(Supposed)
Book of Mormon Anachronisms
(c) Copyright Michael R. Ash 1999. All rights reserved
The Book of Mormon records the frequent wars of the Nephites and Lamanites and the atrocities associated with war. Some critics, however, are convinced that the claim of war is simply another anachronism of the Book of Mormon.
Archaeologists assert that, during the Book of Mormon period, warfare was almost unknown in the Americas except for ceremonial purposes (as practiced by the Aztecs). (Scott, 83.)
Although this critic hadn’t kept current with New World archaeology, until recently, most experts would have agreed with him. “The standard treatments of Mesoamerican culture,” notes Sorenson, “have until very recently followed the line that warfare was a late exception-- that the area’s earlier groups practiced only the arts of peace. We now know this to be a complete distortion. It appears the Mesoamerican's probably were never very peaceful” (Sorenson, 1985, 260). Likewise, in 1975 Howard La Fay wrote for a National Geographic:
...the light of scholarship has begun to pierce the ancient shadows. Gone forever is the image of the Maya as peaceful, rather primitive farmers practicing esoteric religious rites in the quiet of their jungles fastness. What emerges is a portrait of a vivid, warlike race, numerous beyond any previous estimate, employing sophisticated agricultural techniques. And like the Vikings half a world away, they traded and raided with zest. ...the Maya-- so long portrayed as a peaceful, devout people-- were involved in warfare from very early times. (La Fay, 732-33.)
The many wars mentioned in the Book of Mormon are far from anachronistic. In fact, they represent an accurate picture of early cultures in ancient Mesoamerica.
Michael R. Ash
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