Fallacies about Mormonism
Blather, Religion July 11th, 2005Nico Roscoe at sponbustion.com writes a load of fallacies and unfavorable comments about Mormons. The only thing I hope he’s right about is that the film Mobsters and Mormons will be great - of course, I have a vested interest, since I’m in the movie.
His fallacy: the LDS scriptures were pulled out of and translated while in a hat.
Truth: they were dug out of a hill where they were buried anciently. They were hidden in various places during translation while various thugs attempted by various and often violent means to get them. I do believe they were translated by the gift and power of God.
Fallacy: our founder’s name was John Smith.
Truth: his name was Joseph Smith. If you don’t get such a basic, founding fact right, you lose a lot of credit for everything else you say.
Fallacy: the plates were only seen by “John Smith”.
Truth offered in rebuttal at his website: there were 11 other witnesses to the plates.
Fallacious rebuttal to rebuttal: - first, he never minds conceding that he had the fact of no other witnesses wrong. Next, he immediately says without any historical or other references that Joseph Smith (also without concession that he had the fact of that name wrong) abused and battered them into “[CLAIMING]” what they saw, and only as a “spiritual” experience. Wowsers! First, a thing of importance needs a witness, and here there were 12. Second, this fellow cites no reputable witnesses to the contrary. Third, such witnesses are only hearsay, and the direct witness offered by these 12 is what should be given most weight. Lastly, if this fellow actually read their witness as put forth in the opening pages of the Book of Mormon, he dismisses their witness that they did in fact hold and handle the gold plates and see them with their own eyes. That is talking about a physical and not a spiritual experience. And it is not fair at all to equate a spiritual state with a brainwashed one. To really do that, you have to say that the vast majority of THE WORLD is brainwashed, where uncounted hosts of humanity witness belief in a living God by their spiritual feeling of the matter. There is no evidence of brainwashing because it did not occur. That is simply an invention, a fiction.
Fallacy: Mormons don’t use eBay.
Truth: Mormons use eBay as much or more than other groups (I would wager more) - I know at least five including myself who do.
Possible truth: I’d rather not explore that topic here - suffice it to say Mormons believe in abstinence before marriage, including abstinence from self-indulgence.
Topic breached without admitting it’s complexity: There are same-gender attracted Mormons that have their own community.
Overlooked complexity: such folks who actively pursue such a lifestyle aren’t kept in the church. Folks with such inclinations who don’t make it a lifestyle are kept in the church.
So, one of the rare places I agree with this fellow is in hoping the film Mobsters and Mormons is “great”.