Introduction
The question of whether Joseph Smith bore the infirmities of others is one that appears to bare significant amount of misrepresentation from a critic of the LDS faith. This recent example comes from Michelle, an active contributor at the Life After Ministries blog, who published a post concerning a quote taken from the "Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith." In her critique, she references Isaiah 53:1-5, which deals with the Messianic prophecy of Christ bearing our sins and infirmities. Michelle briefly mentions some Old Testament prophets and their weaknesses and ends her post with a passive-aggressive statement: "you decide," subtly begging the question, "Were they [the Old Testament Prophets] more concerned about their sex life or God, and the lives of their countrymen?"
When critics like Michelle claim to use "official LDS Church publications and resources," they often do so selectively, cherry-picking quotes without checking their full context. This tactic aims to instill doubt by suggesting a narrative that seems unassailable because of its supposed reliance on official sources. However, what they frequently avoid is encouraging readers to verify these claims. The assumption is that if it comes from an official LDS source, it must be unquestionable, right?
Michelle and Life After Ministries fall into this pattern of intellectual dishonesty. By promoting half-truths and creating strawman arguments, their critiques are designed to deceive and manipulate rather than inform. It is unlikely they will admit to these deceptive practices because it would require acknowledging that they operate under a spirit of deception.
Michelle's failure is evident in multiple ways. She cherry-picks evidence, creates a strawman argument, and uses a passive-aggressive ad hominem attack on Joseph Smith. Most critically, she neglects to verify her secondary source thoroughly. The "Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith" offer a different understanding of the quote when examined in its entirety. By not doing this, Michelle presents a false dilemma, misleading those who take her arguments at face value.
In my experience through years of apologetic studies, research, and discussions, I've found that examining the full context of church history, doctrines, and teachings of the LDS faith paints a much more accurate picture. The call to investigate and understand these teachings is crucial. Critics who fail to engage fully with the primary sources often reveal more about their biases than about the subjects they aim to critique.
No comments:
Post a Comment