The Turncoats

[_John Larsen]

Over on PostMormon today, the poster known as StormWalker outed himself as Doug Marshall, one of the founders of SHIELDS.

Of course we have our very own Kevin Graham and Runtu/John W here. Who are some other notable apologists, especially those who have published, who have "switched sides"? And conversely, are there any notable critics who have returned to the fold?













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[_Kevin Graham]

SHIELDS was started by Doug Marshall and Doug Yancy. I never knew Marshall, but Yancy lived in Atlanta when I was there in the late 90's, and we spoke on the phone quite often about anti-Mormon debates we had engaged in online. I remember he was trying to get me on the LDS apologetics E-lst, which was reserved for elite apologists/scholars. You couldn't get on it unless everyone there agreed to it, and you had to have a temple recommend. Doug wanted to meet me at the temple to prove I was temple worthy, so he could tell others like Barry Bickmore and Richard Hopkins (Author of Biblical Mormonism), that I wasn't a wolf in sheep's clothing. Hopkns didn't like the idea of having me on because I was too young, but later he and I became pretty good friends and I spoke with him on teh phone a lot. But I eventually felt the whole "pove your worthiness" thing was stupid and said forget it. I was getting copies of most of the discussions on that list anyway, I just couldn't participate.

[_Runtu]

Chris Tolworthy comes to mind. He ran that site called "whyprophets." Now he's a regular on FLAK.

[_Kishkumen]

Chris Tolworthy comes to mind.

All I recall is that one odd book about the year 1830's significance. Was he really an apologist of any importance? Did he contribute to FARMS or SHIELDS or FAIR?

[_Kevin Graham]

I sympathized with Tolworthy, I just remember people like Juliann making fun of him for his reasons for leaving the faith. He was talked into making some bad investments by his bishop and Stake President I believe, and it nearly ruined him.

[_Kishkumen]

He was talked into making some bad investments by his bishop and Stake President I believe, and it nearly ruined him.

You would think some LDS people were gypsies or Travelers, but these guys have no compunction about screwing over their own. Big difference.

[_Kevin Graham]

Tolworthy was one of the first online apologists to hit the scene and he quickly developed a sophisticated website that contained more informaton than FAIR had during its first few years in business. He was very much like Jeff Lindsay, but he was a little out in left field with respect to his theories on timelines and their significance.

[_Kevin Graham]

Yep. Apologetc cannibalism.

[_Kishkumen]

Tolworthy was one of the first online apologists to hit the scene and he quickly developed a sophisticated website that contained more informaton than FAIR had during its first few years in business. He was very much like Jeff Lindsay, but he was a little out in left field with respect to his theories on timelines and their significance.

Cool. I didn't know that. I was mostly involved in a.r.m. and reading SHIELDS at the time. Thanks for the information. I would love to read a history of Mopologetics in the digital age.

[_Kishkumen]

Yep. Apologetc cannibalism.

What about the financial cannibalism of the bishop and stake pres?