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Why praying for confirmation of truth cannot work.
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In a previous article, I discussed some of the faults with the "religion test," the process proposed to find the truth of God and his word. It's a topic worth revisiting.
The Book of Mormon promise is this:
Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Essentially, it states that the Book of Mormon is true, and that God will confirm this to you as long as your heart is sincere enough, your intent is genuine enough, and your faith is strong enough.
The process in practice looks something like this:
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Like the Emperor's New Clothes, the religious test presumes its answer, and then blames the individual if their conclusion is different.
The Emperor's clothes are presumed to exist and are magical, just as God and the Holy Ghost are presumed to exist and can confirm truth. Anyone who can't see the clothes is stupid or incompetent, just as anyone who doesn't realize the truth of the Book of Mormon is insincere, sinning, being tested, or didn't listen the first time when God did provide the answer.
Not only does the test not allow for the possibility of the Book of Mormon being false, it does not allow for the possibility that humans can experience good feelings, sometimes even profound feelings, all on their own. Blissful and loving feelings can be the product of our own mind, evidenced by the fact that they can even be triggered by a stroke.
The Book of Mormon process is presented in such a way that to get the positive response, we must work to get it. Be more sincere, have more faith. Work towards the positive response. Try to get the feeling.
Of course if you're sincere and faithful enough, that's what will happen. And it would happen, whether the Book of Mormon was true or not.
Email Jonathan: slcfreethinking@gmail.com
Read Jonathan's other articles on science and religion
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