MatthewG Stages an Ambush at MAD

[_Brackite]

Latayne C. Scott here. Dr. Shades alerted me to this particular thread, and asked me to give some additional insight into what happened. He assured me I wouldn't be ambushed here. So thanks!

I guess I feel sorry for MatthewG given all that ensued. I stopped logging on to MAD after my second response there. (I did log back on for a few moments to try to de-activate my registration, but left when I couldn't find out how to do that expeditiously.) So all I know about the subsequent discussion is from this present thread and what a couple of friends have told me.

Here's what actually happened: MatthewG under the Twitter screen name LiberalMormon, sent out an @ message to me. That means that anyone of his followers or mine -- or anyone who does a search on my name (is that last part right? I'm not completely twitterfied) could read it. It was like a red flag, waved at me,"Hey Latayne!" It said that I was a "bitter anti-Mormon, spewing out hate."

I tried repeatedly to be polite, asking him if he'd read any of my books, etc. By the time I (naïvely as someone here as noted) logged on to MAD it was all in full swing. (I LOVE the description of the karate chops and pelvic thrusts! I have quoted that.)

Two things about MatthewG. First, I think he just wanted to appear courageous to the people on MAD. (Unfortunately he has some rather unsavory role models there, ones I've known for a long time and come to lose all respect for.) I guess I can understand that. He's young, he'll learn. (Although a nevermo friend who read the whole online discussion asked me quite seriously, "Is this a site just for adolescents? Do they have a lot of kid trolling on this site?")

MatthewG is also, unfortunately, not a very brave soldier in the battle he started. Several people pointed out to me that he removed his baiting remarks from his Twitter stream so it would appear I had instigated the conversation. Here's where you can see the whole thing, if anyone's interested-- go to search.Twitter.com and put "Latayne" in the search parameters and you'll see the whole exchange.

How much that is like much of LDS history. Oh, they earnestly wish, if they could just edit the Twitter stream of LDS history...

I expect a full-scale frontal attack once my book, The Mormon MIrage, is released May 1. I noticed in another of the discussion boards here on this site (I think it was the once about the apostasy of the Oklahoma City Temple president) that several people wanted some insight into what faithful LDS feel in that kind of process. Since my new book is a revision and update of the older version of it, I was able to write a serious retrospective of that process. In my case, the process lasted 10 years, and I'm not sure I'm over it yet. I don't believe anyone has published anything like that segment of it, at least not by a major publisher.

However, I don't believe it is that book which is going to have the greater impact on the reading public's mind. I have written a novel (Latter-day Cipher) in which I describe that leaving-process -- wrapped up in a murder mystery in which the clues are written in the Deseret Alphabet. It hasn't been released yet, but it's getting some press -- it's a "top pick" on Christian Retailing's web site, according to my agent, and moving up in Amazon rankings in pre-sales.

Well, I hope this has been the explanation -- or at least, what happened from my point of view. I can't promise that I will be a regular poster here, although I have very much enjoyed reading some of the threads. I know that posting and leaving MAD caused me to be identified as a coward at MAD. I'm just a very busy professional writer. (by the way on my blog, Latayne.com, I responded to an LDS critic who wanted to know why I wrote my books. Bet he was surprised to find out how little, percentage wise, I even deal with Mormonism.)

I will try to respond to this thread, though, if anyone has any questions.

And finally, speaking of the blog -- I have a section called "365 Reasons Why I Won't Return to Mormonism." Anybody here on Mormon Discussions want to submit something (no rants or profanity, but I'm happy for you to give your reasons) I'd like to hear from you via the "contact" function on my site.

Well, thank you for the invitation.

Latayne C Scott
http://www.latayne.com

Thanks For the additional insight, Latayne!

[_Latayne]

Thanks Ray A and Huckleberry. I may be wrong about a lot of things but I'm still not bitter.

Oh -- I forgot to address the PhD issue in the MAD thread. I've been offering to sell bound copies of my dissertation on my Web site for two years now. (Just can't understand why people aren't coming in droves to buy it. A Definitional Study Of Biblical Representational Research And Its Current Applications: A Dissertation Submitted To The Faculty Of Trinity Southwest University In Candidacy For The Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy In Biblical And Theological Studies. It's really interesting, she says smiling.)

Sorry Dr. Peterson can't find it in a database. It may indeed not be there, I never looked. But I knew that the education issue would be one of the first things FARMS etc. would bring up. I wish I cared more about the whole issue -- but I published maybe 10 books and hundreds of magazine articles before I even got an advanced degree. Learning Biblical Greek and ancient pottery typology from a world-class expert and developing cutting-edge theological approaches would have been worth it even if I hadn't secured all that with any degree.

Besides, my credentials for writing about Mormonism aren't koine Greek or shards. It's the fact that I was a temple-recommend, BYU scholarship, crazy-in-love-with-Mormonism person who was dismayed to find out the LDS Church was deceptive.

And yes, I've decided to keep my registration at MAD active. It's my impression they'd love for me to hear (if not participate) in all that; but I want a record (of the fact that I'm not interested enough to log in) to be visible.

Thanks for your interest, and letting me address those issues.

Latayne C Scott
http://www.latayne.com

[_Mister Scratch]

Latayne,

Please allow me to extend a very warm welcome to you here. Personally, I thought you were treated very badly by the TBMs at MAD. It is shameful that they didn't apologize to you, and that you were "invited" there essentially so they could attack you. In any event, know that you have a friendly forum here in MDB, where you will always be treated according to the Golden Rule.

[_Enuma Elish]

Hello Latayne,

I knew that the education issue would be one of the first things FARMS etc. would bring up.

No offense, but having read Dr. Peterson's statement, I believe his point (which was extremely valid in my mind) was simply that a person's educational background is only worth attacking when one presents oneself as something that one is not.

There's nothing to be ashamed of for having attended a divinity school. It's no doubt the best educational fit for many individuals.

However, just to clarify, some people associated with universities take issue with graduates from non-accredited divinity school programs who refer to themselves as "Doctors" holding a "PhD."

Hope that helps.

[_Latayne]

Again, I knew my degree would be an issue. In the newest edition of The Mormon MIrage I state openly that my Ph D was not from an accredited university. This is not something I am hiding. And I am far from being "ashamed" of my education.

However, I can assure you that the requirements for my PhD were every bit as rigorous as those at any institution in this country. I earned it. I would invite you to look at the credentials of my dissertation committee: Dr. John W. Oller, Dr. Steven Collins, Dr. Peter Briggs.

I sat in the meetings at Trinity Southwest University where the decision was made not to ally the school with traditional accrediting bodies precisely for the reasons that BYU and other religious institutions are struggling with: All religious academic entities face losing such accreditation if they do not agree to hire professors who have lifestyles and/or teachings that can contradict the religious/behavior standards of the institutions. The first time a gay professor challenges BYU, the accreditation jig will be up for BYU, too.

Latayne C Scott
http://www.latayne.com

[_Enuma Elish]

Again, I knew my degree would be an issue. In the newest edition of The Mormon MIrage I state openly that my Ph D was not from an accredited university.

And of course your degree should not be an issue for anyone, as long as it's represented appropriately. Speaking personally, on the topic of Mormonism, I'm much more interested in well construed arguments than credentials.

Your work should be judged solely on its merit (or lack thereof).

However, I can assure you that the requirements for my PhD were every bit as rigorous as those at any institution in this country.

Obviously I have no clue what requirements you faced. I trust they were rigorous and congratulate you on the accomplishment.

I earned it.

I'm sure you did. I'm not trying to offend; simply explain the perspective on the matter held by academics, particuarly those who participate in the field of biblical scholarship.

best.

[_Yoda]

I would also like to extend a warm welcome to you here, Latane.

I hope you continue to post with us. Your work sounds very interesting.

I'm sorry for how you were treated at MAD. It seems like someone is always PMS'ing over there. And the men are as guilty of it as the women. LOL

[_Latayne]

Liz3564, thank you for the welcome. Your comments about PMS were funny. (I didn't realize that teenage boys experience it.)

There was a previous question about how many times I was baptized. Once to become a Mormon. 45 times in temples, once in the name of the true God.

Thanks again. I'll try to not be a stranger, but I've got a ton of projects on my plate right now.

Latayne C Scott
www.latayne.com

[_Ray A]

There was a previous question about how many times I was baptized. Once to become a Mormon. 45 times in temples, once in the name of the true God.

My recollection of your book is that you were rebaptised at least once, possibly twice.

I no longer have your book, and I suppose my memory could be faulty, but that is my recollection.

Is it wrong?

[_Latayne]

I might be misunderstanding your point. I was baptized to join the Mormon Church at age 11, did 45 proxy baptisms in the Manti and Provo temples, and was baptized a final time in the name of the true God in September 1973. I was never immersed from that point on.

I'm wondering why that is significant to you?

Latayne C Scott
www.latayne.com