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View Poll Results: If you found out that the Golden Plates never existed, would you still be a Mormon? | |||
Yes, the literalness of Joseph Smith's claims don't matter to me. | 4 | 14.29% | |
Yes, but it would change the way I view the Church. | 9 | 32.14% | |
No, I couldn't accept the Church as true in such a scenario. | 10 | 35.71% | |
I'm not a Mormon. | 5 | 17.86% | |
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll |
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09-14-2007, 06:37 PM | #1 |
Formerly known as MudPhudCoug
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Land of desolation
Posts: 2,548
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If you found out that the Golden Plates never existed, would you still be a Mormon?
I think this is an interesting question. How literal does Joseph Smith's story have to be for you to believe that the Church is true, or that being part of the Church is still worth it?
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09-14-2007, 06:39 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Between Iraq and a hard place
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Well, given the testimonies of the 3 witnesses, the 8 witnesses, Joseph Smith, and so forth, I would have a very hard time believing all of them lied.
Why? Do you have some nifty new evidence that calls the physical existence of the plates into question? |
09-14-2007, 06:42 PM | #3 | |
Formerly known as MudPhudCoug
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Land of desolation
Posts: 2,548
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Quote:
I don't believe that the witnesses lied. I've never thought that at all. I don't believe Joseph Smith lied either. I'm just saying that I'm open to a huge variety of possibilities. That's why I posted the poll. I'm curious how open you might be to different possibilities. |
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09-14-2007, 06:54 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Memphis freakin' Tennessee!!!!!
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I'm pretty tightly wound on this one. If they don't exist, then I'm out the door.
Conversely, if undeniable evidence of the existence of the Golden Plates came forth, would any of our non-Mormon friends become Mormons?
__________________
Give 'em Hell, Cougars!!! Religion rises inevitably from our apprehension of our own death. To give meaning to meaninglessness is the endless quest of all religion. When death becomes the center of our consciousness, then religion authentically begins. Of all religions that I know, the one that most vehemently and persuasively defies and denies the reality of death is the original Mormonism of the Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Joseph Smith. |
09-14-2007, 06:56 PM | #5 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
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Quote:
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09-14-2007, 07:13 PM | #6 |
Formerly known as MudPhudCoug
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Land of desolation
Posts: 2,548
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Crap, I left a grammar mistake in the first option. No edit.
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09-14-2007, 07:14 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Memphis freakin' Tennessee!!!!!
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I just thought that was Okie talk.
__________________
Give 'em Hell, Cougars!!! Religion rises inevitably from our apprehension of our own death. To give meaning to meaninglessness is the endless quest of all religion. When death becomes the center of our consciousness, then religion authentically begins. Of all religions that I know, the one that most vehemently and persuasively defies and denies the reality of death is the original Mormonism of the Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Joseph Smith. |
09-14-2007, 07:16 PM | #8 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 216
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That is a question I've wrestled with for years. For the past couple of those years, I've come to the conclusion that there were no literal plates (at least ones with ancient writing on them)--just my opinion, please don't think I'm trying to toss this in anyone's face or convert you. But the dilemma is that the LDS church of 2007 is SO, SO, SO multifaceted, so culturally livening, and socially stimulating for many people. These are no small perks and probably in most cases they extend beyond just one's spiritual life (even though I personally think the church has its negatives as well). There is more at stake, IMO, regarding whether to stay or leave than the literalness of said historical artifacts, if only because the LDS church is, imo, *completely different* in most ways than the group JS organized. Personally I feel absolutely no need to leave it, nor a great need to be intimately involved with the church. I like my neighbors though, which says something.
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09-14-2007, 07:18 PM | #9 |
Formerly known as MudPhudCoug
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Land of desolation
Posts: 2,548
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Actually, I think he realized that he was in the wrong business when he was arrested for working as a diviner to find water and buried Indian treasure.
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09-14-2007, 07:23 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
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Location: The People's Republic of Monsanto
Posts: 3,085
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I've posted about this many times...
__________________
"Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; " 1 Thess. 5:21 (NRSV) We all trust our own unorthodoxies. |
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