Artists frequently speak of being inspired by something beyond. And in fact he was a fan fiction writer too, because the book of mormon is nothing if not bible fan fiction. Why does the book of mormon mention a lake of fire and brimstone. Perhaps there is something different now, of course, in that some who have rejected joseph smiths account of the book of mormon may be more eager to maintain belief in. The book of mormon as inspired fiction the millennial star. The title of stephen smoot s article refuting the inspired fiction theory, the imperative for a historical book of mormon, succinctly expresses the thesis of his article and the general problem that many apologists have with the inspired fiction theory.
Did coming to believe realize the book of mormon was only inspired fiction not a literal history cause you to reduce your efforts to study it in any. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon, directed him in the 1820s to a hill near his home in palmyra, new york where the plates were buried. While arguments over the historicity of the book of mormon seem to have more at stake to. For me the key question is neither history the side i tend toward or fiction, but rather inspired or uninspired. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The imperative for a historical book of mormon the interpreter. Bunyan for inspiration to write the book of mormon is fraught not only for.
As early as 1831, eber howe, in his antimormon book mormonism. Our familyfriendly fiction books are for any book lover. The grounding of latterday saint faith and practice rests, in an inextricable measure, on the historicity of the book of mormon and the attending events surrounding the restoration. I believe that the book is inspired fiction, meaning that we can find.
Another proponent of the inspired fiction theory for the book of mormon has claimed that joseph smith utilized vast amounts of reworked. According to this view, god revealed a fictional tale of the nephites to joseph smith in. If you look at the book of mormon as his lord of the rings, the rest of his theology is. Some latterday saints insist that the book of mormon can be inspired fiction and still be scripture. Despite expeditions financed by the mormon church, archaeologists have concluded the book of mormon is not historical but a work of fiction. The inspired fiction theory, therefore, is little more than a refuge for those who have merely assumed that the book of mormon cannot possibly be an authentic. Why is the book of mormons historical authenticity so important. This theory does not require all of the book of mormon to be inspired, but allows for the possibility of god inspiring smith at certain points as he was reading subconscious projections in.
To read the book of mormon as inspired fiction is not only to violently wrest it out of both its ancient and modern sitz im leben, but is also to effectively neuter its theology. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. A nonhistorical view of the book of mormon mormon matters. Since no archaeological finds support the book of mormon, we can calculate the probability of the book of mormon being creative fiction or potentially a myth. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 600 bc to ad 421. The book of mormon as inspired fiction posted on february 1, 2011 by bruce nielson not long ago i did a reprint of a mormon matters post where i asked people if they would regularly study inspired fiction. Deseret books collection of fiction books has several clean fiction books for the family. What are you doing of significance today that will matter threehundredmillion years from now. The smithsonian institute in a letter to the mormon church states, the smithsonian institution has never used the book of mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Ive never read a book or article, fiction or nonfiction, that explains whats going through those cleancut elders minds as they shuffle dutifully from.
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