[Aztlan] Mormons, Mayans and Mystery

[Ryan Kashanipour]

Hello all:
 
Given that this an academic listserv (and not a theological or popular one), I think that there are a couple of issues worth pointing out here.  
 
First, the discussion of facts over fiction is fallacy that fundamentally undermines dialogue and discussion.  Carrasco, echoing the tone of the Tribune piece, has put forward a hollow and erroneous binary of facts versus fiction.  As such, he praises the facts of science and opines the fiction of Mormon religious belief (When, exactly, did Art History become a science Michael?).  A critical difference is not whether scientists or Mormons are right.  Rather, the difference is how one starts and makes conclusions—i.e., methodology.  Real scientists (you know the ones who can experiment and replicate results, not those of us in History and Art History) recognize that facts are as the products of their methods and measures. This, of course, means they are subject to interpretation, evaluation, and debate.  Likewise, people of faith (for lack of a better descriptor), recognize that their perspective derives from a limited set of principles that are also subject to interpretation, evaluation, and debate.  As scholars, however, we have to recognize that it is the methods that separate academic debate and religious dialogue.  And as such it should not be our place to criticize individual or group beliefs.  Instead, as scholars (if we must engage in these debates), we should only offer critical commentary on the methods that buttress these perspectives.  If the scholarly community and religious groups (and I recognize that this is another problematic binary—scholars can have faith as well—, but I am using it as shorthand) are to have any worthwhile exchanges it must start with methodology.  This is not to say, however, that scholars should express no opinion on the actions of religious groups and individuals, which leads to the next point.
 
Second, the actions of religious groups and individuals are relevant to the scholarly community.  As scholars, we have little authority to comment on people’s beliefs, but we do have an obligation to evaluate how group and individual actions affect contemporary peoples.  As we all know, Mormons have been very active in Latin America over the past two decades.  There are Mormon scholars who have done noteworthy work in archaeology and linguistics.  Should their individual spiritual/religious beliefs matter to the scholarly community?  I think not. (If so, then we should create a list of acceptable and unacceptable beliefs so we are all clear who can be in the commune.)  On the other hand, Mormon missionaries have actively sought to alter the social and religious structure of many native communities.  Why comment on the beliefs of these groups separate from their practices?  There are plenty of actions on which to comment.  Debating beliefs only serves as a distraction.  The real issues are those that directly affect the people that we work, live, and (at times) study among.  
 
Finally, as an aside, I won’t comment on Mormon beliefs for the reasons noted above, but I will say that Mormon missionaries (just like the missionaries from Summer Institute of Linguistics and Jehovah’s Witnesses) have actively sought to reform and enlighten—their terms—several communities that I have worked among in Chiapas and Yucatan.  A consequence of their proselytizing has been the fracturing of these communities and the breakup of a number of families--two very disconcerting results.  I am vehemently opposed to such proselytizing, not because of where these groups and individuals start, that is, their view on the settling of the Americas, but because of where they often end, which is inserting themselves in communites to alter local practices and traditions.  There is no doubt plenty to criticize, so why get distracted by bogus scientific orthodoxy or narrow-minded religious dogma?  
 
Regards, 
Ryan 
 
 
R.A. Kashanipour
Mellon Fellow
Ph.D. CandidateThe University of Arizona> From: edwbhanna at comcast.net> Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:57:09 -0500> To: DWirth8851 at aol.com; Aztlan at lists.famsi.org> Subject: Re: [Aztlan] Mormons, Mayans and Mystery> > > On 18 Nov 07, at 9:05 PM, DWirth8851 at aol.com wrote:> > >> > In a message dated 11/18/2007 4:49:50 PM Mountain Standard Time,> > mdcarrasco at yahoo.com writes:> >> > The desire to confirm fantasy through reality will always end > > badly for true> > believers.> >> >> > Michael believes the Book of Mormon is fantasy and the facts > > don't fit> > the story. The so-called "facts," change all the time. Every year > > more is> > being discovered in the Americas that two years ago scholars said > > didn't exist. I> > don't believe Aztlan is meant to be a sounding board for anti-Mormon> > rhetoric. The Salt Lake Tribune article is one of many that > > promotes this type of> > bashing, and has many misconceptions and misstatements in it.> > > Diane (and others) —> > I don't think it's fair or accurate to accuse those of us who find > fault with certain Mormon teachings as being guilty of "Mormon-bashing."> > Accuse me of "religion-bashing" on the other hand and I'll cheerfully > accept the charge.> > I equate the Mormon's embrace of the fanciful Lost-Tribe-of-Israel > hypothesis right up there with burning bushes, virgin births and > Native American creation myths.> > Should scientists be afraid to question because they fear they may > cause insult? If that were the case, the sun would still be > revolving around the earth, the folks in Georgia would be sacrificing > to Chaac and we'd all still be living in the Middle Ages.> > I'm not offended by those who question my religious beliefs (or lack > thereof), only by those who would try to prevent me from questioning > at all.> > --> /Ed> _______________________> > Edward B. Hanna> edwbhanna at comcast.net> _______________________> > > > > _______________________________________________> Aztlan mailing list> http://www.famsi.org/mailman/listinfo/aztlan> Click here to post a message Aztlan at lists.famsi.org> Click to view Calendar of Events http://research.famsi.org/events/events.php> > 
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