Joseph Smith claimed to have had visions which lead him to discover a set of golden plates containing a New Testament of Jesus Christ. Smith translated the plates and got witnesses to testify to their authenticity. Based on this Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism).
In 1950
L. Ron Hubbard published
Dyanetics and subsequently founded Scientology. Hubbard wanted to sell a medical device which was pure quackery. Prosecuted by the government Hubbard changed his claim from "medical" to "religious" and the government let him off the hook. Later in life Hubbard peddled the idea that the universe is ruled by Xenu the Galactic Overlord.
I seriously doubt that many here would dispute the position that Smith and Hubbard were con artists. If they were not then the men among us should have multiple wives and get ourselves hooked up to a voltmeter (at great expense) to get audited.
There's no reason for a thinking person to believe that Mormonism and Scientology are the genuine article. Neither is there any reason to believe that Christianity is genuine either. Mormonism has Smith and Scientology has Hubbard. Through the vale of 2000 years it's harder to tell who was the Smith/Hubbard of Christianity. Perhaps it was some itinerant preacher named Jesus (a common name at the time), or a con man named Saul (also a common name), or a group. Whatever, no matter what age there always seems to be a group gullible enough to believe in a Smith, a Hubbard or a Jesus.
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Originally Posted by boxcar
... However, since Christian conversion (the new birth) is a supernatural act of God, ...
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There you go again, appealing to the supernatural which, of course, cannot be tested.
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Originally Posted by boxcar
... read Israel's history in the OT someday.
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I have. Twice. As I've said before, scripture proves nothing. The OT is not a reliable historical document.
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Originally Posted by boxcar
And, no, I have not come up with my own interpretation.
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Fine. Someone else came up the the interpretation (Calvin?) and you bought it hook, line and sinker. That does not address the question of why there are so many different interpretations.
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Originally Posted by boxcar
God teaches his saints.
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And you think you aced the course.
