Dan Peterson breaks Church Rules in pursuit of Mopologetics

[Guest]

What is scary to me is that people seem to have deified certain individuals and no matter what the individual does the person never does wrong.

[_beastie]

ETA--If DCP had chosen to pursue a further investigation, I would agree 100% with you guys.

But the fact is, he didn't. And it is left entirely to speculation as to whether or not he would have pursued something further.

I don't believe he would have. You believe he would have.

That is where we stand. At an impasse.

I thought that the whole purpose of Dan's bishop friend checking the rolls was because he felt an ecclesiastical duty to determine if a fellow bishop was talking smack about the church on the internet. Now we're asked to believe there was never any intent to uncover Wang's real identity. This makes no sense.

Liz, I understand you're not going to change your mind. I just hope that in some part of your mind you realize that refusal to change your mind has nothing to do with the actual events and everything to do with your feelings of loyalty towards a friend. There's nothing wrong with being loyal to a friend, but there is something wrong with your arguments on this thread. They don't make sense. We're not pointing that out because we're a raving bunch of hypocrites, by the way. We're pointing that out because your arguments don't make sense.

[_Bret Ripley]

ETA--If DCP had chosen to pursue a further investigation, I would agree 100% with you guys.

But the fact is, he didn't. And it is left entirely to speculation as to whether or not he would have pursued something further.

I don't believe he would have. You believe he would have.

That is where we stand. At an impasse.

I thought that the whole purpose of Dan's bishop friend checking the rolls was because he felt an ecclesiastical duty to determine if a fellow bishop was talking smack about the church on the internet. Now we're asked to believe there was never any intent to uncover Wang's real identity. This makes no sense.

Exactly. If the reason for the inquiry was "there may be a bishop misbehaving on the internet," without follow-up all that would have been learned is "there may be a bishop misbehaving on the internet."

Liz, I understand you're not going to change your mind. I just hope that in some part of your mind you realize that refusal to change your mind has nothing to do with the actual events and everything to do with your feelings of loyalty towards a friend. There's nothing wrong with being loyal to a friend, but there is something wrong with your arguments on this thread. They don't make sense. We're not pointing that out because we're a raving bunch of hypocrites, by the way. We're pointing that out because your arguments don't make sense.

Respectfully seconded.

[_Yoda]

You know, on another board I visit, there is a questioning Mormon that made a really profound statement.

He talks about a "mental shelf" where Mormons put things they don't want to face.

I'm thinking some people (hint hint) have a whole library.

Agreed. And it goes both ways.

[_Yoda]

Respectfully seconded.

Respectfully noted.

Now, can we please respectfully move on?

[_Jason Bourne]

Wow 51 pages on this totally irrelevant issue. Carry on!

[_hobo1512]

You know, on another board I visit, there is a questioning Mormon that made a really profound statement.

He talks about a "mental shelf" where Mormons put things they don't want to face.

I'm thinking some people (hint hint) have a whole library.

Agreed. And it goes both ways.

Sorry, I don't have a library card.

[_3sheets2thewind]

Wow 51 pages on this totally irrelevant issue. Carry on!

Just to be clear, it is irrelevant that a Bishop abused his position for the benefit of a friend?

[_lulu]

What is scary to me is that people seem to have deified certain individuals and no matter what the individual does the person never does wrong.

And in Mormonism that is supposed to be the prophet and president of the church.

[_beastie]

Wow 51 pages on this totally irrelevant issue. Carry on!

Jason,

One of the worst traits of Mormonism is the tendency to villify those who doubt. If someone is not ready to be exposed as a doubter and/or critic, it can be devastating to their life for someone else to expose them. Spouses and children can be lost, jobs can be threatened, friends can turn away. Given that reality, the fact that some believers either try to shame critics into using their real names, or try to find out real identities in other ways, I think this story is sadly relevant.