As with last year's winner, the Martin Harris Amulet of Gullibility is given to the person who, in the view of the nominating committee at Cassius University, has best displayed utterly fatuous thinking and dazzling naïvété in Mopologetics. Considering how crowded the field is in these regards, it is truly an impressive achievement to be singled out for recognition. Thus, it is my pleasure to award the 2011 Martin Harris Amulet of Gullibility to:
Wade Englund!
A noted sexuality therapist and kayaking enthusiast, Wade Englund also makes for an interesting segue from last year's nominee, as, like Gregory L. Smith, Wade was (is?) an enthusiastic supporter of William Schyver's theories about the Kirtland Egyptian Papers, despite having no ability to articulate what exactly those theories are, or what factual support underlies them.
But this year, it was Brother Englund's singular statement on a thread on the Mormon Dialogue and Discussion board that rocketed him to the top of all contenders for this award. The thread to which I refer was started by a purported LDS seminary teacher who was asking for advice in circumventing official LDS doctrine while being paid to teach official LDS doctrine to teenagers. Here is Brother Englund's observation on the subject:
Wade Englund wrote:
I wouldn't worry in the least about teaching the so-called Old Testament literalism to seminary-aged students. Generation after generations have been raised that way without significant problems. Besides, from a developmental standpoint, seminary-aged minds can still benefit from a certain degree of fundamentalism/literalism prior to transitioning into adulthood. Often, their frontal lobes aren't developed enough to properly handle the nuances and divergence of views. And, it may be enough that our teens are under significant societal pressure as it is to grow up faster than is needed or may be healthy. So, feel free and comfortable to let them grow up slowly in this area. Just a thought.
Thanks, -Wade Englund-
http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/559 ... ogmatisms/
Yes, in only a few sentences, Wade Englund explains that official LDS doctrine is ideally suited for immature adolescents with undeveloped brains, and "generations" of people have benefited from ancient Hebrew myths and superstitions being taught as historical fact. Although he believes he is speaking in favor of the Church, in fact he is cutting right to the chase of the cloying paternalism, puerile biblical literalism, and presenting Jewish tribal folklore as actual events that we have come to know and love from the official teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That Wade apparently perceives his comments as favorable to the Church, rather than a devastating critique, is precisely the kind of naïvété and gullibility that the Martin Harris Amulet was designed to recognize.
Kudos to you, Wade Englund! I hope that the faculty, staff, students, and fans of Cassius University will join me in applauding your impressive accomplishment for this year!
You're welcome, -Darth J-