DCP Claims that "Witnesses" Helped Rescue a Norwegian's Testimony

[IHAQ]

It represents the kind of reaction to the Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses theatrical film that makes all the time and effort that went into it entirely worthwhile

This sounds to me like the comment of someone under serious external, internal, or personally felt pressure to provide justification for something that, on the face of it, is the opposite of "entirely worthwhile".

[N_N]

As Witnesses continues to lurch towards the end of its theatrical run, you have to wonder what's next for the "Mormon Interpreter" team. It seems unlikely that they'll be able to finance another film--at least, not any time soon. But what if the movie helps save somebody's faith? As we all know, there have been a lot of challenges to Latter-day Saint faith these past several years. LGBTQ+ issues; problems with money/financing; the allure of atheism; and so on. And I'm sure that many here recall the various tidbits that leaked out from Church authorities: e.g., Marlin Jensen saying that the exodus from the Church was unlike anything "since Kirtland." Or the Swedish Rescue. Remember the Swedish Rescue?

I bring it up, because it turns out the folks in Norway were apparently in need of a "rescue," too. Check it out:

Hello Mr Peterson. I have no idea if you will get this email or not I had to look it up online because I wanted to reach out to you. My name is NN, and by the way I'm Norwegian as well

I just want to let you know that you played a huge part in my testimony if that's what you would call it? I was really going through it lately questioning the whole Joseph Smith thing and listening to you on the all-in podcast completely changed my life which made me in turn go see your movie today and it was awesome. I would love to sit down and talk to you for hours about it but I know that will never happen but I just want to let you know what an impact you made on my life today. I wish you well and thank you for what you do.

Stay safe and god bless !

Boy, that's nice, isn't it? Except that there's something very....peculiar about this message. Normally, when DCP gets an email or message of some kind that's positive, he names the author--he takes the time to go and get permission to identify the person sending the message. That way, you can verify the message's authenticity, and can't accuse anyone of making things up. Here, though, all we get is "NN," which sort of makes you wonder, doesn't it?

In fact, I can't help but wonder if DCP made up this message himself. I mean, it seems almost inevitable at this point that "Witnesses" will exit theaters as an official "box office flop," and I'm sure that Professor Peterson is awfully bummed out about that. Is it possible that he's been so despondent that he'd resort to wholesale fabrication of this bogus "testimony saving" message from "NN" as a means of making himself feel better? I certainly wouldn't rule out the possibility. And there are multiple red flags. For example, what's the bit about being "Norwegian"? What does that have to do with anything? And why would a member of the Church not know what a "testimony" is ("if that's what you would call it")? Further, is the idea here that this is a Norwegian person living in the US? (I didn't think that "Witnesses" was showing outside of the US...) And how plausible is it that someone would want to talk "for hours" about "Witnesses"?

I have to say, I'm very skeptical that this is an authentic message. I don't doubt that there are actual people out there that DCP has helped, but for the time being--and without further verification--I'm afraid that I'm going to have to call "BS" on this particular testimonial.

Not a fan of Peterson, but I am quite sure the email was written by a Norwegian. It feels authentically Norwegian, as to how they write in English. Whether that Norwegian was lying I don't know.

Source: me, a person with extensive experience with Norway and Norwegians.

[IHAQ]

Not a fan of Peterson, but I am quite sure the email was written by a Norwegian. It feels authentically Norwegian, as to how they write in English. Whether that Norwegian was lying I don't know.

Source: me, a person with extensive experience with Norway and Norwegians.

What is it about the supposed email that makes you "quite sure" the writer was Norwegian?

[drumdude]

Not a fan of Peterson, but I am quite sure the email was written by a Norwegian. It feels authentically Norwegian, as to how they write in English. Whether that Norwegian was lying I don't know.

Source: me, a person with extensive experience with Norway and Norwegians.

What is it about the supposed email that makes you "quite sure" the writer was Norwegian?

Because his name is NN?

[Dr Exiled]

DCP speaks German, a language in the same family as Norwegian. I wonder if a German writing english would sound the same? How hard is it to fake a Norwegian writing english? And why exactly did the guy have to announce his nationality? Who does that?

[Gadianton]

When was the last time DCP visited Norway? Pretty scenic place. N_N, do you think there is a chance that you could find this person who emailed DCP?

Wouldn't an Interpreter show in Norway with a person reconverted by "Witnesses" be a total blast and not to mention, a huge win for Mopologetics?

[Dr Moore]

At this point I don't know who is being trolled or double-trolled, but I'm pretty sure a troll is trolling.

[Rivendale]

And there are multiple red flags. For example, what's the bit about being "Norwegian"? What does that have to do with anything? And why would a member of the Church not know what a "testimony" is ("if that's what you would call it")? Further, is the idea here that this is a Norwegian person living in the US? (I didn't think that "Witnesses" was showing outside of the US...) And how plausible is it that someone would want to talk "for hours" about "Witnesses"?

I have to say, I'm very skeptical that this is an authentic message. I don't doubt that there are actual people out there that DCP has helped, but for the time being--and without further verification--I'm afraid that I'm going to have to call "BS" on this particular testimonial.

If DCP wrote this he probably relies on the fact that his followers wear rose colored glasses and all red flags look the same.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

I wonder why this fan didn’t email the director? If I wanted to thank someone for making a film, I would contact and thank the director. Who contacts the co-producer of a film?

[Philo Sofee]

DCP speaks German, a language in the same family as Norwegian. I wonder if a German writing english would sound the same? How hard is it to fake a Norwegian writing english? And why exactly did the guy have to announce his nationality? Who does that?

Well, as an American I would suspect it is pretty darn important...