The Book of Mormon is probably a creative artifact from Joseph Smith.

I still feel this way however instead of clicking decline debate I accidentally clicked accept :) so there's no turning back now I suppose. I might as well try and give it all I got. .. I will begin this debate by proposing the supposed evidence I believe I have in favor of the Book of Mormon. 1. Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon (BOM) The BOM consists of several examples of an ancient form of writing called Chiasmus. During the 1800's Chiasmus was a lost form of literature unique to the ancient Israelites, and other cultures in the MED. and it is my understanding that no other piece of literature from the 1800's consists of Chiasmus. Chiasmus was found often in the Old Testament, including parts of Psalms, and the book of Isaiah. Chiasmus was also found in the late 1500's when it was used roughly by Shakespeare, but then it seemed to have died out. Chiasmus is found all threw out the BOM the entire book of 1 Nephi is a giant Chiasmus as well as multiple passages threw out the BOM. Critics of using the chiasmus as evidence supporting the BOM will say that all these multiple verses are either plagiarism, or a result form constant repetition. However neither of these criticisms make any sense because it is absolutely absurd to say that chiasmus is a result of repetition, the Chiasmus found in the BOM obviously is in such a unique format, that repetition is out of the question. For more on Chiasmus in the BOM see (. http://www.jefflindsay.com...) this example is claimed to be the most beautiful example of Chiasmus we have ever seen, including all ancient documents that use Chiasmus, this verse is to huge and beautifully constructed to be either an extremely lucky cause of repetition, or plagiarism form the Bible seeing it is found nowhere in the Bible. 2. Archeological findings In light of the fact that Lehi and Nephi knew Egyptian and probably had traveled to the land of the Nile, what would you think if archaeologists found ancient Egyptian figurines in Central America? At least it would show that ancient ocean crossings, like Lehi's, were possible. About twenty-five years ago, Gareth W. Lowe, Director of the BYU-New World Archaeological Foundation, photographed two figurines located in a display case in the Museo Nacional "David J. Guzman" in San Salvador, El Salvador, and he sent copies to John Sorenson. According to the display caption, the figurines were excavated from three meters in depth from the eastern beaches of Acajutla, Sonsonate, El Salvador, on the Pacific coast near the Guatemala-El Salvador border. Both figurines clearly belong to a class of ancient Egyptian funerary statuettes known as ushabti. For more on these finding see . http://www.jefflindsay.com... 3. Little evidence found all threw out the book that simply could not be a coincidence. The Book of Mormon is filled with many small, subtle details that suggest its authenticity. The passing treatment of arrows is one example. During the journey out of Jerusalem toward Bountiful, three times Nephi writes that he had broken his bow, but never says that any of his arrows were damaged. Yet in 1 Nephi 16:23, Nephi says that he "did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow. " Why would he need to make a new arrow if his old ones were still intact? Those familiar with archery understand that arrows must be suited for a particular bow in terms of length, weight, and stiffness. The difference between a powerful steel bow and Nephi's later wooden bow would certainly require different arrows. Was this part of Joseph Smith's knowledge bank as a farm boy in the 1820s? One doubts that such information was known to Joseph Smith or to many, if any, of his contemporaries. Archery, as a means of self-defense or as a serious method of hunting or warfare, went out of vogue among Europeans many years before the time of Joseph Smith. On the other hand, archery as a sport did not emerge until the latter half of the nineteenth century. David Fox [an experienced archer] concludes: "Nephi's statement that he made an arrow out of a straight stick is an additional subtle but significant example of internal consistency within the Book of Mormon. Anyone unfamiliar with the field of archery would have almost certainly omitted such a statement. " Another bull's-eye for the Book of Mormon. (. http://www.jefflindsay.com...) 4. Prophesies in the Bible of the Book of Mormon Ezekiel 37:15-17 . http://scriptures.lds.org... When the prophet received this vision, he was shown the latter days, and more importantly he was shown about the gathering of Israel (which is exactly what the Mormon religion claims is happening… they are being gathered as the tribe of Ephraim, while Israel is being gathered as the tribe of Judah). So in the exact timeframe as shown in this chapter (the latter days, when the tribes will begin to gather) he sees a vision that in the Lords church there will be the stick, or scroll that is a record from the tribe of Judah (the Bible), and a stick, or scroll that is a record from the tribe of Ephraim (or the BOM). The BOM claims it is a record from the tribe of Ephraim. 5. My final point of evidence is by simply pointing out it would be nearly impossible for J. S. to have written it. A- Most of the translations were done while J. S. was staring into a hat. So all these verses in the BOM that were quoted form the Bible, if J. S. wrote it, and didn't translate, he would of had to have all these verse memorized. B- Coming up with this story off the top of his head? Not to mention it runs hand to hand with the Bible, and he did this staring into a hat? Impossible. C- Introduced over 380 words into the English language. D- Joseph Smith only had 3 years of education! !! F- The BOM was translated in 63 day! ! So to sum up this debate, either this book was made up by a man with a 3 year education introducing 380 words into the English language, coinciding directly with the Bible, quoting many verses he would have had to have memorized, contains multiple verse of beautiful ancient form of writing(Chiasmus) lost to the world during the 1800's, including what is claimed to be the most beautifully written form of Chiasmus we have knowledge of, fulfills prophesies in the Bible that were written way before the people in the BOM even left Israel, has multiple little evidence that suggest the books authenticity (knowledge about marksmanship that J. S. certainly didn't have), was written in 63 days all while this man was staring into a hat. Or, it is an ancient document.