever:
FAIR is not owned, controlled by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR, and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice.. FAIR itself elaborates on their position, in these excerpts taken from their FAQ page:
Are you affiliated with the LDS Church?
We're not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in any way. Most of the members of FAIR are devout members of the Church that serve in various ward and stake callings.Is the LDS Church aware of you?
We know several departments in the Church office building that are aware of us. But they do not endorse us or support us in any way.Aren't you discussing doctrinal issues without priesthood authority?
We are not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are therefore not doing this under the direction of the priesthood. We would fall more under the category of book publishers. Just as the books you purchase in the bookstore are not published under priesthood direction, so the things we write are not under priesthood direction.How authoritative are the things that you write?
We try very hard to not give the impression that we are speaking for the Church in any way. We are not affiliated with the Church. We therefore try to avoid doctrinal declarations. Most of the time it isn't an issue as we are discussing things from a historical or scholarly point of view. Occasionally we get into discussions of doctrine when we feel our beliefs as Latter-day Saints have been misrepresented. At those times the writers are speaking from their own experience and beliefs.
Most of the members of FAIR are devout members of the Church that serve in various ward and stake callings.
I wish they would post the religious affilliation of any of the FAIR members who are not LDS. AND what colleges they attended.
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