NOM

I'm watching a fascinating true story about a false confession leading to a false conviction, and a 20+ jail term served. The crime occurred in Idaho Falls, Idaho in the 1990's. My focus here is to keep things short, and compare false confession/false witness to forensics. Christopher Tapp, the accused, was convicted on a coerced false confession, with a complete lack of forensic evidence. He was exonerated last Fri., July 17, 2019. I think we are in an era, the 21st century where the balance (in the Human search for Truth and Justice) has tipped from eye-witness testimony toward forensics. This is not to completely deny the value of confessions, but to say that forensics has overtaken them in the priority of evidences.
Does this also apply to the case of Joseph Smith? You bet it does. Church leaders like Elder Corbin (in a speech at BYU) can say all they want about "the spiritual method" and it's connection to truth (the "the law of witnesses" comes to mind as another outdated concept promoted by the Church.) but I am convinced whether they believe or not, they are blowing smoke. Church claims, from the validity of Book of Mormon witnesses to the validity of Priesthood blessings can and should be evaluated by forensic standards. This is happening already in some areas with limited success (word prints, chiasms, etc.), but could be applied to studies and/or surveys of spiritual witnesses and the long term results of such witnesses, success of blessings healing the sick (comparing stats of blessings success rate at hospitals in the MorCor vs. outside the MorCor when there typically are no blessings) and other areas I haven't thought of yet. President Nelson and countless others, have, of course, used anecdotal to support the efficacy of priesthood blessings, and for that matter the Book of Mormon. There have been some (inconclusive, I believe) studies on prayer and medical success, but I think the Church and likely BYU could and should be at the forefront of such efforts. I'm going on too long, but I wanted to get this down.

deacon blues wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:27 pm There have been some (inconclusive, I believe) studies on prayer and medical success, but I think the Church and likely BYU could and should be at the forefront of such efforts. I'm going on too long, but I wanted to get this down.

There has actually been a study that showed that people who know they are being prayed for have worse recovery rates. The hypothesis is that the additional stress of knowing a lot of people are expecting them to perform as expected actually hinders their recovery. I don't have a citation on hand but I'm pretty sure I can find it if you want.

Christopher Tapp, in the end is the winner. The justice system, and specifically the Idaho Falls area justice system is the loser.

Pardon my getting on a high horse here but:

Concerning the search for truth of the Joseph Smith story, the jury is all of us. We all should be in the deliberation room until a consensus is reached, and I have faith that those who are seeking the truth will eventually win out. I will say I am strongly leaning to a naturalistic explanation, but I will not avoid, or dismiss verified forensic evidence. The Church leaders do not want members in the deliberation room. They want them to shut out evidence that they, the leaders, have not vetted. They still seek to manipulate, just as surely as some critics do, the evidence. Church leaders, many Church members, and some, perhaps many, critics are not in the deliberation room. They are still back in the court room or they may be avoiding the court room in order to manipulate and/or avoid the evidence.

Some say a life spent in the deliberation room is wasted. "Commit," they say. Commit to one side or the other. Exercise faith, or on the other hand exercise reason. but as Pale Rider says: What could be more rewarding than to commit to an undeviating path in a search for truth. Whether we find it here, or those who follow find it here, and/or we will find it in another life. The joy of purpose is found in the seeking.

Hagoth wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:54 pm

deacon blues wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:27 pm There have been some (inconclusive, I believe) studies on prayer and medical success, but I think the Church and likely BYU could and should be at the forefront of such efforts. I'm going on too long, but I wanted to get this down.

There has actually been a study that showed that people who know they are being prayed for have worse recovery rates. The hypothesis is that the additional stress of knowing a lot of people are expecting them to perform as expected actually hinders their recovery. I don't have a citation on hand but I'm pretty sure I can find it if you want.

thanks Hagoth. Here is one you might have in mind.

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html