Interpreter Publishes Bokovoy Article 9 Years Later...Without His Permission

[The Stig]

There is one thing that I am absolutely certain of: no attempt on our part, or on the part of Adam Ford, will do anything to instill a sense of shame regarding these events in those who are responsible for them. As you point out, we have been to this stake dance many times. The playlist hasn't changed in decades. It will never change. Nor will those responsible for the playlist apologize for their taste in music. I appreciate your efforts to share the fact that it did happen with the rest of us. If you had not, I would have done so myself. That said, I think people have a tendency to overreact to these things. We are understandably baffled, perplexed, and offended by this pattern of behavior, but I think it is fair to say that the LDS Church, finding itself short staffed for skilled defenders, takes what it can get, and for certain kinds of rough-and-tumble responses, they are satisfied that DCP and company fit the bill for an acceptable price.

I hear you. None of these individuals will change. Hell, Midgley is older than Methuselah and he's the same as he ever was. That being said, there may be people who are spectating who are slow to recognize the moral bankruptcy of their actions. People like me, for example, a number of years ago. It took me a while, but I came around. Having other people point these things out was helpful for my journey.

I really don't like people running down BYU in general over this. This is why I was more or less satisfied with the outcome of the coup back in 2012. Sure, it would have been better if Hinckley had not welcomed FARMS on campus, but unfortunately he had. This led to BYU being too closely connected to Mopologetic activities. As a result, even though DCP and friends were ejected from their journal published on BYU campus, people still hold BYU responsible for something that a sizable minority (at least) of the students, faculty, and staff probably would never want to be associated with.

I will admit some amount of surprise at Adam's words regarding BYU. He is an alum and I've known him to be big fan of the school in the past. I can't speak for him, but my impression is that he probably feels like BYU had the power to nip this stuff in the bud many years ago and didn't do it. As I said in my post, though, I feel like the whole BYU element was very much beside the point.

[Doctor Steuss]

I’ve found that it sometimes helps me if someone else gives me a jumping off point to gather my thoughts. If nothing else, sometimes an apology is the best last words one can say.

David,

Recently, we republished a piece by you without reaching out to you first. We felt it was still an excellent piece of scholarship, and wanted to expand its accessibility; however, we most assuredly should have given you an opportunity to make any updates, or add a post-script, given the amount of time that has passed since you initially authored it.

There is certainly no way to go back and correct the hasty oversight on our part, but we would be sincerely appreciative if you could provide us an opportunity to try to make it right by letting us know of any changes you would like made or comments added.

For what it may be worth, Hanlon’s razor has a rascally way of sneaking up on all of us at times (being human is both a joy and a struggle) -- our oversight was in now way intended to cause harm.

I hope this finds you and your family well,
The Interpreter

[The Stig]

Praise be to Doctor Steuss. His post exemplifies the brand of humility, humor, thoughtfulness, and professionalism which so thoroughly escapes the management team at Interpreter.

[drumdude]

I assume Bokovoy is now considered an enemy, worse than any regular Mormon apostate because of his prior relationship to them and apologetics.

You do not show weakness to an enemy. Peterson is very experienced in the art of guerilla warfare, remember?

[Doctor Scratch]

It's impossible to see this latest action as anything other than an attempt to "stick it" to Bokovoy. It was Bokovoy's recent criticism of an Interpreter article that resulted in Jeff Lindsey having to issue a correction, for heaven's sake. And let's face it: Dr. Peterson is a vindictive person who carries grudges. His reservations/antipathy towards Bokovoy go way back.

Reverend, you mentioned this:

I don't know what David's friendship with DCP was like, but I know they were friends for quite a while and that they remained friends after BYU froze David out from employment at BYU.

That may have been true--superficially or not. I know that DCP was talking smack about Bokovoy behind his back at that time. You may recall that there was a lot of chatter/worry about the fact that Bokovoy had gone off to study under David Wright, and Dr. Peterson had said more than once that he was "concerned" about Bokovoy's "spiritual health." Maybe that's the worry of a genuine friend, but then again, maybe it's the suspicion of a Mopologist who's always got his guard up.

Meanwhile, yes: there have been spats here and there, such as the back-and-forth criticism with Hamblin, and that sort of thing. But I bet DCP is *really* angry at Bokovoy over his Mormon Stories interview, where he stated that Dr. Peterson was receiving something like half his salary from the "new" Maxwell Institute. Nothing angers Dr. Peterson more--and nothing triggers his impulse to tell falsehoods--like commentary about his earnings.

My point is that this was a clear, passive-aggressive attempt to "stick it" to Bokovoy. As for Adam Ford's comment, sure, I agree with it. But this tidbit:

This is another example of how Mormonism (an obedience mindset) stunts ethical growth (a love mindset).

Was seriously misguided. Just look at how Dr. Peterson ridicules this:

Let me speak for everybody else here in saying how very honored we are, and how profoundly moved, that you have condescended to come here and model The Love Mindset for us.

I'll treasure this for years to come.

This sort of thing never goes well for the simple reason that the Mopologists don't care about "love" or "being Christlike" or anything of that nature. The just don't. The Jesus that they worship is the whip-brandishing Jesus who chased the moneychangers out of the temple. Good luck finding anything in their corpus of works that promotes Christ-like behavior, kindness, or "The Love Mindset."

[The Stig]

David Bokovoy has published a blog post at World Without End about this republication and opens up a bit about how he got to where he is; I desire all to receive it: http://www.withoutend.org/my-new-articl ... terpreter/

[Philo Sofee]

Because now Bokovoy doesn't think the same he is no longer a friend?! What a CULT think. It is a show that Mormonism really messes up people's psychology when if someone actually doesn't believe the same, or think the same, they are no longer considered a friend. The problem is Mormonism, not Bokovoy. This is immaturity on Peterson's part. That he takes this stance is just totally silly. "Oh you disagree with me? Therefore you are now no longer my friend!" Talk about just butt frickin stupid thinking and belief. I might actually say that on RFM's podcast friday.

It is a little more complicated than that, Philo. David essentially called off his friendship with DCP pretty publicly over the stuff that Gee was writing that DCP was advertising on SeN.

Ah, thank you for the new evidence, I shall do the proper Bayesian thing and upgrade my knowledge... And who can blame Bokovoy since Peterson allows his BYU friends to be such jerks?

[Kishkumen]

David Bokovoy has published a blog post at World Without End about this republication and opens up a bit about he got to where he is; I desire all to receive it: http://www.withoutend.org/my-new-articl ... terpreter/

What a mensch. Damn, that guy is so awesome.

[DrStakhanovite]

You do not show weakness to an enemy. Peterson is very experienced in the art of guerilla warfare, remember?

lol I forgot that story

[Philo Sofee]

David Bokovoy has published a blog post at World Without End about this republication and opens up a bit about he got to where he is; I desire all to receive it: http://www.withoutend.org/my-new-articl ... terpreter/

Thanks Stig! That was awesome.

Bokovoy
The year is now 2021, I will never publish anything like that ever again on the Book of Mormon, which is why I wish the editors of Interpreter would have asked about my feelings. I simply do not have the passion for the topic I once did, and I also never again want to leave anyone with the impression that my observations provide evidence that the Book of Mormon is an ancient work. For every exciting link I can point out, I can also identify two or three anachronisms, which show that the work is a 19th century religious production.

Bayes Theorem thinking at work here man! It always leads one to rationality... Bokovoy is doing it rationally. It's why he cannot do apologetics THANK GOD - if there is one...