How True do you think the Book of Mormon is?

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I knew nothing about Mormons when I watched Thor Hydahl's reed boat traverse the ocean. That was fascinating to me. Although Thor did not prove the Eygyptian crossed the ocean, he showed it could have been done by boats of that genre.

For many years Hyerdahl was a sort of an LDS demigod. Apparently he still is, to Indy. Here's what at least Wikipedia says about his legacy:

"Owing to poor scholarship, coupled to a lack of scientific methodology in his undertakings, much of Heyerdahl's life work is controversial. Serious scholars see a lack of necessary caution in Heyerdahl's conclusions and theories, as well as contempt for previous, less sensational, scholarly work on the same issues. Therefore he is not considered a serious scientist, but an adventurer in intellectual circles worldwide.

"Nevertheless, on the positive side, it can be said that Heyerdahl's books served to inspire several generations of readers. He introduced young people to the arid fields of archaeology and ethnology by making them attractive through his colorful adventures. This Norwegian adventurer often broke the bounds of conventional thinking and was unapologetic for doing so. 'Boundaries?', he is quoted as asking, 'I have never seen one but I hear that they exist in the minds of most people.'"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_Heyerdahl

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

For many years Hyerdahl was a sort of an LDS demigod. Apparently he still is, to Indy. Here's what at least Wikipedia says about his legacy:

"Owing to poor scholarship, coupled to a lack of scientific methodology in his undertakings, much of Heyerdahl's life work is controversial. Serious scholars see a lack of necessary caution in Heyerdahl's conclusions and theories, as well as contempt for previous, less sensational, scholarly work on the same issues. Therefore he is not considered a serious scientist, but an adventurer in intellectual circles worldwide.

"Nevertheless, on the positive side, it can be said that Heyerdahl's books served to inspire several generations of readers. He introduced young people to the arid fields of archaeology and ethnology by making them attractive through his colorful adventures. This Norwegian adventurer often broke the bounds of conventional thinking and was unapologetic for doing so. 'Boundaries?', he is quoted as asking, 'I have never seen one but I hear that they exist in the minds of most people.'"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_Heyerdahl

I don't give a crap about Thor Heyerdahl. The significance is the nearly identical constructs of their reed boats.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

For many years Hyerdahl was a sort of an LDS demigod. Apparently he still is, to Indy. Here's what at least Wikipedia says about his legacy:

"Owing to poor scholarship, coupled to a lack of scientific methodology in his undertakings, much of Heyerdahl's life work is controversial. Serious scholars see a lack of necessary caution in Heyerdahl's conclusions and theories, as well as contempt for previous, less sensational, scholarly work on the same issues. Therefore he is not considered a serious scientist, but an adventurer in intellectual circles worldwide.

"Nevertheless, on the positive side, it can be said that Heyerdahl's books served to inspire several generations of readers. He introduced young people to the arid fields of archaeology and ethnology by making them attractive through his colorful adventures. This Norwegian adventurer often broke the bounds of conventional thinking and was unapologetic for doing so. 'Boundaries?', he is quoted as asking, 'I have never seen one but I hear that they exist in the minds of most people.'"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_Heyerdahl

When was he a hero for Mormons?

I have not seen him mentioned. I liked him, as a kid, when I wasn't LDS. Was he LDS?

He just seemed to have some cool adventures, that was all.

[All-American]

Originally Posted by Archaea

When was he a hero for Mormons?

I have not seen him mentioned. I liked him, as a kid, when I wasn't LDS. Was he LDS?

He just seemed to have some cool adventures, that was all.

The LDS apparently also revere a prophecy Thomas Jefferson made about the restoration. I learn more things from SU . . .

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Archaea

When was he a hero for Mormons?

I have not seen him mentioned. I liked him, as a kid, when I wasn't LDS. Was he LDS?

He just seemed to have some cool adventures, that was all.

When I was a missionary a major portion of the discusisons was adapted from his theories.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

When I was a missionary a major portion of the discusisons was adapted from his theories.

I am sure most current missionaries have never heard of him.

I served from 80-82 and never heard of the guy on my mission. Didn't know much about him until I visited the museum in Oslo a few years back.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

I am sure most current missionaries have never heard of him.

I served from 80-82 and never heard of the guy on my mission. Didn't know much about him until I visited the museum in Oslo a few years back.

You were right after me. You just thought you didn't know about his theories. Read the Wiki article I posted. He started all that stuff about aborigines thinking Europeans were white gods returning. If you showed Christ in America, Ancient America Speaks, etc., you were teaching stuff adapted from Hyerdahl.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

You were right after me. You just thought you didn't know about his theories. Read the Wiki article I posted. He started all that stuff about aborigines thinking Europeans were white gods returning. If you showed Christ in America, Ancient America Speaks, etc., you were teaching stuff adapted from Hyerdahl.

Boy, are you on a roll lately. You said:

When I was a missionary a major portion of the discusisons was adapted from his theories.

So the church missionary dept. rewrote the discussions based on his theories? And I was teaching those theories but was just too ignorant to know better?

Wow. And all this time I thought it came from the BOM.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Boy, are you on a roll lately. You said:

When I was a missionary a major portion of the discusisons was adapted from his theories.

So the church missionary dept. rewrote the discussions based on his theories? And I was teaching those theories but was just too ignorant to know better?

Wow. And all this time I thought it came from the BOM.

That's my point. You thought Quetzaquatl was Christ in America. All that Quetzaquatl stuff came from Hyerdahl.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

That's my point. You thought Quetzaquatl was Christ in America. All that Quetzaquatl stuff came from Hyerdahl.

Prove that by any reasonable standard.

We have pretty good evidence even in the first edition that the BoM taught Christ visited America. It seems as if that seems to substantiate the claim Mormons taught and/or believed Christ came to America before Hyerdahl was born.

Show me the linkage. Or did Hyerdahl hear of LDS claims and create a myth for himself?