MYTH DISPELLED: LDS Apologists Are Paid

[_the road to hana]

I'm not a liar, and I didn't lie. I receive no salary for apologetic writing or speaking.

Are you compensated for speaking at Education Week?

[_Daniel Peterson]

More accurately, if I were a bank employee I would not speak out against the bank, and if asked to speak on their behalf in a public capacity, or write something in support of the bank, I would be legitimately expected to do so.

But, as I've pointed out again and again and again, I have not been asked to speak on behalf of the Church, or to write something in support of the Church. To some extent, at the University level (as I've noted time and again), there has actually been pressure to the contrary.

Once again, the expectation that a member of the BYU faculty not speak against the Church or write in opposition to the Church entails no obligation on a faculty member's part to write or speak affirmatively for the Church. A non-LDS professor at BYU clearly shares in the obligation not to publicly oppose the Church, for example, but, just as clearly, has no obligation to do Mormon apologetics.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Are you compensated for speaking at Education Week?

I believe so. Some token amount or other. Truthfully, I've scarcely paid attention. My wife would know.

I have to say that I'm deeply moved by the interest that so many here show for the details of my personal finances. Shall we start a thread to share personal budgets, tax returns, employment contracts, and the like?

[_Yoda]

OK...this thing is getting run into the ground.

Dr. Peterson has stated repeatedly that he is not salaried to write or speak on Mormon apologetics.

Being salaried is much different that stating that he didn't receive compensation.

I don't think that Dr. Peterson has ever made the claim that he received NO type of compensation for his apologetic work. He has admitted on several occasions in this very thread, that he, in fact, HAS received monetary compensation for some of his work.

However, he has not been assigned by the university to specifically write apologetic work.

Does this clarify things...and if it does, what in the hell is everyone arguing about?

OK...I'm cranky and need a nap, too. I haven't been able to sleep for two nights due to a sunburn. LOL

[_the road to hana]

More accurately, if I were a bank employee I would not speak out against the bank, and if asked to speak on their behalf in a public capacity, or write something in support of the bank, I would be legitimately expected to do so.

But, as I've pointed out again and again and again, I have not been asked to speak on behalf of the Church, or to write something in support of the Church.

Ever?

Isn't that implicit with FARMS/Maxwell Institute?

To some extent, at the University level (as I've noted time and again), there has actually been pressure to the contrary.

From your employer? I find that doubtful, and would love specific examples.

Once again, the expectation that a member of the BYU faculty not speak against the Church or write in opposition to the Church entails no obligation on a faculty member's part to write or speak affirmatively for the Church.

I would agree with you in the general, but not in the specific. It might not an expectation of all BYU faculty members, but it can be said that some are asked or invited to participate in activities that involve the same.

A non-LDS professor at BYU clearly shares in the obligation not to publicly oppose the Church, for example, but, just as clearly, has no obligation to do Mormon apologetics.

As long as they're not doing Dr. Pepper commercials.

[_Chap]

Well, now DCP has gone, what do we make of all that?

There seem to be some interesting tensions here.

One thing not commented on so far, I think, is that there are evidently some people in BYU who don't like it being associated with LDS apologetics. Could these be academics, perhaps BIC and with jobs at BYU but who (shall we say?) wear their religion lightly without wanting to get fired, and who long for colleagues in other universities to see BYU as a place that has the same standards and intellectual aims as everywhere else?

One does sympathise with them. What an embarrassment FARMS must be for such people.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Ever?

I have never, ever, written an article in defense of the Church at the request of the University or at the request of any General Authority.

Is that clear enough?

Good grief.

Isn't that implicit with FARMS/Maxwell Institute?

No, it is not.

To some extent, at the University level (as I've noted time and again), there has actually been pressure to the contrary.

From your employer? I find that doubtful, and would love specific examples.

What some folks here may or may not find "doubtful" is not my problem.

I've already discussed this, with examples, on this thread.

Once again, the expectation that a member of the BYU faculty not speak against the Church or write in opposition to the Church entails no obligation on a faculty member's part to write or speak affirmatively for the Church.

I would agree with you in the general, but not in the specific. It might not an expectation of all BYU faculty members, but it can be said that some are asked or invited to participate in activities that involve the same.

I'm aware of none.

And if you're simply going to dismiss what I say as lies, why do you bother to ask me questions?

***

Yes, Liz, this is being beaten to death, and then some. I understand why Scratch does what he does. He's trying, by asking his questions over and over and over again, to catch his prey in a contradiction, or to get something that he can use, plausibly or not, to level yet another accusation and/or on which to construct yet another conspiracy theory. It's rather like the technique used at Lod Airport, near Tel Aviv (which I just experienced again last week).

I'm not sure, though, why others are playing the game with such odd enthusiasm.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Well, now DCP has gone, what do we make of all that?

Slightly (just slightly) premature.

There seem to be some interesting tensions here.

One thing not commented on so far, I think, is that there are evidently some people in BYU who don't like it being associated with LDS apologetics. Could these be academics, perhaps BIC and with jobs at BYU but who (shall we say?) wear their religion lightly without wanting to get fired, and who long for colleagues in other universities to see BYU as a place that has the same standards and intellectual aims as everywhere else?

One does sympathise with them. What an embarrassment FARMS must be for such people.

LOL. One is always more free to speculate in the absence of evidence. And it allows for the more unobstructed pursuit of agendas. Take Scratch, for example. C'est son metier.

[_antishock8]

But, as I've pointed out again and again and again, I have not been asked to speak on behalf of the Church, or to write something in support of the Church. To some extent, at the University level (as I've noted time and again), there has actually been pressure to the contrary.

Wait wait wait... You mean you just barged your way into the Maxwell Institute's website, that's hosted on BYU's website, that is owned and operated by the Mormon church??? A totally UNinvited guest professor, writing apologetic material UNinvitedly, without the least amount of consideration for the Mormon church's sentiments on the issue? You're positively roguish, Mr. Peterson.

What a load of crap.

Please. Once again. Stop writing about Mormonism. Period. Just stick to ME material. Then we'll see whether or not you're a paid apologist. Hell. Apparently YOU'LL see whether or not you're a paid apologist since the issue is so mysterious to you.

[_Chap]

Well, now DCP has gone, what do we make of all that?

Slightly (just slightly) premature.

There seem to be some interesting tensions here.

One thing not commented on so far, I think, is that there are evidently some people in BYU who don't like it being associated with LDS apologetics. Could these be academics, perhaps BIC and with jobs at BYU but who (shall we say?) wear their religion lightly without wanting to get fired, and who long for colleagues in other universities to see BYU as a place that has the same standards and intellectual aims as everywhere else?

One does sympathise with them. What an embarrassment FARMS must be for such people.

LOL. One is always more free to speculate in the absence of evidence. And it allows for the more unobstructed pursuit of agendas. Take Scratch, for example. C'est son metier.

DCP said:

I have one close colleague and friend (in another BYU college) whose salary and rank advancement have been much more negatively affected than mine because of his writing on Mormon topics, even though his non-Mormon publication record is extremely, unusually, good. Writing on Mormonism not only didn't help him; it hurt him. He was penalized for it, and was explicitly told that he was being penalized, and has for a number of years now avoided further Mormon-related writing.

And we are to believe that there is no evidence that "some people in BYU ... don't like it being associated with LDS apologetics" as I said above?