Bobzammel

One thing that's always bugged me is that there is no mention of Native Americans in the bible. Notice that none of Noah's descendants seem to settle there. Plus the Bible writers seem to think the whole world consists only of the countries they are aware of...
This also brings up the question of why God didn't allow people to colonize America quicker and convert people, especially since their religious practices probably would offend him(Such as human sacrifice by a few of the major Central American countries).

motorhead

This is covered by the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith wrote that some ancient Israelites came to America and that native Americans are actually descendants of ancient Israelites. He also wrote that after the resurrection of Jesus, Jesus came to America to preach the Gospel.

You're correct that the writers of the Bible did think that the world consisted of the only the countries they knew about. When Paul talks somewhere in the NT about the Gospel being preached to the whole world, he's talking about the world as he knew it, which was basically only the countries around the Middle East.

Azathoth

The Book of Mormon has nothing to do with biblical events,and,indeed,only has meaning to members of that group.

The assertions of Joseph Smith as far as the occupants,technological level,and indigenous fauna of North America,both in the Book of Mormon,as well as the other Smith works,have been proven to be completely false.

While there may be some shreds of accuracy in the bible,as far as the descriptions of a few actual places,and perhaps (considerably) altered versions of some events,there is no legitimacy to the Book of Mormon,except as a work of fiction.

Ed-I apologise if this comes off as sounding a little harsh.I reread it,and I'm certianly not trying to attack you,motorhead.

motorhead

I should've mentioned that I'm not defending the Book of Mormon as being historically accurate. I've just begun studying a bit about Mormonism, specifically the life of Joseph Smith, and I haven't yet dug into the Book of Mormon. I only know the highlights, which includes the information in my first post in this thread.

Azathoth

I rather suspected as much.I apologise if my post came off as being rude.There are numerous sites that deal with the issue of the Book of Mormon,as well as Joe's other assorted writings.

I could point out a few of them that discuss the various problems that the book has with contemporary science,if you are interested.I deleted them from my bookmarks,but they shouldn't be that hard to find.

Javaman

You could also look here if you want.

Vinnie

The latest work of the Christian Canon was probably 2 Peter written about 130 AD. Given the locality and the time period that each of the individual books/epistles of the OT&NT were written in, why would you expect it to discuss Native Americans?

One thing that has always bugged me about Shakespeare is his failure to include more material on quantum mechanics and particle physics in his sonnets and plays. He could have easily written in something like, "Wherefore art thou my intermediate vector boson?"

The mythological Noah had no actual physical descendants who could settle there.

That is almost a tautology. Why wouldn't they believe only what they were aware of?

It only brings up the question that someone is taking a bunch of verses from the Old and New Testaments way too literally. That question also is simply a cloak of a more fundamental issue: Why does God let bad things happen? That is essentially what questions like that will break down into if pursued.

Vinnie

Bobzammel

I wasn't really stating any belief; mainly-like you-that the logic of the bible seems localized, and that therefore there is nothing omniscent about it.

Should have stated "If God was real, don't you think he would've..."etc.

Which brings me to another point...

It seems that the "New Covenant" of Jeremiah, from reading the passage itself, states quite clearly that there would be no need whatsoever for 'teaching' other people--no need for missionary work, bible study etc. It seems to state that there would be a "Mega pentecost" in which everybody would instantly know Yahweh, and instantly be able to do his law. Nothing about some holy spirit which does some magic tricks and makes you a better person, and has it's disciples go around teaching people.