Joseph Smith and the Papyri

[pablope]

Ancient peoples learned a lot of astronomy/astrology before the invention of the telescope. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter are visible to the naked eye. The Egyptians’ observations, all conducted without telescopes, allowed them to align the pyramids fairly accurately north-south. Calendars are ancient and in many cultures. Eratosthenes was able to calculate the circumference of the earth around 3rd c. BC.

Not to take away from Galileo, but give the ancients some credit.

Yes…but not all. Those who did were dedicated solely to the study of the stars. I think the mormon claim from the BofA (from what I can remember previously) is that Abraham taught the Pharaoh their knowledge of the stars.

Abraham…who was a farmer, shepherd…would spend a lifetime to study astrology?