Sterling Allan's Take on the Book of Mormon -- Feb. 8, 2010

In response to the question: Hey what are your beliefs towards the Book of Mormon? I'm curious. :)

Hi Zac,

I'm not sure.

Of course I used to buy the whole story, but since I've stepped back from the whole religion thing for a long time, reexamining all my beliefs, I don't really buy the full BofM story line. It doesn't jive very well with actual history. There were a lot of people living on this continent, with a range of origins, legends, and genetic markers. I don't buy that the Lehites were the sole source of human origin through that time, which is how it is portrayed in the BofM.

I can't help but think that its a sort of "inspired novel", as a composite of the pre-Columbian history.

It definitely has the fingerprints of inspiration deeply embedded.

But it also has some fingerprints of Joseph Smith in some not-so-inspired moments.

Here's the work I've done on the subject in days past, before the above reflections.
http://www.greaterthings.com/Book_of_Mormon/Book_of_Mormon.htm  

I've known JJ Dewey for nearly a decade now, and I'm quite sure he's Joseph Smith, with a different twist this time around (I've thought that early on within a year or two of first meeting). Still pushing the envelope. Still writing inspired novels -- fictionalized portrayals of true principles.
http://www.greaterthings.com/JJDewey/  

I can relate to the approach because I too set out to begin writing such a novel once, back in around 1997, a few years before meeting JJ. In it, I met "Ephraim", who had been like John the Beloved, never tasting of death.

Sterling

See also