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April 3, 2011 | 10:28 am

Ancient Books, Modern Faith: Is Physical Proof Necessary for Believers?

Posted by Mark Paredes

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Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.—John 20:29

“It is a wicked and adulterous generation that seeketh after a sign. Show me Latter-day Saints who have to feed upon miracles, signs and visions in order to keep them steadfast in the Church, and I will show you members of the Church who are not in good standing before God, and who are walking in slippery paths.” – Joseph Smith

——-

Do religious Jews and Christians need physical proof to validate their belief in scripture? That question came to the fore during last week’s media spotlight on the Jordanian Lead Codices, which were discovered about five years ago and are considered by some experts to be one of the most significant architectural finds in the history of Christianity. I couldn’t help but wonder to what extent they will strengthen Christians’ faith in their religion if their authenticity is confirmed.

During our Torah study class, Rabbi Daniel Bouskila stated that belief in biblical stories is a matter of faith for religious readers. This is so true, he continued, that even if an ark were to be discovered tomorrow atop Mt. Ararat and universally acknowledged to be the one constructed by Noah, this physical proof would only serve to validate, not establish, the profound faith of true believers. According to the good rabbi, physical proof is nice to have, but true faith does not need ancient artifacts to buttress it. To this Mormons would shout “Amen!”

When it comes to tangible proof for biblical stories, I’ve found that Jews in general are very interested in obtaining evidence of their physical presence in the Land of Israel throughout several millennia: Was there an Exodus from Egypt? Were temples built on Mount Moriah? Did a powerful King David rule in Judea? While Mormons are fascinated by these questions, they are probably more interested in the meaningful spiritual moments in the Hebrew Bible that continue to inform their belief and practice: Was Melchizedek’s priesthood shared by the ancient patriarchs? Was Aaron ordained to the priesthood by Moses? Did Ephraim receive the birthright in Israel after Reuben’s fall from grace? Did Elijah seal the heavens? If I had to choose between receiving incontrovertible proof that Moses parted the Red Sea or that he received two different sets of tablets on Mt. Sinai (which for us represent the laws of the two different priesthood orders), I would not hesitate to choose the latter. While Mormons generally accept the literal interpretation of Bible stories, they are taught in Sunday School to seek spiritual confirmation of its teachings. 

The main purpose of this blog is to present LDS beliefs as a serious theology, one with many Israelite themes and institutions (e.g., temples, prophetic authority). Serious believers should welcome serious scrutiny.  One of our books of scripture is the Book of Mormon, which we accept as a literal account of several civilizations (including two Israelite ones) that flourished in the ancient Americas. The first LDS prophet in modern times, Joseph Smith, claimed to have translated the book through divine inspiration from metal plates that were probably similar to those of the Jordanian Lead Codices.

I am often asked by Jews how Mormons can believe in this book of modern scripture. The answer? Because we have received a spiritual confirmation that it is true. How, then, should we respond to oft-repeated claims that there is “no proof” that the book is authentic? In the same way that Jews respond to assertions that there is “no proof” that an ancient Jewish Temple ever stood on Mount Moriah: the “put up or shut up” approach. Many readers are familiar with the familiar mantra “absence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence.” That is, just because we haven’t found a stele with “Welcome to Zarahemla” engraved on it doesn’t mean that that Book of Mormon city didn’t exist. I believe that this approach is insufficient for people of faith. Would-be debunkers of scriptural historicity should be directly challenged to come up with plausible theories for discoveries. The “I don’t have any idea, but the Mormons [or Jews] can’t be right” approach is not a serious one. A couple of examples will suffice. 
 
For decades critics of the Book of Mormon pointed out that the name “Alma” (one of the book’s prophets) was not an ancient one and must have been made up by Joseph Smith. Unfortunately for them, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls papyri (Bar Kokhba #44) mentions a certain “Alma son of Judah” who was involved in a leasing agreement. As a result, it has come to be called the “Alma Scroll.” Does this prove that the Book of Mormon is true? No, but it does prove that Alma was an ancient name that could not possibly have been known by Joseph Smith (or anyone else) in the early 1800s. How, then, did the name find its way into the book? Of course, people tend to filter such “evidence” through their spiritual lenses, often seeing what they want to see. However, the Alma Scroll can serve to rebut the claim that there is “no proof” that belief in the Book of Mormon is logical and defensible.

Another example is perhaps more instructive. One of the objects on display in the wonderful “Lords of Creation” Mayan exhibit in Los Angeles several years ago was a clear depiction of three heavens. While almost all of the other objects had at least one paragraph of explanation in both English and Spanish, this one had only one brief sentence, which I am quoting almost verbatim: “Archaeologists do not know why the Mayans believed in three heavens.” Mormons believe in a three-tiered heaven, and it is entirely possible that this doctrine was taught to some of the ancient peoples on this continent (though it does not appear in the Book of Mormon). Can this Mayan piece serve to buttress the LDS belief in these ancient American civilizations? Maybe, maybe not, but what is clear is that no one else has a plausible explanation for why the Mayans believed in three heavens. Until someone does, the display goes into the “possible proof” category.


Again, I do not believe that Mormons or religious Jews should look to physical proof as the source of their faith in scripture. However, I do think that Mormons could learn from Jews how to be more assertive when challenging would-be debunkers of their scriptural narratives. In the specific case of the Book of Mormon, it is important for Latter-day Saints to affirm at every opportunity that the people and events recorded in its pages are historical. The consequences of not doing so can be seen in the Community of Christ, a member of the LDS movement that separated from the Utah-heading Mormons 150 years ago. In a meeting that I had with several of the church’s apostles, they stated that they no longer believe that the Book of Mormon is historical (though individual members are free to believe this). When I later asked whether their patriarchal blessings (which assign Mormons to an Israelite tribe) still contained a tribal designation, I was told they did not (though they did for many decades). The link here seems obvious: stop believing in a book about ancient Israelites, and you soon stop believing in modern Israelites.

For Jews, it is important (though not absolutely necessary) to demonstrate their continued presence in the Land of Israel since biblical times. Although Mormons don’t need physical proof to support their theology, they need not concede that there is no proof for it. If we wish to be taken seriously as a church, we have to be willing to challenge our debunkers on historicity issues, not pretend that they don’t matter.

——-

I will be speaking to Jewish and LDS students at Harvard University’s Hillel on April 8.

Rabbi Barry Block and I will engage in dialogue during the San Antonio (TX) West Stake’s Education Weekend on April 15, and I will make a separate presentation on April 16 entitled “Mormons and Jews in the Latter Days: A Zion Relationship.”


I will be taking a tour group to Israel in March 2012 for Morris Murdock Travel. Participants will return from the trip with a profound love for both ancient and modern Israel. The itinerary will be finalized this week. Travelers of all faiths (and none) are welcome.

I now write a weekly column on the Middle East for the Deseret News. Here is the inaugural post: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700124151/The-Middle-East-Beyond-the-headlines.html

Mark Paredes blogs for the Jewish Journal, the Deseret News, and Meridian Magazine. He will be leading a tour to Israel for Morris Murdock Travel next spring. You can contact Mark at deverareligione@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @jewsandmormons.

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Amen! Thank you! I love that I have no physical evidence that would prove my religion is true. I love that God gently invites us each to believe in Him by His kind Spirit of love. He lovingly and patiently allows us to freely choose good over evil. He doesn’t twist any arms. I love that I am not compelled to believe by any historical, archeological or scientific evidence, but rather do so only by faith and love. All such evidence, if it could even exist, would be subject to interpretation by our limited human understanding and filtered through our preferences and prejudices, anyway, and would therefore be unreliable.

Out of my desire to believe in God—a choice I made one day many years ago only because it felt right and good to me—and consequently, my willingness to keep His commandments and submit my will to His, He has revealed to me by His Spirit what is truth. To me, that evidence, His evidence, is more real than anything else I can experience or know in this world. It gives me a confidence in the truth that nothing in this world can take away. Contrary to what many in the world believe, the fruit of that certain knowledge of the truth is nothing but love: a desire to love all others regardless of what they believe or how they worship, to respect them and their beliefs as I do my own, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

Comment by Peter Marlow on 4/03/11 at 2:54 pm

Thanks, Mark, for an excellent reminder of the need to be assertive in defending our faith while not basing our faith on fragile “proofs.”

Anyone tempted to look for confirmation of their faith in the “Jordan metal plates,” should be advised that substantial evidence of forgery has already emerged. LDS scholars and bloggers, in particular, appear to be reaching a consensus of forgery.

Bill Hamblin, with accompanying photos: “I think the plates were made by pressing images into clay, then casting copper or lead.  I think this portion is an impression of an Alexander coin.”
http://hamblinofjerusalem.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/jordan-metal-plates/

Hamblin links to others:
Daniel O. McClellan publishes an email from Oxford scholar Peter Thonemann who emphatically warned David Elkington of the forgery in September, 2010, before Elkington started the current publicity blitz. “This particular bronze tablet is, therefore, a modern forgery, produced in Jordan within the last fifty years. I would stake my career on it.” McClellan provides photos of the text to which Thonemann was referring. It was copied, with nonsensical context and errors betraying ignorance of Greek, from a tombstone on display for the last half-century in a museum in Amman, Jordan.
http://danielomcclellan.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/peter-thonemann-on-the-lead-codices/

Hamblin provides links to other investigators:

David Larsen, “It’s beginning to look like the plates, despite all the fun hype, may be too good to be true.”
http://www.heavenlyascents.com/2011/04/01/metal-plates-in-dire-straits/

Jim Davila obtained a response from Margaret Barker, one of the scholars cited in the publicty, who says has been misquoted: http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2011_03_27_archive.html#7454369078247746754

To its credit, the Church-owned Deseret News gives more space to the skeptics than the cheerleaders.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700123230/Ancient-metal-plates-found-in-Middle-East.html?pg=1

Tracy Hall Jr
hthalljr’gmail’com

Comment by Tracy Hall Jr on 4/04/11 at 4:49 am

There actually is physical evidence available, although not much at this point. I have in my possession color photographs of some very small gold plates found in Mexico that have hyroglific characters on them. At least seven of these characters are exactly, not just close to, but exactly the same characters that Joseph Smith copied from the gold plates while he was translating them. This is no lucky coincidence on Joseph Smith’s part. There were also some stone carvings found in the same area that contain some of these same characters. The Mexican archeologist who found these was not LDS. After doing his own research he concluded that what Joseph Smith had was absolutely writings from ancient America. He later joined the church. So to say there is no physical evidence is not completely correct. However, I only show my photographs to those who already believe. I will never show them to a non-member to try and prove the truth of the Book of Mormon. That is for the Spirit of God to do. I have believed the truth of the B of M for many decades before coming across the evidence. It was just icing on the cake.

Comment by Mike on 4/04/11 at 6:03 am

You’re absolutely right.  While I admit great curiousity about historical evidence, I don’t require it for my faith.  It seems odd to me, to be honest, that we trust science—which is generally based on theories and reasoned speculation—more than religion.  My understanding is this is a modern development.  Does anyone ever question scientific discoveries by asking, “hmmm…what does the Bible say about that?”  If they did, they’d be laughed off the podium.

Comment by Jeff Smith on 4/04/11 at 6:06 am

Of course religious believers don’t require proof or evidence; that’s what distinguishes their belief as religious.  The larger question is whether or not religious belief can be called rational. 

We consider it irrational when people buy into investment opportunities without vetting the information/evidence carefully.  We’d call it irrational for a scientist to pray over his experiment.  Would you want to fly on an aircraft where the pilot prayed before takeoff instead of going through his check list?  In most normal activities we’d call it irrational (or, at the very least, irresponsible) to ignore evidence as part of the decision-making process.  And with good reason; we have countless examples of how people’s decisions and lives have been harmed by making reckless decisions that ignored evidence. 

Curious, then, how people celebrate their devotion to superstition and ignorance by proclaiming that they don’t seek – or want – physical evidence of the religion to which they devote their lives.

Duwayne Anderson
Author of “Farewell to Eden: Coming to terms with Mormonism and science”

Comment by Duwayne Anderson on 4/04/11 at 6:42 am

Mark, You make some very valid points.  Too many “testimonies” are shaken when a physical “proof” is revealed to be false.
Kerry Shirts, the Backyard Professor, has place several videos about this on YouTube in the last few weeks.  He quotes several archaeologists and academics who confirm that there are no “proofs” for the Bible.  His purpose is to counteract those who claim there are no “proofs” for the Book of Mormon.  I would suggest that everyone take a look at his videos.
Another suggestion is a book, “Shaken Faith Syndrome” by Michael R. Ash.  He deals with several reasons as to why LDS testimonies are shaken, many times it is because of unrealistic expectations.
If proven to be valid, the lead plates would only prove that religious writings were recorded on metal, but not whether Jesus Christ was the Son of God.

Comment by Gary K Coleman on 4/04/11 at 7:34 am

It’s funny how believers say that proof is not necessary for belief when the evidence does not support their position— and then are the first show evidence that does. Truth is we are all at least part rational and part emotional/spiritual beings and find our own balance between those sides.

Belief does not exist with a story first— the thing that describes WHAT you believe in. For LDS many of these revolve around Joseph Smith being a prophet. They include the Book of Mormon, the story of how it was translated, The First Vision, the Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. So to dismiss empirical evidence I think is not only unrealistic buy dangerous. You have to define the story before you believe it.
 
For me faith functions where the evidence for something does not exist— where you cannot know or at least make an educated guess. Why would someone do that?

In a dark room you feel your way along the wall. If there is enough light to see do you close your eyes and still use your hands?

Why would we discard the very sound process that we use everyday to make decisions and to act? You would never choose a financial planner or surgeon strictly on faith— why would you decide your spiritual future that way? Where evidence does exists it must be considered AND faith should never be an excuse to hide from evidence merely because it does not agree with what we want.

Unless the God of truth that many worship is purposely trying to deceive his children ( at least the ones who use their brains to find truth), then the overall weight of the evidence should support the actual truth. More evidence then cannot ultimately hurt the truth.

Comment by LDSRevelations on 4/04/11 at 8:42 am

Oops. Forgot to add:

To those seaching for truth - not the truth of dogma and darkness but the truth brought by reason, search, examination, and inquiry, discipline is required. For faith, as well intentioned as it may be, must be built on facts, not fiction - faith in fiction is a damnable false hope.

—Thomas Edison

Comment by LDSRevelations on 4/04/11 at 8:44 am

One more oops. I’m typing too fast. In the 2nd sentences of the 1st paragraph of my 9:42 post “with” should be “without.”

“Belief does not exist withOUT a story first.”

Comment by lds on 4/04/11 at 9:00 am

Just a thought about the use of the word “Alma” J.S. wasn’t the only person who used that name: Alma is a town in Allegany County, New York, USA. The population was 847 at the 2000 census. The source of the town name is uncertain. It may come from the Latin word for “nourishing”, or it may be named for a city in Germany.

Comment by Traci on 4/04/11 at 9:20 am

I am LDS and received a witness of the church when I first started studying with the missionaries.  However, it seems to me that expecting an atheist to first accept the things offered him (old Testament stories, Book of Mormon et al)and to have “faith in Christ” and then to “ask with real intent” (Moroni 10: 3 - 5) is a lot to ask of such a person.  It seems to me that one should at the least point out some of the reasons one might start to exercise belief in Christ and the Book of Mormon.  the book of Mormon is packed with such evidence and while evidence is not proof (a witness from the spirit would be) it can at the least serve to motivate one to start a serious examination of the claims of the LDS church.

Comment by DENNIS on 4/04/11 at 10:23 pm

Further to my above comment, it should be noted that Joseph Smith seemed not to be against the proper use of evidence.  He said,
  “the Lord has a hand in bringing to pass his strange act, and proving the Book of Mormon true in the eyes of all the people…. Surely “facts are stubborn things. “”  It will be and ever has been, the world will prove Joseph Smith a true prophet by circumstantial evidence, in experimentis, as they did Moses and Elijah. “

Comment by DENNIS on 4/04/11 at 10:28 pm

I think the crux of the most difficulty experienced by religious people, be they Jewish or Mormon, is the proselytizing. This is one of the reasons why Mormons are a much bigger and easier target than Jews.

If atheists were to take either of the two new Atheist Bibles and go knocking on doors, then they too would be an easy target.

Comment by saulsky on 4/06/11 at 8:57 pm

I agree with Saulsky that our proselyting does up our profile.  I would also say that the Book of Mormon does much the same.  The claim of being a history of part of the Americas,  coming from tangible gold plates and several witnesses to the whole thing is also something that is not too easy to dismiss.  We are told to go forth and “be bold but not overbearing”  In my opinion the B of M is both bold and overbearing.  It gets right in your face.  If only it had been cast in a religious sermon format, “proverbs, Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes” sort of thing,  there would be no problem but claiming to be real history of real people who actually saw Christ is something that invites/begs someone to challenge it.  As Terryl Givens said in By the Hand of Mormon:
“Double-edged Sword

“It shifts the debate – at least partly- from the realm of interiority and subjectivity toward that of empiricism and objectivity. “ “Grounding the text in a history that is proximate and verifiable proves a keenly double-edged sword, subjecting the record as it does to the exacting gaze of scholarly verification. Its claim to reveal this continent’s history gives it an appealing relevance at the same time raises expectations of confirmatory evidence. Its claim to reveal this continent’s history gives it an appealing relevance at the same time it raises expectations of confirmatory evidence. “Givens
By Hand

Comment by DENNIS on 4/10/11 at 7:30 pm

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