Basic Methodological Problems with the Anti-Mormon Approach to the Geography and Archaeology of the Book of Mormon

Authors

William J. Hamblin, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Ancient Near East, Archaeology, Bible, Book of Mormon, Criticism, Geography, Mesoamerica, Civilization, Language, Modern Church, Hill Cumorah, Joseph Smith, Scholarship, Publications

Abstract

Anti-Mormon criticisms of the Book of Mormon are frequently based on a questionable set of assumptions concerning the nature of historical and archaeological evidence, the role of governing presuppositions, and the nature of historical proof. Using arguments found in a recent anti-Mormon critique by Luke Wilson as a foundation, this article analyzes difficulties of reconstructing ancient geographies, problems with the discontinuity of Mesoamerican toponyms, the historical development of the idea of a limited geography model, and challenges of textual and artifactual interpretation when trying to relate the Book of Mormon to archaeological remains.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Hamblin, William J. (1993) "Basic Methodological Problems with the Anti-Mormon Approach to the Geography and Archaeology of the Book of Mormon," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol. 2: No. 1, Article 11.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol2/iss1/11