Korihor () is an anti-christ described in in the

Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude ...

Life

Korihor is directly referred to in the Book of Mormon as Anti-Christ, because he claimed there will be no

Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and relig ...

. Korihor was able to preach his views to the people because of the land's freedom of religion. These teachings alarmed the clerical government in

Zarahemla According to the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Zarahemla () refers to a large city in the ancient Americas which is described in the Book of Mormon. Archaeologists and historians have not been able to archaeological ...

, who felt that his views were dangerous to their society, as people had begun to ignore the laws of the land (which were based on the religious beliefs of their society). He attempted to preach to the people of

Ammon Ammon (Ammonite: 𐤏𐤌𐤍 ''ʻAmān''; he, עַמּוֹן ''ʻAmmōn''; ar, عمّون, ʻAmmūn) was an ancient Semitic-speaking nation occupying the east of the Jordan River, between the torrent valleys of Arnon and Jabbok, in ...

, but the residents had kicked him out of

Jershon According to the Book of Mormon, the land of Jershon ()

. He also tried preaching in Gideon and he was arrested; before a high priest, during a hearing for his apparent

blasphemy Blasphemy is a speech crime and religious crime usually defined as an utterance that shows contempt, disrespects or insults a deity, an object considered sacred or something considered inviolable. Some religions regard blasphemy as a religio ...

and for causing social discord, Korihor offered a speech in his own defense. Korihor was turned over to higher authority and later got into an argument with the chief judge and governor, Alma regarding the existence of God. Alma responded to Korihor's arguments, stating that all things testified that there is a God. Korihor finally demanded that Alma show him a sign from God or he, Korihor, would not believe in God. This culminated in Korihor being miraculously rendered deaf and mute, upon which Korihor confessed, in writing: Korihor begged for forgiveness, but Alma, sensing that Korihor would go back to his wicked ways, cast Korihor out. Korihor became a beggar and was later trampled to death by the

Zoramites In the Book of Mormon, the Zoramites () were one of three major Nephite sects, existing during the administration of Alma the Younger as the High Priest over the Church of God (). Zoram, the leader of this group, is first mentioned in as being th ...

, a group who had separated themselves from the main

Nephite According to the Book of Mormon, the Nephites () are one of four groups (along with the Lamanites, Jaredites, and Mulekites) to have settled in the ancient Americas. The term is used throughout the Book of Mormon to describe the religious, p ...

society.

Teachings

Korihor's statements provide explicit arguments for atheism, which have been categorized as arguments for agnosticism, empiricism, secular humanism, and relativism. Perhaps because of the direct treatment that Korihor gives the topic of atheism, his words have been cited by skeptics as exemplary, while devotees cite his teachings in an attempt to inoculate their audiences against similar heresy. Korihor's argument was two-fold. First, that "ye cannot know of things which ye do not see", from which he extrapolated that there is no fairness or unfairness, no crime or sin, no cause for shame, and no eternal consequence of actions. In the absence of sin, the need for an atoning sacrifice and the ordinances and religious participation to connect people to that atoning sacrifice are obviated, and followers are instead encouraged to "look up with boldness", "enjoy their rights and privileges", and "make use of that which is their own". Second, Korihor hypothesizes that the only reason for perpetuation of orthodox beliefs is "a foolish and vain hope" on the part of believers, and, on the part of priests and teachers, a desire "to usurp power and authority over he people and "keep them down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut yourselves with the labors of their hands".

Possible origin of the name

Hugh Nibley relates the name to Egypt, and states: :"The first high priest f the twenty-first dynasty in Egyptwas called Korihor, and his son was called Piankhi - two Book of Mormon names." Nibley relates Korihor's name to Kherihor, a high priest at Thebes.''Lehi in the Desert'', p. 27. Nibley's source for the Egyptian name is

Hermann Ranke Heinrich Johannes Hermann Ranke (August 5, 1878 – April 22, 1953) was a German Egyptologist who worked at the University of Heidelberg. He was forced to leave during the Nazi regime as his wife had Jewish ancestors. He worked during period at th ...

, ''Die Agyptischen Personennamen'' The Egyptian Personal Names" Gluckstadt: Augustin, 1935.

Notes

External links

Korihor on FAIR (A Mormon apologetic site)
Book of Mormon people Skepticism Antichrist

Life

Teachings

Possible origin of the name

Notes

Further reading

External links