Ancient Scripture Provides Answers to Modern Critics

Okay, so earlier this morning, I wrote the previous post, http://cougarabogado.blogspot.com/2010/12/modern-computing-set-to-enter-matrix-as.html.

I commented, near the end of that post, that I feel apprehensive about what man will do with such massive improvements in technology.  Moreover, we can see how man has already begun to make relativistic arguments that God is a figment of man's imagination and that sin is simply a misnomer, or rather, "the effect of a frenzied mind."

Answers to modern critics

I think you'll find it interesting to note, ironically, that nearly identical arguments were made over two thousand years ago!  (So much for man having evolved into a much "smarter" creature, since that time.)  In fact, I found myself reading about them, this morning, for my daily scripture study, in the Book of Mormon.

Here are some of the arguments made by an ancient (to us, "modern" to himself), "scientific" philosopher:

13O ye that are bound down under a ^afoolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can ^bknow of anything which is to come.

 14Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.

 15How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not ^asee; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.

 16Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a ^afrenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so.

 17And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man ^afared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and^bwhatsoever a man did was ^cno crime.

 18And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof.

(Alma 30: 13-18).  Sound familiar?  I strongly encourage you to read pages 214-16 of the latest Book of Mormon study companion.  There, you'll find "modern" comparisons to this man (Korihor)'s teachings and answers to his challenges.

Indeed, man may be advancing in computing potential by leaps and bounds, yet some of his foolish arguments against the existence of God and sin have been parroted for millennia.

I'm so grateful our Heavenly Father foresaw these evil philosophies (see, e.g., Doctrine & Covenants 89: 4) and provided us with divine scripture, almost 200 years ago, to combat them and protect our families against them.