Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!tekmdp!dadla!dadla-b!russ
From: russ@dadla-b.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Enough picking on Mormons
Message-ID: <531@dadla-b.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Sep-83 10:19:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: dadla-b.531
Posted: Fri Sep 16 10:19:53 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Sep-83 09:27:40 EDT
References: tekmdp.2220
Lines: 23

Jon, I want to take issue with one statement that you make.

>whereas even some Mormon archeologists are now admitting that
>there is absolutely no proof that Book of Mormon people ever existed.

You seem to indicate that this is some new understanding that is now
being realized by Mormon archeologists.  I contend that this has been
the standard response.  It is true that many archeologists have not
considered the existence of the Book of Mormon people a proven fact.
Mormon archealogist would be no different.  There has been no proof.
But there also has been no proof that they did not exist.  And this
allowed their faith to continue while more evidence is being examined.
I do believe that the situation is starting to change.  Only now is
there starting to be an agreement of where the Book of Mormon lands
were exactly.  And there are still a great number of known archeological
sites that have never been excavated.  The fact that there might be
no proof in archeaology for the Book of Mormon is only significant
if there is proof that they didn't exist.  Until the later exists
which doesn't look likely now, we shall wait for more information
to provide the proof of the Book of Mormon people.

Russell Anderson
Tektronix