04-30-2008, 03:31 AM | #51 |
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you are saying that archaeology, kind of like literary criticism, is an argument.
You find poo in a cave. It has evidence of a lot of fish being eaten. So they conclude that people of this probably ate lots of fish. That's a reasonable conclusion. Unless it's that just these few people liked fish, and everyone else ate hamburgers. Can you imagine excavating my house 1000 years from now? I wonder what the conclusions would be. |
04-30-2008, 03:40 AM | #52 | ||
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(Oh yeah, I know . . . in order to get next year's grant money.) I know an archaeologist who found out on the last two days of the season's dig that his stratigraphy was all jacked up because the site was bulldozed in the 1960s, and so his findings were basically useless. He couldn't admit that he had wasted a whole year, because his funding would dry up. So, he literally made stuff up and published it. A good friend of mine left his program and dig and refused to be associated with the project. He had to find a new career. The archaeologist is still digging.
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04-30-2008, 04:10 AM | #53 |
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I'm still chuckling to myself about the "self-styled DNA expert" and "protege of Hartman Rector Jr." (no less) hired by the stake president to make a presentation on how Book of Mormon peoples lived around the Great Lakes. If laughing is healthy that gem extended my life by a few months. It's worthy of a Tom Wolfe novel.
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Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster Last edited by SeattleUte; 04-30-2008 at 04:20 AM. |
04-30-2008, 02:18 PM | #54 | |
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The day will come Brother Adam that many will appreciate your maverick ways to rectify the LDS Church. Presently many might think you are an arrogant self inflated blowhard, myself included, but since Cougarguard is most likely your only escape and since those of us here, sans ex-ute and Tex, certainly could not be considered "the beautiful people" a sychophant you are not and by damn being a man of the people is the one thing I appreciate most about you. Regardless none of this stops me from thanking you for the change that I know in my heart of hearts your efforts will one day bring to pass. God bless.
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She had a psychiatrist who said because I didn't trust the water system, the school system, the government, I was paranoid," he said. "I had a psychiatrist who said her psychiatrist was stupid." |
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04-30-2008, 02:27 PM | #55 | |
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I have always been taught and believed that doctrine influences behavior. To me that means whatever motivates one to following Christ and seeking his will is in effect, true doctrine. If somebody wants to believe that Abraham was about to lop off Isaac's head until the angel came in like the A team, so be it. If somebody wants to believe Job is totally mythical, so be it. What matters is how that belief causes the individual to seek to do the will of Christ. Perhaps I am wrong, but where the LDS Church must stay Mormon-Heavy is in the practical application of faith, which is lifestyle. That which motivates the practical application has plenty of wiggle room, IMO.
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She had a psychiatrist who said because I didn't trust the water system, the school system, the government, I was paranoid," he said. "I had a psychiatrist who said her psychiatrist was stupid." |
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04-30-2008, 02:34 PM | #56 |
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GN, that's not what I am speaking to. I am speaking to Protestant churches who have committed suicide by becoming Protestant-lite.
For that matter, Catholics have severely diminished in numbers as well, though I am less certain about the causes in their case. |
04-30-2008, 02:35 PM | #57 |
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04-30-2008, 02:43 PM | #58 |
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Sometimes hopes and expectations when confronted with reality are hard to deal with. Different people choose different methods to deal with the dashed expectations. Some accept them, some are in denial about them and some become angry and lash out.
It is my humble opinion that what you see at General Conference or in Sacrament Meeting is an expectation. A what it should be, if you will. Talks about families being together forever. Admonishment to the youth to marry in the Temple and all will be well. As I sat with a former Bishop of mine at the back of the room in Sacrament meeting one time at a fast and testimonial meeting, I expressed shock at hearing the best Priesthood teacher I ever had and his wife were getting divorced. The Bishop said he had been planning it for 5 years, as soon as his youngest was out of the house. She had slept upstairs and he downstairs for 5 years. He told me what you see here in Sacrament meeting is a fascade. These are real people with real problems. I don't find that disheartening. My expectation of perfection amongst the Saints was dashed long ago and I have dealt with it in my own way. That is why when someone criticizes one of the brethern, I don't have a pavlovian reaction to defend and fight back. President Monson encouraged the inactives to come back. From my perspective it would have been nice if he would have also encouraged the so called actives not to pounce on them and bring them back into the false level of "all is well" as long as you are here with us. |
04-30-2008, 02:49 PM | #59 |
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So BYU71, are you going to die alone with no helpmate?
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04-30-2008, 02:53 PM | #60 |
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