I am interested to know some thoughts on the possible origins of the Mormon "scriptures".
While a member, I recall a list of characteristics of the BoM that LDS scholars had put togther that showed that J.S. could not have written them without "divine revelation". Things like the Chiastic structure of the Book of Mosiah, and all of the unique, yet "linguisitcally consistent" names in the BoM.
I know that some 30 years back, the original "Book of Abraham" papyrus showed up in Chicago and was donated to the church. Since then, all respectable Egyptologists have failed to find any connection between it and the content of the Book of Abraham in the PoGP.
It is also increasingly apparent that there is no archealogical evidence for the BoM story anywhere on the American continent. This includes no evidence for Middle Eastern DNA in any of the three indigenous American populations.
So what are some of the rational and scientifically-informed explanations for the production of such "convincing", biblical-style writings?
One term I read about recently is called "auditory hallucination". This, I think, is the auditory equivalent of a visual hallucination. In this case, Smith's daily life, his family, social milieu, and mind were "full of content" from the revivalism of the Second Great Awakening (1800-1830) that regurgitating an American-centric christianity is feasible for a mind that is susceptible to mild hallucination.
Anyone care to comment on the how it might have happened (in reality)?