Corey Harper World religions MWF class 8-8:50 WORLD VIEW !

ER In "#is paper I $ill %e "al&ing a%o'" (y $orld )ie$ and $#y I #old i"* I only #old (y +$orld )ie$+ %eca'se I" $as (y o$n decision and i ca(e "o "#e concl'sion %y (ysel, and no" o, "#e in,l'ence o, o"#ers* !l"#o'g# (os" o, (y ,a(ily #old "#is sa(e )ie$- I ,eel no one can li)e o,, o, "#eir paren"s or so(e o"#er persons "es"i(ony and "#a" i" is so(e"#ing "#a" one ('s" gain ,or "#e(sel)es* .#e $orld )ie$ i #old is .#e C#'rc# O, /es's C#ris" o, La""er Day 0ain"s- $#ic# (os" people &no$ as "#e Mor(ons* I gre$ 'p in a ,a(ily "#a" #as al$ays ,ollo$ed "#is )ie$ %'" i 1e)er al$ays ,ollo$ed i"* I $en" "o c#'rc# and "#ings only %eca'se (y paren"s (ade (e* I" $asn2" 'n"il a,"er i (o)ed o'" ,or a year and #ad "i(e "o "#in& "#ings "#ro'g# ,or (ysel, "#a" i did (y searc#ing* I #a)e loo&ed in"o o"#er c#'rc#3s and in "#e end i $as a%le "o co(e "o ,ind o'" $#y (y paren"s so s"rongly $an"ed (e "o con"in'e in "#is )ie$* One o, (any "#ings "#a" #as #elped (e "o co(e &no$ "#a" "#is c#'rc# is "r'e is "#e %oo& called 4.#e 5oo& o, Mor(on6* I"3s a %oo& )ery si(ilar "o "#e 5i%le especially in "#a" i" is ano"#er "es"a(en" o, /es's C#ris"* I" li&e "#e 5i%le is cen"ered on /es's C#ris" and #is "eac#ings* In o'r c#'rc# $e 'se %o"# "#e 5i%le and .#e %oo& o, Mor(on* We %elie)e "#e 5i%le "o %e "#e $ord o, 7od as ,ar as i" is "ransla"ed correc"ly- "#a" %eing "#e case %eca'se "#ere are so (any di,,eren" "ransla"ions o, "#e %i%le and so (any "#ings #a)e %een c#anged or al"ered %y (an "#ro'g# o'" "i(e "o ,i" "#ere o$n greedy desires* !lso "#ro'g# "ransla"ion "#ings #a)e %een ei"#er le," o'" or (is"ransla"ed* What is your evidence that such changes have been made? And why is translation a problem, when we can go back to the original Greek and Hebrew? Firs"- yo' &no$ c#anges #a)e %een (ade %eca'se o, "#a" ,ac" "#a" "#ere are so (any di,,eren" %i%les* 8ing 9a(es )ersion- ne$ $orld "ransla"ion- s"andardi:ed- e"c* I #a)e read a co'ple di,,eren" 5i%les and "#e di,,erence in eac# can %e ;'ie" as"o'nding %eca'se "#e c#ange in e)en a co(a can c#ange "#e $#ole (eaning o, a )erse* One error in "#e %i%le "#a" I &no$ o, o,, "#e "op o, (y #ead is in ac"s <:= and ac"s >>:<* I"s pa'l "elling #is con)ersion s"ory and in one )erse #e says "#a" "#e people $i"# #i( #eard a )oice %'" sa$ no (an* In "#e o"#er )erse #e says "#e people $i"# #i( 4indeed sa$ "#e lig#"- and $ere a,raid? %'" "#ey #eard no "#e )oice o, #i( "#a" spa&e "o (e*6 We do no" #a)e "#e original %i%le* We only #a)e "ransla"ions o, "#e original %i%le* .#e 5i%le originally $asn3" e)en a %oo&* I" $as (any %oo&s p'" "oge"#er* .#e %i%le $e #a)e no$ is ac"'ally (issing @< di,,eren" %oo&s "#a" are (en"ioned and re,erred "o direc"ly "#ro'g# o'" "#e %i%le* ! co'ple %eing 4%oo& o, "#e $ars o, "#e Lord6- 4%oo& o, 9as#er6- 4saying o, "#e seers6- e"c* .#e 5i%le is a record or a #is"ory %oo& i, yo' $ill- o, "#e people in /er'sale( and "#ere dealings $i"# 7od and (ainly /es's C#ris" $#en #e ca(e "o ear"#* In "#e 5i%le yo' #ear a%o'" prop#e"s $#o are called o, "o lead 7ods c#'rc# on ear"# s'c# as !da( A"#e )ery ,irs" (an on ear"#B- 1oa#- Moses!%ra#a(*** e"c* 0o(e o, "#ese prop#e"s e)en spo&e "o 7od ,ace "o ,ace- recei)ed )isions o, "#e e"erni"ies- and per,or(ed (any (iracles %eyond "#e capaci"y o, (an* !" a poin" in "#e 5i%le /es's C#ris" $#ic# is %elie)ed "o %e "#e son o, 7od is %orn* W#ile He is on "#e ear"# #e es"a%lis#es #is c#'rc# "#a" god co((anded #i( "o do $#ile #e $as #ere* In "#a" c#'rc# li&e al$ays #e #ad a prop#e" and "#en #e also ordained or se" apar" "$el)e o"#er (inis"ers $#o $ere "o #elp in "#e leading and g'iding o, "#e c#'rc# and $e call "#e( apos"les* 0o C#ris" es"a%lis#ed #is c#'rc# a(ong (any o"#er grea" "#ings "#a" #e did* There is no leading "prophet" figure mentioned in the ew Testament! "nder #hrist come the Twelve Apostles!

! prop#e" is only necessary $#en C#ris" isn3" "#ere %eca'se i" is C#ris"s c#'rc# so $#en #e is "#ere #e is "#e ac"ing prop#e" or leading prop#e"* .#ere is only need ,or a prop#e" %eca'se C#ris" $asn3" going "o %e on ear"# ,ore)er* .#e prop#e" is 9's" a (o'"# piece ,or "#e Lord and $#en 'nder inspira"ion is doing or ac"ing as C#ris" $o'ld i, #e $as "#ere a" "#a" (o(en"* .#e 5oo& o, Mor(on Is also a record o, a people in ano"#er par" o, "#e $orld* .#is record "a&es place in "#e !(erican con"inen"* In .#e 5oo& o, Mor(on i" "al&s a%o'" $#ere "#ese people ca(e ,ro( and #o$ "#ey go" "o "#e !(erican con"inen"* .#ese people $ere originally ,ro( /er'sale(* .#e %oo& s"ar"s $i"# a ,a"#er o, a ,a(ily $#o is s#o$n a )ision ,ro( 7od a%o'" #o$ /er'sale( is a%o'" "o %e des"royed %eca'se o, i"s $ic&edness and "#a" #e s#o'ld "a&e #is ,a(ily and lea)e and "#a" He A7odB $o'ld g'ide "#e( "o a pro(ised land* .#e ,a(ily le," and e)en"'ally $as g'ided across "#e ocean "o "#e !(erican con"inen" $#ic# is par"ly $#ere a lo" o, "#e Indian3s ca(e ,ro( $#en Col'(%'s arri)ed* .#is all #appened a" a%o'" "#e "i(e /ere(ia# "#e %i%lical prop#e" so a%o'" C00 5*C* !nd "#e %oo& con"in'es "o a%o'" D00 !*D* .#e (os" i(por"an" e)en" in .#e 5oo& o, Mor(on is $#en /es's C#ris" #i(sel, appears "o "#e people o)er in "#a" side o, "#e $orld and also es"a%lis#ed #is c#'rc# "#ere $i"# a prop#e" and "$el)e apos"les 9's" li&e in "#e 5i%le* He also "eac#es "#e( "#e sa(e gospel and i" is $ri""en %o"# in "#e %i%le and in "#e 5oo& o, Mor(on* I"s "#ings li&e "#ese and (any (ore o"#ers in "#ese "$o %oo&s "#a" s#o$ "#ey %o"# "es"i,y "#a" /es's C#ris" really $as "#e son o, 7od and #as only one "r'e c#'rc# on "#e ear"# $#ic# is $#y #e es"a%lis#ed "#e eEac" sa(e one on "#e o"#er side o, "#e $orld* How do you know that any of this is true? How do you know that any of this is really true, and that the $ook of %ormon was not made up by &oseph 'mith or had some other non(divine source? 0piri"'ally #o$ I &no$ i" is "r'e- is %y "#e #oly spiri"* In "#e %oo& o, Mor(on i" "ells #o$ $e can co(e "o &no$ i" is "r'e %y as&ing god direc"ly and "#e #oly spiri" $ill "es"i,y "o yo' "#a" i" is "r'e* In "#e %i%le in 7ala"ians 5:>> and >F* I" says 45'" "#e ,r'i" o, "#e spiri" is lo)e- 9oy- peace- longs',,ereinggen"leness- goodness- ,ai"#- (ee&ness- "e(perance: agains" s'c# "#ere is no la$*6 .#ose ,eeling are "#e ,eelings yo' ,eel $#en yo' are ,eeling "#e spiri"* Go' don3" generally ,eel "#e( all a" once %'" any"i(e yo'r ,eeling one o, "#ose ,eelings yo'r ,eeling "#e spiri"* 7od canno" lie and "#e spiri" canno" lie* I &no$ "#is is all "r'e %eca'se I #a)e prayed and i"s no" li&e I go" (y ans$er in "#e ,irs" "i(e o, praying* ! "es"i(ony doesn3" %'ild o)er nig#"* I recei)ed (y ans$er "#ro'g# searc#ing- s"'dy and prayer* I co'ld gi)e yo' so(e e)idences "#a" /osep# $as inspired "o "ransla"e "#e 5oo& o, Mor(on s'c# as "#a" #e didn3" #a)e an ed'ca"ion any #ig#er "#an a D"# or 5"# grader- (ay%e e)en less* He "ransla"ed "#e $#ole %oo& in 9's" (ore "#an > (on"#s $i"# li""le "i(e d'ring "#ose "$o (on"#s "o do so %eca'se people $ere "rying "o &ill #i( a(ong o"#er "#ings* 4I, #e did $ri"e i" or (a&e i" 'p A$#ic# is i(possi%le $i"# "#e ed'ca"ion "#a" #e #adB- "#en #e $ro"e 5D c#ap"ers dealing $i"# $ars- >@ #is"orical c#ap"ers- and 55 c#ap"ers on )isions and prop#ecies* .#e prop#ecies and )isions agree (e"ic'lo'sly $i"# "#e 5i%le* He $ro"e =@ c#ap"ers on doc"rine and eE#or"a"ion again agreeing in e)ery $ay $i"# "#e 5i%le* He $ro"e >@ c#ap"ers on "#e (inis"ry o, C#ris" all o, $#ic# agree $i"# "#e ne$ "es"a(en"* In all o, "#is #e e(ployed ,ig'res o, speec#- si(iles- (e"ap#ors- narra"ions- eEposi"ion- descrip"ion- ora"ory- epic- lyric- logic- and para%les* !ll o, "#a" $i"# no sc#ooling or ed'ca"ion and so(e o, "#e %es" s"'den"s and sc#olars #a)e %een "rying "o pro)e ,ro( "#e %i%le "#a" "#e %oo& o, Mor(on is ,alse- %'" no" one o, "#e( #as %een a%le "o pro)e "#a" any"#ing #e $ro"e $as no" in s"ric" #ar(ony $i"# "#e %i%le and "#e $ord o, 7od* A ro,ile o, a prop#e"- %y H'g# 5* 5ro$nB

I" see(s ;'i"e logical "#a" 7od $o'ld only #a)e one c#'rc# on "#e ear"#* W#y are "#ere so (any c#'rc#3s "#o'g#H I, yo' read "#e 5i%le and .#e 5oo& o, Mor(on yo' $ill al$ays %e reading a%o'" so(e o"#er people or so(e o"#er person "rying "o des"roy 7ods c#'rc# and lead "#e people in i" as"ray* Many "i(es "#ese people &ill "#e rop#e" o, "#e c#'rc#* .#ere $ere (any "i(es $#en so (any people $ere re9ec"ing and &illing "#e prop#e"s "#a" 7od $o'ld go a "i(e $i"# o'" "#ere e)en %eing a prop#e" on "#e ear"# %eca'se "#ey $o'ld 9's" ge" &illed and no one $o'ld lis"en* W#en so(e"#ing li&e "#is #appens $e call i" an apos"asy* I"s (ainly d'ring "#ose "i(es "#a" o"#er c#'rc#3s are crea"ed %y (en $#e"#er i"s %eca'se o, a persons good in"en"ion %'" lac& o, &no$ledge or co(('nica"ion $i"# god- or $#e"#er i"s 9's" so(eones sel,is# reasons "rying "o lead people as"ray and "ry "o ge" gain $i"#o'" a "#o'g#" "o$ards 7od* O"#ers 9's" (a&e 'p gods and "#ings "o $ors#ip* W#en /es's C#ris" $as on ear"# Many people re9ec"ed #i( as "#e son o, 7od and re9ec"ed "#e c#'rc# #e #ad es"a%lis#ed* .#a" is $#y "#ey cr'ci,ied #i( and la"er a,"er &illed o,, "#e apos"les* I" $as a,"er "#is "i(e "#a" $e call "#e 7rea" apos"asy and "#a" is %eca'se 7od didn3" call any prop#e"s ,or a )ery long "i(e %eca'se o, "#e $ic&edness* .#is is $#ere (os" o, "#e c#ris"ian c#'rc#3s and (any o"#er c#'rc#3s yo' see "oday co(e ,ro(* ! lo" o, "#e( $ere (ade $i"# good in"en"ion and again o"#ers ,or #e sel,is# gain %'" (os" i(por"an" o, all- none o, "#e( #ad "#e a'"#ori"y "o (a&e "#e c#'rc# %eca'se none o, "#e( $ere called o, 7od* !'"#ori"y is "#e &ey* !'"#ori"y is $#a" co(es ,ro( 7od (eaning "#a" #e "old yo' "o es"a%lis# #is c#'rc# or "o %e a prop#e" ,or #is c#'rc#* Wi"# o'" 7ods li"eral $ord A%eing called o, %y 7odB- no (a""er #o$ good "#e in"en"ions are- "#e c#'rc# is no" a "r'e c#'rc# o, 7od* What is your evidence for all of this? ot everyone accepts your description of history, including the people who were actually there! #heck out, for e)ample, the book Against Heresiesby *renaeus, a bishop of the church at around +,- A.! He didn/t notice any Great Apostasy going on, but rather testifies to the opposite! In !(os c#ap"er 8:@@-@> #e prop#esies a%o'" a grea" apos"asy and i" says- @@ I5e#old- "#e days co(esai"# "#e Lord 7od- "#a" I $ill send a ,a(ine in "#e land- no" a ,a(ine o, %read- nor a "#irs" ,or $a"er%'" o, #earing "#e $ords o, "#e Lord: @> !nd "#ey s#all $ander ,ro( sea "o sea- and ,ro( "#e nor"# e)en "o "#e eas"- "#ey s#all r'n "o and ,ro "o see& "#e $ord o, "#eLord- and s#all no" ,ind it. I"s a pa""ern in "#e %i%le "#a" prop#e"s #a)e al$ays %een called o, %y 7od and so(e o, "#e "i(e ,ace "o ,ace $i"# 7od* In "#e @8>03s in "#e eas"ern side o, !(erica in al(yra 1e$ Gor& "#ere $as a lo" o, religio's eEci"e(en" %eca'se o, all o, "#e religio's ,reedo( "#ere* !nyone co'ld %elie)e $#a" "#ey $an"ed and #o$ "#ey $an"ed and no one co'ld do any"#ing a%o'" i"* .#is also ca'sed a pro%le( in "#e ,ac" "#a" "#ere $ere so (any c#'rc#es "#a" #o$ $o'ld yo' %e a%le "o &no$ $#ic# one is "#e "r'e c#'rc# o, 7odH I a( s're (any people #ad "#is ;'es"ion on "#eir (ind* .#ere $as one %oy in par"ic'lar $#o #ad "#is ;'es"ion on #is (ind and #is na(e $as /osep# 0(i"#* He $as a @D year old %oy $i"# a religio's ,a(ily $#ic# i"sel, $as di)ided a(ongs" > di,,eren" deno(ina"ions* He si(ply $an"ed "o &no$ $#ic# c#'rc# $as "r'e* He #ad read "#e 5i%le and &ne$ "#a" "#e only $ay "o &no$ ,or s're $as "o as& god* 0're #e #ad done i" %e,ore %'" "#is "i(e #e se" o'" a speci,ic spo" o'" in "#e $oods no" "o ,ar ,ro( #is #o(e "#a" #e $o'ld as& god )ocally $#a" c#'rc# $as #is "r'e c#'rc# so "#a" #e co'ld ,ollo$ i" and %e sa)ed* One (orning #e $en" "o "#is gro)e o, "rees "#a" #e #ad se" o'" and %egan "o pray speci,ically as&ing $#ic# c#'rc# i, any o, "#e( $ere 7ods "r'e c#'rc#* 0o(e"#ing "#a" #e did no" eEpec" #appened* 7od and /es's C#ris" "#e res'rrec"ed %eing appeared in ,ron" o, #i( in a glory so %rig#" "#a" i" $as %rig#"er "#an "#e s'n a" (id day* !" "#is (o(en" 7od and /es's C#ris" "old /osep# 0(i"# "#a" none o, "#e c#'rc#es on "#e ear"# $ere #is "r'e c#'rc# %'" "#a" #is c#'rc# $o'ld soon %e es"a%lis#ed on "#e ear"# once again and ,or "#e las" "i(e %e,ore C#ris" $o'ld co(e again "o cleanse "#e

ear"#* /osep# a" "#is "i(e didn3" &no$ "#a" #e $o'ld %e called as a prop#e"* He 9's" &ne$ "#a" 7od said no" "o 9oin any o, "#e c#'rc#es* La"er $#en #e $as a li""le older- /osep# 0(i"# $as g'ided "o an ancien" record %y an angel sen" ,ro( 7od* He $as co((anded "o "ransla"e "#e "eE" in"o "#e %oo& $e #a)e no$ called .#e 5oo& o, Mor(on* He #ad less &no$ledge and ed'ca"ion "#an anyone "oday #ad in ele(en"ary sc#ool* He #ad "o "ransla"e i" $i"# "#e gi," and po$er o, 7od* .#a" $ay "#ere co'ld %e no (is"a&es and errors li&e #o$ "#e 5i%le #ad so(e $#en i" &ep" ge""ing re "ransla"ed o)er and o)er* /ospe# $as e)en"'ally called as a prop#e" 5y 7od #i(sel, and Re-es"a%lis#ed His "r'e c#'rc# %ac& on "#e ear"#- "#e eEac" sa(e one C#ris" se" 'p $#en #e $as #ere a%o'" >000 years ago* O'r c#'rc# #as a prop#e" and "$el)e apos"les 9's" li&e "#en* E)ery"#ing else is "#e eEac" sa(e* .#e only $ay I co'ld co(e "o &no$ "#is $as all "r'e $as "o as& 7od (y sel,* In "#e in"rod'c"ion "o "#e 5oo& o, Mor(on and in "#e las" c#ap"er o, "#e %oo& I" in)i"e e)eryone "o read "#e %oo& and ponder i" in "#eir #ear"s i, i" is "r'e and "#en "o as& 7od $i"# real in"en" A(eaning "#a" yo' $ill ac" 'pon "#e ans$erB* .#ere is a pro(ise "#a" i, yo' do so "#a" 7od $ill le" yo' &no$ %y "#e po$er o, "#e Holy 0piri" "#a" i" is "r'e* .#a" is #o$ I ca(e "o &no$ "#a" "#is is 7ods only "r'e c#'rc# on ear"#* 1o one else co'ld do "#a" ,or (e and "#e $ay 7od le" (e &no$ is a "#ing I canno" e)er ,orge"* E)ery"#ing said in "#is paper and (any o"#er "#ings are $#a" lead (e "o as&ing god "o $#e"#er "#is c#'rc# is "r'e and "#a"3s #o$ I ,o'nd (y 4World Vie$6*