Comments on: The Messiah Ben Joseph Tradition http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/the-messiah-ben-joseph-tradition/ By Common Consent is the pre-eminent Mormon blog. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:46:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Joshua Madson http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/the-messiah-ben-joseph-tradition/#comment-190610 Joshua Madson Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:31:22 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=4113#comment-190610 read the full article <a href="http://http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/article.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=34&Issue=5&ArticleID=14" rel="nofollow">here </a> read the full article here

]]> By: William Morris http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/the-messiah-ben-joseph-tradition/#comment-190556 William Morris Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:01:51 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=4113#comment-190556 One of my earliest experiences with Mormonism on the Internet was doing a search for Mormon poetry and coming across a Web site run by a man who was obsessed with the Messiah ben Joseph concept and had written reams about it -- all posted on that classic 1996-era static html with frames and colored, textured backgrounds. Remember that? Anyway, after clicking through the site it became apparent that this guy was part of a group of others with same preoccupation as several of the pages were responses to the theories of others. And, of course, it all led up to him announcing that he was the Messiah ben Joseph and the posting of a series of revelations that he had received. I'm very sorry now that I didn't preserve those somehow because they were an amazing mix of (poorly written) pseudo-D&C language, post-apocalyptic fiction/conspiracy theory-speak, and quite a bit of crazy. Apparently somebody in the same group (it wasn't clear to me if their connection was solely in cyberspace -- but I believe so, although it seemed like both lived in Utah) had also announced that HE was the Messiah ben Joseph and so the site also had (basically) apologetics discourse for why that guy wasn't and he was. One of my earliest experiences with Mormonism on the Internet was doing a search for Mormon poetry and coming across a Web site run by a man who was obsessed with the Messiah ben Joseph concept and had written reams about it — all posted on that classic 1996-era static html with frames and colored, textured backgrounds. Remember that?

Anyway, after clicking through the site it became apparent that this guy was part of a group of others with same preoccupation as several of the pages were responses to the theories of others.

And, of course, it all led up to him announcing that he was the Messiah ben Joseph and the posting of a series of revelations that he had received. I’m very sorry now that I didn’t preserve those somehow because they were an amazing mix of (poorly written) pseudo-D&C language, post-apocalyptic fiction/conspiracy theory-speak, and quite a bit of crazy.

Apparently somebody in the same group (it wasn’t clear to me if their connection was solely in cyberspace — but I believe so, although it seemed like both lived in Utah) had also announced that HE was the Messiah ben Joseph and so the site also had (basically) apologetics discourse for why that guy wasn’t and he was.

]]> By: Kevin Barney http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/the-messiah-ben-joseph-tradition/#comment-190554 Kevin Barney Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:06:42 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=4113#comment-190554 David G., I think you might have something there. David G., I think you might have something there.

]]> By: Dane http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/the-messiah-ben-joseph-tradition/#comment-190547 Dane Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:20:50 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=4113#comment-190547 I listened to those tapes as a missionary and was deeply impressed at the time. I remember very little of their substance now (I had forgotten that it was Madsen...I thought they were from the guy who does the tapes about ancient Egyptian temple rituals), but I have occasionally thought back to that concept of a Messiah ben Joseph. Thanks for giving me a little more context on the matter. I listened to those tapes as a missionary and was deeply impressed at the time. I remember very little of their substance now (I had forgotten that it was Madsen…I thought they were from the guy who does the tapes about ancient Egyptian temple rituals), but I have occasionally thought back to that concept of a Messiah ben Joseph. Thanks for giving me a little more context on the matter.

]]> By: J. Stapley http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/the-messiah-ben-joseph-tradition/#comment-190546 J. Stapley Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:26:28 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=4113#comment-190546 How can the hushed and profound tonalities of Madsen be forgotten!? I must admit that while I like your interpretation better, Kevin, I would prefer you to channel Captain Kirk and read it on a podcast for us. How can the hushed and profound tonalities of Madsen be forgotten!? I must admit that while I like your interpretation better, Kevin, I would prefer you to channel Captain Kirk and read it on a podcast for us.

]]> By: Ray http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/the-messiah-ben-joseph-tradition/#comment-190544 Ray Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:15:33 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=4113#comment-190544 Great post, Kevin. This is fascinating to consider. Great post, Kevin. This is fascinating to consider.

]]> By: David G. http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/the-messiah-ben-joseph-tradition/#comment-190538 David G. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:54:52 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=4113#comment-190538 Thanks for this, Kevin. You're bringing back memories of Truman Madsen missionary tapes. I wonder, could these two traditions be the result of the tribes of Emphraim and Judah struggling for primacy? A "I'll take your Judah messiah and match it with my own Ephriam messiah" deal? Thanks for this, Kevin. You’re bringing back memories of Truman Madsen missionary tapes. I wonder, could these two traditions be the result of the tribes of Emphraim and Judah struggling for primacy? A “I’ll take your Judah messiah and match it with my own Ephriam messiah” deal?

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