Thursday, August 24, 2023

4 Times Roman Catholic Apologists Made Bald Assertions

 Recently, Matt Fradd posted an article:

 

4 Times Mormonism Changed Its Doctrine

 

Notice something: not a single reference. None. Obviously, Fradd got this from a google search (or Jimmy “GishGallop” Akin who has never come across an argument against Mormonism he would not use for Roman "boundary maintenance"). Fortunately, the B. H. Roberts Foundation has pages on these issues, so if anyone wants articles and primary resources on these issues, see, for e.g.:

 

On Polygamy:

 

Polygamy (Joseph Smith Era) QNA (Primary Sources)

 

Joseph Smith and Fanny Alger QNA (Primary Sources)

 

Polygamy in Eternity QNA (Primary Sources)

 

Racial diversity:

 

Black Saints and the Priesthood (Joseph Smith era) QNA (Primary Sources)

 

Black Saints and the Priesthood (Brigham Young/Early Utah era) QNA (Primary Sources)


Black Saints and the Priesthood (1895–1978) (Primary Sources)


 

Blood Atonement:

 

Blood Atonement and Capital Punishment QNA (Primary Sources)

 

Adam-God:

 

Adam-God Theory QNA (Primary Sources)

 

It is a pity that Fradd et al., wanted to go down the gish gallop route instead of an intellectually honest debate, and then produce an article with not a single reference. Imagine if a Latter-day Saint wrote an article again, say, Catholic Mariology, and not include a single reference/source: Fradd et al., would argue that this means they have no case and just googling random arguments against Rome, and they would be correct. The reality is that they have not done any meaningful research, and neither has most modern Catholic apologists, on these issues, beyond grabbing arguments from the Internet, the Tanners, and the like (for e.g., I cannot see Akin interact meaningfully with the work of John Tvedtnes, Robert F. Smith, Stephen Smoot, and myself on Book of Abraham onomasticon [note: I did challenge Jimmy to debate the Book of Abraham specifically in 2020--he even has written about it and has at least one podcast on the topic]).