We have a guy running for president who thinks the Garden of Eden was located in Missouri?

[NNN0LHI]

HOLY SHEEP SHIT!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_Eden

Latter Day Saints' geography

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons or Latter Day Saints), the Garden of Eden is believed to have been located in present-day Jackson County, Missouri based on revelation given to Joseph Smith, Jr. Independence, Missouri was revealed to be the "center place" of Zion and the original dwelling place of Adam and Eve in the Garden which God planted "eastward in Eden". According to the Prophet Joseph, Adam and Eve traveled 85 miles north to the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman after they had transgressed and were driven from the Garden. (Adam-ondi-Ahman is sometimes mistakenly associated with the location of the garden itself). As for its location in the western hemisphere, some Latter-day Saints have presumed the continents were not yet separate before the Great Flood and that this approach would be consistent with the configuration of the super-continent Pangaea. While geologists consider that the continents had separated by the Cretaceous period, some Latter-day Saints have pointed to the account in Genesis which states that the earth was "divided" in the days of Peleg.

In the Pearl of Great Price, it is taught that there were lands and rivers that were given names later attached to other lands and rivers as in the Book of Genesis. The geographic descriptions of Eden in the Bible would therefore refer to entirely different lands and rivers than those carrying the same names today, whose names were transposed after the biblical flood to local lands and rivers in the Near East. By one account Joseph Smith taught that Noah built the ark near modern-day South Carolia. Thus, it is argued, the offspring of Noah populated the eastern hemisphere.

[MonkeyFunk]

1. and all the other candidates

believe it was in the Middle East.

Why is one belief more unreasonable than the other?

[RufusTFirefly]

4. I'm with MonkeyFunk on this one

Besides, everyone knows the real Garden of Eden was located in a greenhouse near the North Pole, just a few doors down from Santa's workshop.

[liberalEd]

83. Funny how the other guy's fairy tales always sound so silly n/t

[King Coal]

94. The difference is that the LDS cultists' book of mormon is such wacko

made-up nonsense that it is impossible to believe that anyone can actually have faith in it. "Just when you think three wifes is enough, WHAM, Holy Spirit sucker punch." I know mormons who admit that it is just baloney, but they say they believe it anyway. I think it is dangerous, simply because it allows people to take advantage. It's sickening, I mean I tolerate it and everything, but it is sickening. Too bad that so many people allow themselves to be so phony.

[eridani]

104. Not really different. These beliefs are epiphenomena of a deeper human trait--

--to wit, a strong tendency toward solidarity with your kinfolks. "Hey! Look-a-me! I'm in with the in-crowd! I believe in all the same stupid things that my family believes in!"

[King Coal]

105. Man, I had to look that work up. Thanks. I think you're right on with that.

[eridani]

113. Traditional religion is only one possibility for swearing group loyalty

"Historical necessity" served exactly the same function in the old Soviet Union.

[JNelson6563]

106. Much like the bible

But everyone can cast asparagus as those who believe in a different "holy book" than theirs.

Oy.

Julie

[King Coal]

109. The Bible wasn't plagiarized from a book written by Ethan Smith.

Called "Views of the Hebrews".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/View_of_the_Hebrews

[Maddy McCall]

6. Hear hear.

:thumbsup:

[helderheid]

7. Thank you. n/t

[karynnj]

14. Actually it was thought to be the Near East

maybe present day Iraq.

[sniffa]

18. baghdad actuaLLy

why do you think we're there?

[karynnj]

39. So it's not oil, after all, it's control of the Garden of Eden?

Seriously, it was very weird for me in fall 2003, when my youngest was learning her Bat Mitzvah Torah reading, which was from an early part of Genesis and dealt with Abraham moving through Iraq as he moved South. The footnotes gave the modern names - all of which were in the news at that time.

[rateyes]

60. Perhaps the Republicans found the "Tree of Life" with

the fiery swords and angels protecting it. They're trying to keep it double top secret, because if they can find a way to get past those angels, then they can control the world! :sarcasm:

[John Q. Citizen]

15. I never did trust that creation myth as the real deal. I figure there was a translation problem

and it should have read, The Garden of Sweden.

[Madspirit]

36. "The Garden of Sweden"

:rofl:

[Heidi]

50. Sweden, Switzerland, Missouri. What's the difference?

:P

:hi: Lee! :pals:

[Madspirit]

100. Hi Heidi!

:hi: :hug:


Yup, no difference. That just cracked me up for some reason.

Lee

[greatauntoftriplets]

22. I thought it was Nauvoo, IL.

?????

On edit: It was really Ireland.

Has to be, the place is so damn wonderful.

[LanternWaste]

93. Water tables?

Water tables? :shrug:

[dubyaD40web]

99. No wonder why Independence is the meth capital of the world.

LMAO

[last_texas_dem]

108. I agree with your point

I'm not sure how what Romney believes is all that much "crazier" than the beliefs all the other "real" Xian candidates profess. There are plenty of attributes of Romney that are worth bashing; his faith is not one of them.

[kenny blankenship]

2. but don't you dare ASK HIM about that

that would be "disrespectful to religion". I'm not sure why, since he's supposed to believe it; but I am sure he won't be asked about that and if you tried to, you'd have your guts ripped out on live tv.

[Lerkfish]

3. y'all should read the book of Mormon...some really strange items in it.

[John Q. Citizen]

10. Heeey 12 guys said it was true, right in the beginning, so you know it has to be.

/sarcasm

[Maddy McCall]

16. Huh. Ever read the Bible? The Koran? Dianetics?

Some strange stuff there, too. You really oughta read 'em.

[Lerkfish]

79. well, except for Dianetics, the bible and the Koran refer to historical figures

whose existence can be veried by other sources.

As opposed to the Book of Mormon, which has no independent corroboration of any historical figures (except those already mentioned in the bible), archeological or otherwise.

[hatrack]

32. Or, as Mark Twain described it, "chloroform in print"

:evilgrin:

[Raster]

66. I have read the book or mormon. Not one thing within its covers can be authenticated.

Nothing. Biological, botanical, archaeological, anthropological, geographical. Nothing. There have been several church-sponsored attempts to lend credence, and all have ended in failure. Of course, no one ever hears about that.

For the record: raised LDS and left the church years ago.

[Lerkfish]

78. agreed. I read it and noted how it made sure WHITE people were in america before

the indigenuous (sp?) population, but there is no basis for that conjecture except the book itself.

[Raster]

110. The major tenant of the BoM is that the Native Americans are the lost tribe(s) of Israel.

Or their descendants. Genetic testing has PROVED CONCLUSIVELY that there is NOT ONE DROP OF HEBREW BLOOD in Native Americans. None. Nada. Nyet. None. Again, the church and BYU sponsored several rounds of genetic testing, which, of course proved the church and the BoM wrong. Those results disappeared into the mormon memory hole. Never to be heard from again.

Two religious organizations which should have their tax exempt status investigated are the Roman Catholic Church in America and the Mormons. Both meddle in political affairs far beyond what the law allows.

Wake up America!:kick:

[King Coal]

97. Good for you Raster. You are not alone. Trust me.

[KOBUK]

68. Like the way they built submarines to get from Africa

to South America !

[EstimatedProphet]

5. It is

Ever had Kansas City beef short ribs? You wouldn't doubt the Garden of Eden was there afterwards!

[deadmessengers]

24. I dunno about that

But good KC BBQ is enough to make a man see god. :beer:

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. Bryants or Gates?

[EstimatedProphet]

53. GATES!

Gates BBQ is da bomb!

[proud2BlibKansan]

62. We are in complete agreement!

Bryant's sucks. Gates is the best.

There is however, this fairly new little BBQ place in KCK in a gas station. Yes, a gas station. It is friggin awesome! http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/

If you ever come back this way, let me know and I will treat you. If you like Gates, Oklahoma Joe's will blow you away!

[EstimatedProphet]

65. If I do get that way again, I'll take you up on that!

[Blue_Tires]

88. another vote for gates!

lol

[proud2BlibKansan]

92. Same offer if you ever come to KC

Oklahoma Joe's - on me.

[Jack Bone]

8. We've got a President that thinks he's "The Decider"..

The Garden of Eden in Missouri isn't that much of a stretch.

[sniffa]

9. oh pLease

have you read the goLden pLates?

k&r

[Rambis]

61. God lives on the planet Kolab

magic underwear etc tc- When you go to the temple you get a new name (the same name for all on that day) then you learn the hand signals you will need to do under the some cloth while wearing a baker's hat that will use to get you into heaven. Just a few tip of the iceberg things it gets weider once you look into it and learn about the golden plates and the seeing stone what's his face puts in the hat etc etc. A few years ago they put a bunch of stuff in about the magic salamander but they found out the "sacred texts" were forgeries so the salamander disappeared. They found all this out after the source (Hoffman) of the documents blew himself up in a car in Salt Lake city. He was trying to plant a car bomb to kill another guy who knew the documents the church had paid millions for were fakes.

http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon322.htm

[noonwitch]

69. Hugh Nibley's fraudulent research

Hugh Nibley tried to verify that ancient egyptian texts back up Joseph Smith's claims. His daughter (Martha Beck) claims that not only did he just make shit up to "prove" it, he also sexually abused her while re-enacting the rituals.

She claims that most of the mormon rituals were ripped off from the masons.

[rucky]

11. You've obviously never been to Branson

If this isn't Eden...

[sniffa]

17. ....

:rofl:

DUzy worthy.

[bleever]

23. Shoji!

And Branson is where the people of the world come together.

[YOY]

71. In Branson Missouri laughter explodes you!

n/t

[valerief]

45. Oh, man, I wish I was young enough to enjoy recreational hallucinogens

and go there very high.

[proud2BlibKansan]

73. I did that once

It's not a nice memory.

We used to go canoeing every year not far from Branson. And we were young enough to enjoy recreational hallucinogens. Well one year we decided to go into Branson after our canoe trip. There was ONE rock club there at the time. We were planning on going there. But it was not open that night. So we decided to check out some of the other clubs. Well lemme tell ya, country music and hallucinogens really don't mix well. To this day, I can barely stomach loud country bars. :)

[OzarkDem]

75. We did it too

Beautiful colors when floating on the river. I would not have gone into the CW clubs, though. Better to stay at the campfire.

[valerief]

85. I was thinking more of the Lawrence Welk-type shows where you need

a cane or wheelchair for admittance. Now those shows would be great high.

[proud2BlibKansan]

91. Those shows are pretty lame

You may have a point. LOL

[BlooInBloo]

12. lol! But of course we can't make fun of religious people.

[Random_Australian]

13. Eh, I'd be more concerned about his policies personally.

I think it just sounds strange because we're used to the other version.

*disclaimer: As an atheist, I wasn't likely to care about what people thought of the garden of Eden in the first place.

[tularetom]

19. BFD there's a couple who think the earth is 6000 years old

and the old timers rode around on dinosaurs.

And we have one in office now who thinks Moby Dick is a veneraeal disease.

[Dr.Phool]

34. Wrong!!!

He thinks he's the Vice-President!

[karlrschneider]

76. He thinks Manual Labor is the vice president of Mexico!

Thinks Peter Pan is a wash basin in a whorehouse!
And Ping Pong Balls is a Chinese venereal disease!

:rimshot:

:rofl:

[KamaAina]

96. And Taco Bell is the Mexican phone company...

and so on...

[martymar64]

102. And that Johnny Cash is a pay toilet

:dunce:

[karlrschneider]

103. Hehe....well I wanted to leave a few for youse guys...

:rofl:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

20. I once read that there's a place in the Mormon Bible called the Land Of Moron

I'm not making this up. It's supposedly a place where a great King dwelt.

Its location must be somewhere around Crawford, Texas.

[givemebackmycountry]

21. It's True Dammit!

Garden of Eden?

It's off of I-70E.

It's either called Arrowhead Stadium or Kauffman Stadium whichever one is doing better.

Personally, I think they are both dumps.
But what do I know, I hate both teams.

[jazzjunkysue]

30. Hate to tell you, but, it's right there, in Jackson county, east of Raytown-ondi-Ahman.

Yep.
:rofl:

[bowens43]

25. It's certainly no more bizarre then thinking.....

that there actually was a garden of Eden.

Religion is an insult to human dignity.

[L. Coyote]

26. Some believe that someone rose from the dead. Go figure!

The majority of Americans believe it too, or so I am told by the media.

If a Presidential candidate said, "No one can rise from the dead, how ridiculous," would their campaign be doomed? Such is the power of belief!

[NNN0LHI]

27. I wonder if a snake handler could make it as a Republican presidential candidate?

Probably win by a landslide.

Don

[Disturbed]

29. Adam & Eve got kicked out of the Garden just as the Mormons

were driven out of Missouri. PBS had an excellent two part Doc. about the Mormons. When it comes to religions I can't decide which one is the wackiest.

[Madspirit]

38. ...and they believe in a virgin birth...n/t

[Katherine Brengle]

28. Argh - worst. candidate. ever.

This fartstick was my governor - what an assbag.

He's been running all over the country badmouthing my state - but it was good enough for him to run (coughcoughshittilycoughcough) while it lasted, eh?

If I had a chance to kick Mitt Romney in a very uncomfortable region, I would do it with little reservation.

[Bluebear]

31. With his history of flip flops tomorrow he'll say it was in West Virginia.

[Peregrine]

33. I've been to Adam-ondi-Ahman

Nothing to exciting, just stone foundations and a marker. I think the significance of Adam-ondi-Ahman is that Adam reappeared to some mormons and directed them to rebuild the City of Zion (Independence, MO and RLDS HQ).

[Zensea]

35. He's wrong, it's in Lucas, Kansas

right here
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/KSLUCeden.html

:evilgrin:

and the gates of hell are in Stull, Kansas
http://www.prairieghosts.com/stull.html

By the way, I think that wikipedia article might be a little mixed up. The RLDS (reformed Latter Day Saints) have their headquarters in Independence, Missouri but that is not the same church as the Mormons. There was a schism between Brigham Young and Joseph Smith. The Mormons in Utah are the branch from Young. It's not the same church. So when it says "some Latter Day Saints" it is referring to the branch in Missouri, they are not the Mormons that Romney is a member of.

At least that's my understanding of it.

[jazzjunkysue]

42. And don't forget the birthplace of the anti-christ:

[Exultant Democracy]

56. Bush was born in New Haven CT, don't buy that cowboy crap n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. RLDS changed their name to Community of Christ

They are doing all they can to separate from the Mormons.

[proud2BlibKansan]

74. That place in Lucas, KS is awesome!!

Definitely worth the side trip off of I-70.

[Madspirit]

37. k&r...n/t

[Ilsa]

41. I generally wish to stay out of a candidate's religious beliefs, but

Mormonism is so contemporary that it is too easy to "work around" regarding facts, nevermind the aspects of faith. If he wasn't a Mormon, I bet he'd just about have the nom locked up.

[electron_blue]

84. I agree with you about the nomination.

And I still think his Mormon beliefs/background will keep him out of the White House.

[struggle4progress]

43. Why do you hate Missouri?

[NNN0LHI]

48. I love Missouri

There is nothing better than smelling alfalfa as its drying.

I can't get that sweet smell out of my mind.

Don

[valerief]

44. Another one that believes in virgin birth, too! nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

46. On PBS they said it was in Iran

there was a very interesting program on PBS a few years ago on some studies that the G o E was in Iran!

[Philosoraptor]

49. & that Jesus visited the native Americans before the white folks arrived.

[AwakeAtLast]

55. And here's the souvenir

http://enjoytreasures.com/programs/shop/showitem.cgi?nativity&10148.dat

[momster]

51. A Vote for Andorra

Everybody knows the GoE was in Andorra...or so they believe there. Personally, I think it was right next to Atlantis, just down from Utopia after a quick left by Ultima Thule.

[youthere]

52. I thought that was the name of Rocky Roccoco's salad bar...

oh wait..that's the Garden of Eatin'

[NNN0LHI]

54. Tell this story to any Republican fundy nutjobs you know and watch their faces go ashen

I have. Its priceless. Get a camera ready.

Don

[Exultant Democracy]

58. I can see how it might piss of the fundies, but it isn't like their religion

is any less silly.

[Hepburn]

57. Well, I have heard that some of the born-again RWs actually....

...believe that dinosaurs were on Noah's arc. So....in that setting, the delusions of Mitt do not seem that odd about the Garden of Eden ~~ which is a Christian myth to begin with ~~ was located in central 'Merika.

Let's face it: The RWs are all fucked up because of the garbage they believe. Not unexpected that Mitt who is basically a member of a cult and not a religion IMO is more fucked up than the rest of the RW religious nuts.

JMHO

[Beelzebud]

59. So does Harry Reid, our Majority Leader.

Maybe that explains why he's so eager to accept Bush's bullshit.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

63. Meh.

We've had presidents who believed in the Garden of Eden for two hundred+ years, I'm not going to get worked up over debates as to wear it was.

[donsu]

64. the Garden of Eden resides in the garden of the mind

nt

[gatorboy]

67. HELLO! Everyone knows the Garden of Eden is in Chloë Sevigny's pants.

Sheesh!

[progressoid]

70. Now now. Lets not get too judgmental.

If you start picking apart one religion, you might end up damaging the beliefs of other people no matter how ludicrous. I say live and let live. I've heard that some people actually believe that a wafer can become the body of the son of God! And then they eat it!!

What ever gets you through the night etc.

Now, please excuse me, I have an appointment to get my Thetans tuned up I hope to get to OT level V by the end of the year!

[Milo_Bloom]

72. Dum, dum, dum, dum, dummmm

I didn't realize just how kookie this particular cult was until I saw this.

http://www.southparkzone.com/episode-vid-712.htm

[bryant69]

77. You go to those south park guys for political information as well?

Just out of curiosity?

Cause they are bushbots.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Madspirit]

80. They are NOT Bushbots

They are libertarians. They make fun of everyone. It's called "satire".
Lee

[bryant69]

86. bushbots might be stretching it

But certainly when it comes to taking rights away from workers and giving them to the wealthy and corporations, they stand shoulder to shoulder with Bush.

We tried libertarianism once - back in the tail end of the 1800s. Worked out great for the wealthy.

Bryant

[Madspirit]

89. I Only Thought It Was Stretching It

I have Libertarian friends but they bug me a lot. I always tell them that they just want all the Fun of being liberal without any of that pesky..."he ain't heavy, he's my brother" stuff.

I have a few libertarian beliefs but only with a small "l" and only a few....mainly my body is my own. It doesn't belong to god, my doctor, my country or even my SO. It is mine. I support legalizing things like prostitution and pot and keeping abortion safe, legal and on demand.

I do not support their fiscal stinginess or their lack of concern for anyone not them.

Lee

[Milo_Bloom]

111. LOL. Sorry, they are FAR from bushbots

[IndianaJones]

81. is there proof that it wasn't? nt.

[electron_blue]

82. Honestly, the bar was lowered so far after Bush got in office that I think anything is possible

especially when it comes to academic knowledge or intellectual ability in a president.

[bamacrat]

87. Yep, and thinks that being a cruel dick means he's a man.

He's a creepy douche and I hope his campaign falls to pieces quickly. The fact that he became governor of Mass. makes me wonder about the sanity of new englanders.

[NNN0LHI]

90. That makes at least two of us

How this freak became governor of Massachusetts I will never know?

>>>The fact that he became governor of Mass. makes me wonder about the sanity of new englanders.<<<

Don

[EFerrari]

95. At least he's trying to find the Earth on a globe

which is more than can be said for Junior.

[KamaAina]

98. Silly Mitt. Eden is in North Carolina, not Missouri.

Must be a garden around there somewhere...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden%2C_North_Carolina

Eden is a city in Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,908 at the 2000 census. The city was incorporated in 1967 through the consolidation of three separate towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper.

Due to this and the history of the town, several small historic downtown areas have opened up, such as Leaksville, which has tried to become a tourist attraction.

The city's motto is "The Wonderful Land of Eden".

1967, eh? So much for all that revisionist bilge about the Earth being 6,000 years old!!! :P

[lovuian]

101. He believes Noah floated down the Grand Canyon too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dDIStd8Fj8

Crazy

[Rambis]

114. Mittens biggest problem...

Great editorial-

Romney's biggest problem is that skeptics are simply weirded out. They cannot quite envision having a president who believes that a man named Joseph Smith dug up a book of golden plates, long buried in a hillside, with the help of an angel named Moroni in 1827; that these plates, written in Egyptian hieroglyphics, spelled out the precepts of the true Christian faith; that Smith translated these hieroglyphics by wearing decoder glasses and burying his head in a hat; that Jesus visited North America after the resurrection; that the Garden of Eden was really in Missouri.
As Romney himself recently told conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt, ''I believe in my faith. I love my faith, and I would in no way, shape, or form try to distance myself from my faith or the fundamental beliefs of my faith.'' He was a church leader in Massachusetts, as were his forebears out West. And his great-grandfather had five wives, after being personally instructed to practice polygamy by Smith's successor, Brigham Young.

[Terran]

107. Well, Arthur Bryant's BBQ is in Jackson County too...

so that kinda lends credence to this theory, IMO. :wow:

[Disturbed]

112. Romney is a doofus.

I don't think Dems should worry too much about him garnering the RWing nomination. It isn't because he is a doofus, obviously, because look who got nominated twice, but because the RWing doesn't trust him to carry out their Fascist/Theocratic Agenda.