In its severest form it can lead to the formation of a new religion. In its milder forms, it creates novels and philosophies and spends much time discussing them. I’m talking about the human propensity to create worlds – castles in the air, but without the firm foundation Thoreau speaks of in Walden. Tonight was were talking about Schleiermacher again, and I was feeling the same emotions again – the same, “What the hell is the purpose of this?!”
Two hundred years ago, Schleiermacher constructed a view of religion based on what he called intuition. Tonight we spent two hours discussing our constructions of Schleiermacher’s constructions, then commenting on our constructions of others’ comments about their constructions of Schleiermacher’s constructions. The discussion – always in present simple – treated all these constructions as if they were as real as the computer on my lap. The discussion raged as if it made a difference whether Schleiermacher’s theology was of this nature or that. And the emptiness of the ivory towers reverberated with this for two hours – or some other poetic drivel.
That’s one example of world-construction. Another leads to the following absurdities:
I soon found out the reason why I had received such strict charges to keep [the plates] safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no sooner was it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible. But by the wisdom of God, they remained safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand. When, according to arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him; and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight. . . .’
This is Joseph Smith explaining how he came into position of and learned to translate The Book of Mormon, which led the formation of an entire religion – or at least a sect. Undoubtedly Smith just pulled this buried plate nonsense from thin air! And people believe it! No one thinks it’s just a little too convenient for it to have happened this way – no one thinks that this leaves the door wide open to doubt Smith’s testimony.
