DNA rocks the Mormon "boat"

Kenneson

There is an ongoing controversy that is making waves in the Mormon Church. Many converts, who are native Americans and those from the South Pacific, the Polynesians, were led to believe that they were the ancestors of ancient Hebrews. Now DNA evidence is putting all that into question and some are leaving the faith. The Church is in a quandary. They can excommunicate the apostates, but how do they silence the critics? Church apologists have come up with a solution, but some don't buy it. See "Bedrock of a Faith is Jolted. DNA tests contradict Mormon scripture. The church says the studies are being twisted to attack its beliefs."

Remember that the article is three pages long.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mormon16feb16,0,5561316.story?coll=la-home-headlines

daniel-p

Heheh. Birds of a feather flock together, don't they?

peacefulpete

No you didn't, you didn't really attack another religion for denying DNA evidence! Oh that's rich.

hooberus

http://www.irr.org/mit/Lamanites-DNA-Book-of-Mormon.html

ringo5

Excerpt from article:

Critics want the church to admit its mistake and apologize to millions of Native Americans it converted. Church leaders have shown no inclination to do so. Indeed, they have dismissed as heresy any suggestion that Native American genetics undermine the Mormon creed.

Yet at the same time, the church has subtly promoted a fresh interpretation of the Book of Mormon intended to reconcile the DNA findings with the scriptures. This analysis is radically at odds with long-standing Mormon teachings.

Some longtime observers believe that ultimately, the vast majority of Mormons will disregard the genetic research as an unworthy distraction from their faith.

"This may look like the crushing blow to Mormonism from the outside," said Jan Shipps, a professor emeritus of religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, who has studied the church for 40 years. "But religion ultimately does not rest on scientific evidence, but on mystical experiences. There are different ways of looking at truth."

I like this kind of information. This is the kind of parallel to dubdum that may help witnesses to actually see the danger of not thinking rationally. I'd like to ask a dub would they bring this up to a mormon in the ministry. If they would use this as a talking point, and the Mormon said he's not interested in discussing that kind of heretical nonsense would the dub find this odd or even stupid to not examine any evidence that had a direct bearing on their beliefs?
Then what kind of reasoning could the dub use to get the mormon to see the wisdom of putting their beliefs to the test, and really how dangerous it would be to not examine your beliefs in the light of new evidence?