To me the book would be a mythical testament to another Jesus.(2 Cor. 11:4) Joseph Smith would simply be a false prophet who lied in claiming the real Jesus spoke through him. To me the sacred allegory idea puts a positive spin on what would be a book inspired not by God, but by man, and maybe Satan. If i did not have MS i would if i accepted that idea be in SLC and Independence passing out tracts to my unsaved persons who still thought Joseph Smiths teachings worth upholding.
To me continuing to say the book is inspired by God would be empty propeganda. I just would not feel good about the book as scripture. I would think it just another spurious book that claimed to be like the Bible.
I saw Anothony Hutchinson in New Approaches to the Book of Mormon as not discrediting Book of Mormon scholarship. One of the scholars he went after Blake Ostler presented sound textual evidences for Book of Mormon antiquity. His type ignore such evidence, so they have nothing to add to the conversation. Yet Anthony said Ostlers only proof for Book of Mormon antiquity came from the book itself. Reading his Dialogue paper presenting his idea the book contains 19th century expansion i noticed his misrepresentation. Such evidence gives me hope the book is a real history of some ancient Americans inspite of problem areas like archeology.
My experience reading Signature Books material on the Book of Mormon has taught be not to trust them. Thomas Murphy's DNA fiaso to me should be embarrassing to him. Yet so many people bought into his research thinking he had disproven the Book of Mormon.
The big problem with the sacred allegory idea is it makes one vulnerable to witnessing sessions. About two days ago i was out studying some of my Anti-Mormon books. I use my LDS scripture set as your Topical Guide outdoes are. and i use my RLDS set to. And this guy tried to witness to me for maybe 30-40 minutes. Because i know their trivia i answered all his questions. He thought me decieved, but i know he would have thought me twice decieved if i had told him the book was just sacred allegory.
The view is ok, but the case for it is horrible. I see it an officially tolerated view in my church. That is ok with me as i am not as militant as i sound. But i just like Blake Ostlers view better. He has a website. In his apologetics section at BlakeOstler.com that has articles on his position. Exploring the 19th century option when you think you have no other option is ok. if it keeps you a Book of Mormon believer then great. But i see many more Ex-Book of Mormon believers created by it than saved as believers.
FAIR is working on a new DVD responding to Living Hope Ministries Bible vs. the Book of Mormon. It i am guessing may be out for sale later this year. Video clips from it can be watched online at FAIR Wiki. In the Table of contents under i think FAIR Projects at the top it has a link to its You Tube Channel. Book of Mormon Anachronisms section has brief clips from it covering the topics in the articles.
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