Comparing the Origins of the Quran and the Book of Mormon.

I was just reading Introduction to Islam by Dan Brown, and the chapter covers the origin of the Quran. I started to think about the similar origins of the Book of Mormon. What I mean by that is how for both books there is a debated subject of what is, or is not accurate in the texts origin stories. For both a pious Muslim and a pious Saint the testimony of the either being scriptural can not be undone by mere conjecture.

Brown (2017) notes that the Quran doesn't make since to have emerged from Medina/Mecca, and some scholars point to southern Iraq (p.87). "The Qurans Polemics also fit better in a religious environment" dominated by Syriac Jews/Christians (Brown, 2017, p.87). Brown goes on to say that a quick read of the Quran shows a god displeased with Christian Theology, and is very anti-Trinitarian. Historical records show very limited presence of Jews/Christians in Mecca/Medina.

Brown (2017) asks "Who was there to argue with, and was to care whether God had a son?" (p. 88). This is a fascinating point being made by Dan Brown. Understanding the traditional account of the narrative of how the Quran came to be doesn't make sense with a linguistic examination of the passages. The evidence suggest assemblage counter to the traditional narrative. However, for the Pious Muslim this is irrelevant to their belief, as "the Quran comes from God and its sacred origins are ultimately the only origins that matter" (Brown, 2017, p. 90).

Similarly, the Book of Mormon has several theories as to its origin. Whether it was truly translated from the gold plates by Joseph Smith, or was entirely from the imagination of secretly well educated farm hand, or that Joseph Smith was a manic schizophrenic [sic] the Book of Mormon embodies such, or the many supposed accounts of the same uneducated farm boy plagiarizing fictional works, etc. (Bushman, 2005).

The Quran can be argued as a response of Mohammad PBUH to his religious cultural of his time. Of which many Pagans were the dominate religious sect, scattered amongst them were far removed Jews and arguable mix of gnostic and trinitarian Christians populating mixes of Arabian Tribes. Likewise, the same can be said of Joseph Smith PBUH responding to the revivalist movement of earlier 1800's. Both the Quran and the Book of Mormon are trumpets blaring loudly as a counter response to the cultural theological and social normative of their respective times.

Paraphrasing what Brown (2017) said its doesn't matter to the pious Muslim or the pious Latter-day Saint. Regardless whether or not each book is authentic scripture or an elaborate fictional hoax. The spiritual impact can be seen amongst the pious Muslim and Latter-day Saint alike. To the spiritual practitioner of either they can gleam theological jewels, and in return be lifted beyond their own faculties through mechanisms of Mercy, and feeling of Divine love. In both scripture you see a common thread of lifting Man (Male and Female) beyond their mortal coils, and earns to be melded by an all powerful deity. Each asking to be saved from this fallen world, and receive a respite in a greater world which resides in the realms of the Heavenly abode.

Reference

Brown, D. (2017). Introduction to Islam (3rd edition). John Wiley & Sons.

Bushman, R.L. (2005) Joseph Smith rough stone rolling. Vintage.