I recently got into a debate with an amateur apologist who argued that the Apocalypse of Abraham proves the Book of Abraham.

http://www.mormonapologies.com/other-scripture/the-apocalypse-of-abraham-and-the-book-of-abraham/

Yeah, I've never really understood that particular mormon claim.

Basically, it's "See, other books about Abraham exist, so ours could be real!"

Except none of the others are "real," they're essentially "fan fiction" written by people wanting to "flesh out" the Abraham story, which is awfully short in the bible.

So, Joe wrote Abraham "fan fiction," too. And...?

Yeah that was effectively my realization. It certainly doesn't prove the BOA...

You did a good job of showing the "Apocalypse" is nothing like the "Book of Abraham."
But like many other things, mormons will overlook all the vast ways they're completely different, and focus on them both being about Abraham, and both mentioning "idoltary." So, see, somebody back then must have known about the mormon BoA, and gotten some small "truths" from it, without having the whole thing.

Mormons and their lack of critical thinking...:(

Thanks! Yeah I guess so much is the lens with which you look at the facts. I was trying to be a little more objective with this post.

You were objective. They're not :)

I understand your motivation -- I once spent 30 minutes having a TBM tell me that the "existing Abrahamic literature verifies the BoA," with the "existing Abrahamic literature" being the Apocalypse. There was no changing his mind :(

Yeah I was going back and forth with a guy on FB, and I had never actually heard of the Apocalypse of Abraham. So I was like, what the hey, why not, Ill read it and see if it supports the BOA.

What about a book that's about a group of people who come to a
place where man has never been. They originally start out as
one group but then divide into two groups, one more civilized
and one more savage. There are wars and contentions between the
two groups until a savior miraculously appears.

Of course I'm talking about the book "Lord of the Flies" by
William Golding.

What did you think I was talking about?

Ah so the BOM is true, because Lord of the Flies has the same theme! It all makes sense! I guess I need to go back to church!