Antiquity Quote by Noah Feldman
“What is driving the tendency to discount Joseph Smith's revelations is not that they seem less reasonable than those of Moses; it is that the book containing them is so new. When it comes to prophecy, antiquity breeds authenticity. Events in the distant past, we tend to think, occurred in sacred, mythic time.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of Mormon: A History of the Latter Day Saint Movement by Richard L. Bushman, 2005
The quote argues that newer religious texts are discounted not because their ideas are less logical, but because their recent origin makes them seem less authentic compared to ancient scriptures.
In simple terms: Newer revelations are doubted due to their recentness, not their reasonableness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias toward age when evaluating truth.
Themes
religion
authority
history
perception
authenticity
Mood
critical
reflective
inquisitive
Type
analytical
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic study of religion
- interfaith dialogue
- personal faith decisions
- teaching religious history
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
tradition
scriptural authority
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the age of a text influence your trust in it?
- Can modern revelations be as authentic as ancient ones?
A Different Perspective
Ancient texts may also contain errors, so age alone isn’t a reliable measure of truth.
