Farewell to Eden: Coming to Terms with Mormonism and Science (Paperback)

The author (Duwayne Anderson) does of wonderful job of explaining what science is, what it can and cannot do. He indicates that science is not absolute. The book flows well and was easy to read. At the end of each chapter the author compares what LDS leaders have taught and what the current understanding of science is. In addition the author provides a list of additional materials that give the reader additional sources of information on the subject presented.

For me the price of the book was worth it just to get all of the Mormon prophets statements from Joseph Smith to Gordon Hinckley, all at one place and time.

For me the key points of the book are as follows.

1. Official Mormon doctrine is very hard to pin down. Not much of anything is "official". The author finds this unsatisfying. He indicates that Mormonism is full of hidden doctrines we are not very proud of and are retreating from.

2. Cannonized LDS scripture, "The Book of Abraham" and "The Book of Moses", got everything wrong they could get wrong in relation to cosmology, stellar formation, star size Vs rotation speed, creation of Earth, order of the creation, energy emanating from Kolob, (Not the sun) etc. Anderson indicates that much of what is in these books of scripture in relation to scientific principles, follows the common understanding of these things in the 19th century, and has subsequently been proven false.

3. Mormons believe in a God with a finite sized brain. Anderson argues that the LDS version of God could not predict the future with a dozen planet sized Urim and Thumbims, from a quantum physics perpective. The author discusses non-linear systems and the principles of chaos.

4. The author debunks theisic evolution and intelligent design creation and proposes that those philosophies do not match with what science has found. He shows how evolution has taken many species to "false peaks". Anderson argues that an intelligent creator would not do this. He also talks of Junk genes handed down to humans through millenia of time through organic evolution. He also discusses design flaws inherent in humans that would not be present with an intelligent creator. The author argues that some Mormon leaders who have believed in evolution, do not believe in the same kind of evolution science espouses.

5. The author presents compelling arguements that many statements of past and present LDS leaders and Prophets contradict science on many levels. From the age of the Earth, origin of man, fall of man, Earth moving position 6,000 years ago, flood of Noah, seperation of the continents etc. etc.

6. The author shows that nothing that science understands about ancient America is consistant with another book of LDS scripture, "The Book of Mormon". He shows how the book does not measure up to even the most elementary tests of science. His final conclusion is that The Book of Mormon is a product of the Jospeh Smith and the 19th century.

After reading this book I am doubtful that any LDS apolgist will touch it with a 10 foot pole. A big dose of reality for me.

The human interest part of the book was compelling and an accurate portrayal of the negative things that can happen to people in the LDS culture who leave, doubt, ask too many questions, or express concerns about their faith. Hence why this review is anonymous.

Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles   Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?

Signaler ce commentaire

Science can be hard to understand but Anderson methodically brings you along a path of discovery. He presents concepts with simple examples helping you understand the basic scientific methods used in the human quest for truth and understanding of the universe. I find myself thinking back on logical concepts that are now clear and focused on how to know the difference between reality and myths. My mind has found a new birth, a new path of discovery, a freedom from controlling men who heaped up doctrines on me, some good that I choose to keep and some not so good.

Mormon leaders control you through irrational faith as explained by Anderson. In the Church the thinking has already been done and if you don't agree, or find their answer when you pray, they teach you have done something wrong. The Church is true no matter what else must be sacrifised.

So don't read how Joseph Smith taught the sun borrowed its light from Kolob (because it would run out), because they knew nothing about nuclear reactions in the 18th century. Don't read Appendix B that demonstrates how the specific dates in the Book of Mormon are not random and have about a 1/2000 chance of being real historical dates. I actually understand the math or statistics for this. Don't read about the uncertainty principle and the impossibilities of knowing specific future events. Of course small events (unpredictable events) can have a huge effect on the future. Don't read about the raw impossibilities of the universal flood story, or how the creation story does not fit scientific facts. I could go on and on.

Read this book only if you are looking for truth. Anderson points out, if he or science has made a mistake, fine, lets correct it and go on. Nothing is sacred in the scientific method. Scientific theory always has to match all the observational data.

I would add this comment, which I think is pretty close to an underlining theme of the book. "If you are content with theological ideas where loyalty to a religious group is more important then truth (only when the two conflict), you have a good chance for happiness. It can be dangerous to learn too much. Remember what Nicolaus Copernicus went through when he taught the Earth was not the center of the Universe, and that the Earth actually navigates around the Sun."

Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles   Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?

Signaler ce commentaire