What if Mormonism was actually real
The quoted take is actually interesting. If the golden plates existed, every expert confirmed the translation, all the archaeological evidence lined up - would it matter? Would people actually join?
The real answer is probably no. Once a religion's built on institutional cynicism and cultural tradition, the truth becomes almost irrelevant. Belief is about belonging, not facts. You could hand people proof and they'd still find reasons to doubt or stay out.
If we had the golden plates in a museum, and every expert in the world agreed Joseph translated the Book of Mormon correctly, would that "prove" The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true? Would everyone be compelled to join the Church?
A thought experiment about whether evidence would actually change religious belief, or if institutions and culture matter more than truth.
Source
x.com