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< Criticism of Mormonism | Books | Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church
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===Claims made in "Chapter 12: Faith Promoting Science"=== | ===Claims made in "Chapter 12: Faith Promoting Science"=== | ||
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====168==== | ====168==== | ||
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* LDS scholars believe that Mayan cities are prime candidates for where Lehi's people lived. | * LDS scholars believe that Mayan cities are prime candidates for where Lehi's people lived. | ||
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− | * [[Amerindians | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Lamanites/Relationship to Amerindians/Maya and Olmec|Amerindians as Lamanites—Maya and Olmec]] |
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*No source given. | *No source given. | ||
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====168==== | ====168==== | ||
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* The Jaredites are usually identified as the Olmec | * The Jaredites are usually identified as the Olmec | ||
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− | * [[Amerindians | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Lamanites/Relationship to Amerindians/Maya and Olmec|Amerindians as Lamanites—Maya and Olmec]] |
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*No source given. | *No source given. | ||
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====168==== | ====168==== | ||
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* Joseph Smith declared the city of Palenque was a Nephite city, but modern scholarship indicates this city wasn't built until 600 A.D. | * Joseph Smith declared the city of Palenque was a Nephite city, but modern scholarship indicates this city wasn't built until 600 A.D. | ||
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− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Geography/Statements#15 Sept. 1842: Speculation that Palenque is a Nephite city|Book of Mormon geography—Statements—15 Sept. 1842: Speculation that Palenque is a Nephite city]] |
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*No source given by the author. | *No source given by the author. | ||
*The statement made by the author about Palenque is incorrect. The earliest recorded ruler was K'uk Balam (Quetzal Jaguar), who governed Palenque for four years starting in the year 431 A.D. | *The statement made by the author about Palenque is incorrect. The earliest recorded ruler was K'uk Balam (Quetzal Jaguar), who governed Palenque for four years starting in the year 431 A.D. | ||
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*If one assumes, as Joseph apparently did, that Palenque ''was indeed'' a Nephite city, and knowing as we do now the tendency for Mesoamerican conquering rulers to destroy the monuments or records of previous ones, it would not at all be surprising to see the record go back only to the time that the Lamanites conquered the Nephites (approximately 400 - 420 A.D.). | *If one assumes, as Joseph apparently did, that Palenque ''was indeed'' a Nephite city, and knowing as we do now the tendency for Mesoamerican conquering rulers to destroy the monuments or records of previous ones, it would not at all be surprising to see the record go back only to the time that the Lamanites conquered the Nephites (approximately 400 - 420 A.D.). | ||
*A known reference to Joseph's statement about Palenque is {{TS1 | author=Joseph Smith (editor) | vol=3|num=22|article=Extract from Stephens' 'Incidents of Travel in Central America'|date=15 September 1842|start=915|start=915}} | *A known reference to Joseph's statement about Palenque is {{TS1 | author=Joseph Smith (editor) | vol=3|num=22|article=Extract from Stephens' 'Incidents of Travel in Central America'|date=15 September 1842|start=915|start=915}} | ||
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====168==== | ====168==== | ||
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* The history of Book of Mormon archaeology is "littered with apostacy" | * The history of Book of Mormon archaeology is "littered with apostacy" | ||
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− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Geography/Apostacy|Book of Mormon geography—Apostacy]] {{nw}} |
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*Michael D. Coe, "Mormons and Archaeology: An Outside View," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' 8:40-48 (1973). | *Michael D. Coe, "Mormons and Archaeology: An Outside View," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' 8:40-48 (1973). | ||
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====170==== | ====170==== | ||
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* Thomas Ferguson was one of the better known early "Mormon archaeologists" | * Thomas Ferguson was one of the better known early "Mormon archaeologists" | ||
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* Ferguson was not an archaeologist. He was an amateur, with an unrealistic idea of what constituted archaeological proof, and what help archaeology would be. | * Ferguson was not an archaeologist. He was an amateur, with an unrealistic idea of what constituted archaeological proof, and what help archaeology would be. | ||
− | * [[ | + | * [[Book_of_Mormon/Archaeology/Thomas_Stuart_Ferguson|Thomas Stuart Ferguson]] |
− | * [[ | + | * [[Book_of_Mormon/Archaeology|Book of Mormon archaeology]] |
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* No source given. | * No source given. | ||
* {{CrossRef:Abanes:Becoming Gods|pages=77 368n145-147}} | * {{CrossRef:Abanes:Becoming Gods|pages=77 368n145-147}} | ||
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====172==== | ====172==== | ||
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* There is no evidence of iron or steel smelting in the ancient New World | * There is no evidence of iron or steel smelting in the ancient New World | ||
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− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Metals#Iron|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Metals—Iron]] |
* {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:Steel}} | * {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:Steel}} | ||
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*Michael D. Coe et al., ''Atlas of Ancient America'' (1986). | *Michael D. Coe et al., ''Atlas of Ancient America'' (1986). | ||
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* There were no wheeled vehicles in ancient America | * There were no wheeled vehicles in ancient America | ||
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* {{FalseStatement}}: There is no mention of wheels in the Book of Mormon (save an Isaiah citation). | * {{FalseStatement}}: There is no mention of wheels in the Book of Mormon (save an Isaiah citation). | ||
− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Chariots|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Chariots]] |
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*No source given. | *No source given. | ||
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====172==== | ====172==== | ||
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* There were no draft animals to pull wheeled vehicles | * There were no draft animals to pull wheeled vehicles | ||
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* There is no mention of the wheel in the Book of Mormon | * There is no mention of the wheel in the Book of Mormon | ||
− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Chariots|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Chariots]] |
− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Animals#Horse|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Animals—Horse]] |
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*No source given. | *No source given. | ||
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====172==== | ====172==== | ||
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* There are no archaeological remains of wheat or barley in Mesoamerica. The barley found in Arizona doesn't count because it was only in a limited region. | * There are no archaeological remains of wheat or barley in Mesoamerica. The barley found in Arizona doesn't count because it was only in a limited region. | ||
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* The fact that barley was unknown in the Americas before the 1980s demonstrates that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Would we want to bet on barley ''never'' being found outside that restricted area? | * The fact that barley was unknown in the Americas before the 1980s demonstrates that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Would we want to bet on barley ''never'' being found outside that restricted area? | ||
− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Plants#Barley|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Plants—Barley]] |
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*No source given. | *No source given. | ||
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====173==== | ====173==== | ||
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− | | | + | *the author claims that deer or tapir were never ridden by Native Americans, therefore they could not be the "horses" referred to in the Book of Mormon |
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* "Horses" are never said to be ridden in the Book of Mormon. They never act like "old world" horses. They are often treated as a foodstuff. This might match some other animal quite well. The author has here proven the Book of Mormon advocates' point. | * "Horses" are never said to be ridden in the Book of Mormon. They never act like "old world" horses. They are often treated as a foodstuff. This might match some other animal quite well. The author has here proven the Book of Mormon advocates' point. | ||
− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Animals]] |
* {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:Horses}} | * {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:Horses}} | ||
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*No source given. | *No source given. | ||
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====173==== | ====173==== | ||
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* Dee Green said in 1973 that Book of Mormon archaeology does not exist | * Dee Green said in 1973 that Book of Mormon archaeology does not exist | ||
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*{{SourceDistortion}}: Green argued—''in 1969''—that the requisite work had not been done (the author also gets the date wrong by four years). | *{{SourceDistortion}}: Green argued—''in 1969''—that the requisite work had not been done (the author also gets the date wrong by four years). | ||
* [[Becoming Gods/Use of sources/Dee F. Green on Book of Mormon archaeology|Dee F. Green on Book of Mormon archaeology]] | * [[Becoming Gods/Use of sources/Dee F. Green on Book of Mormon archaeology|Dee F. Green on Book of Mormon archaeology]] | ||
* It is telling that the author must resort to a source that is 35 years old. A more current assessment is available: | * It is telling that the author must resort to a source that is 35 years old. A more current assessment is available: | ||
** {{JBMS-14-2-8}} | ** {{JBMS-14-2-8}} | ||
− | *[[Book of Mormon | + | *[[Book of Mormon/Archaeology|Book of Mormon archaeology]] |
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*{{CitationError}}: Dee F. Green, "Book of Mormon Archaeology: The Myths and the Alternatives," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' 4:71-80 (1973). | *{{CitationError}}: Dee F. Green, "Book of Mormon Archaeology: The Myths and the Alternatives," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' 4:71-80 (1973). | ||
* The correct citation is: {{Dialogue1|author=Dee F. Green|article=Book of Mormon Archaeology: The Myths and the Alternatives|date=Summer 1969|vol=4|num=3|start=72-80}} | * The correct citation is: {{Dialogue1|author=Dee F. Green|article=Book of Mormon Archaeology: The Myths and the Alternatives|date=Summer 1969|vol=4|num=3|start=72-80}} | ||
* {{CrossRef:Abanes:Becoming Gods|pages=66, 362n88}} | * {{CrossRef:Abanes:Becoming Gods|pages=66, 362n88}} | ||
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====175==== | ====175==== | ||
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* "Book of Mormon archaeology" has yielded little credible evidence | * "Book of Mormon archaeology" has yielded little credible evidence | ||
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* If the author is going to cite these sources, he needs to engage their evidence, not simply declare it not credible. | * If the author is going to cite these sources, he needs to engage their evidence, not simply declare it not credible. | ||
− | * [[Book of Mormon | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Archaeology]] |
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*John E. Clark, [http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Book_of_Mormon_Geography "Book of Mormon Geography,"] ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' (1992). | *John E. Clark, [http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Book_of_Mormon_Geography "Book of Mormon Geography,"] ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' (1992). | ||
*Hugh W. Nibley, ''An Approach to the Book of Mormon'' (1964). | *Hugh W. Nibley, ''An Approach to the Book of Mormon'' (1964). | ||
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*Bruce W. Warren, Review of F. Richard Hauck, ''Deciphering the Geography of the Book of Mormon: Settlements and Routes in Ancient America'', and John L. Sorenson, ''An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon'' in ''BYU Studies'' 30:127 (1990). | *Bruce W. Warren, Review of F. Richard Hauck, ''Deciphering the Geography of the Book of Mormon: Settlements and Routes in Ancient America'', and John L. Sorenson, ''An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon'' in ''BYU Studies'' 30:127 (1990). | ||
*David J. Johnson, [http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Archaeology "Archaeology"] ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' (1992). | *David J. Johnson, [http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Archaeology "Archaeology"] ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' (1992). | ||
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* The Smithsonian issues a statement that discredits the Book of Mormon | * The Smithsonian issues a statement that discredits the Book of Mormon | ||
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− | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Archaeology/Smithsonian statement]] | |
− | * [[ | + | |authorsources= |
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*Smithsonian Institution. | *Smithsonian Institution. | ||
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====177==== | ====177==== | ||
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* LDS apologists claim that the simplification of the Smithsonian statement indicates that the original statement is now inconsistent with the current knowledge of Mesoamerican archaeology | * LDS apologists claim that the simplification of the Smithsonian statement indicates that the original statement is now inconsistent with the current knowledge of Mesoamerican archaeology | ||
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− | * [[ | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Archaeology/Smithsonian statement]] |
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*Sorenson critique, 1995. | *Sorenson critique, 1995. | ||
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====177==== | ====177==== | ||
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* There is little evidence of a cultural link between Polynesia and the Americas. A linguistic link between a South American variety and Polynesian variety of sweet potato is not yet explained. | * There is little evidence of a cultural link between Polynesia and the Americas. A linguistic link between a South American variety and Polynesian variety of sweet potato is not yet explained. | ||
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* It is not necessarily reasonable to expect much of a cultural link if a small group (e.g., Hagoth) entered the larger Pacific cultural sphere. | * It is not necessarily reasonable to expect much of a cultural link if a small group (e.g., Hagoth) entered the larger Pacific cultural sphere. | ||
− | * [[Polynesians | + | * [[Book of Mormon/Lamanites/Relationship to Polynesians]] |
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*No source given. | *No source given. | ||
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Chapter 11 | A FAIR Analysis of: Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church A work by author: Simon G. Southerton
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Chapter 13 |
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