The Top Ten Happenings in Mopologetics, 2021

[huckelberry]

I am wondering how Shulem's discovery of the geographic location for the Book of Mormon did not make the list.

[Shulem]

I am wondering how Shulem's discovery of the geographic location for the Book of Mormon did not make the list.

No worries. Discovering the missing snout out of the lead plate didn't make it either.

It's whatever when it comes to Doctor Scratch.

[Doctor Scratch]

I am wondering how Shulem's discovery of the geographic location for the Book of Mormon did not make the list.

It’s because it didn’t make any dent in the Mopologists’ edifice. They didn’t comment on it or react to it—at least, as far as I know. I respect Shulem enormously and think he is the greatest critic of the Book of Abraham who has ever lived. But just because I think that doesn’t mean that it has registered with the Mopologists, for what it's worth. One day, someone should compile a “Greatest Hits” of Shulem’s Book of Abraham commentary. I’d volunteer for the task myself, but I confess that Shulem’s erudition on the subject far exceeds my own, and I worry that I’d overlook something vital.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Dr. Scratch,

You are truly gifted. Your writing is extraordinary, word-craft simple, humorous, precise, searing and always insightful.

It’s always bittersweet reading these Top 10 lists knowing that it will be another year until we are gifted with another. These are always my favorite. This year’s list didn’t disappoint.

Thank you Dr. Scratch. May God bless you and your family.

Merry Christmas!!

[Alphus and Omegus]

This is a fun list, but can you really say "Witless" was a bomb if it fulfilled its real objective, to shake loose donor coin? Most non-profit films are not moneymaking. They are about promoting the message. In the case of "Witless," it's to buff the credibility of Martin Harris and his stories about the Book of Mormon and Deer Jesus.

[Moksha]

John Gee resigned as editor[/url] of the Journal for the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, signing off with an angry screed that many viewed as unprofessional, and which several observers interpreted as a swipe at the late Egyptologist--and Gee's one-time dissertation advisor--Robert Ritner.

Besides incurring the wrath of the journal, did this stunt create any ripples in the world of Egyptology? Did it spill over into a general distrust of BYU?

[sock puppet]

Dr. Scratch, as old Mopologists don't die, they just lose their audience, I wonder if you might have an all-time Top Ten (or Twenty) Happenings in Mopologetics as that audience has dwindled so much in recent years.

[Shulem]

I respect Shulem enormously and think he is the greatest critic of the Book of Abraham who has ever lived.

THANK YOU, and that is beautiful music to my ears. I wholeheartedly agree.

[Kishkumen]

Happy Holidays!!!

I believe Gee’s action in #7 (resigning from the journal with after being outed for the attack on Ritner) happened many years ago.(?)

Yep. That's right. This is very old news. Our knowledge of it, however, is new.

[Kishkumen]

But Executive Producer Peterson soldiered forth, ultimately taking a top prize at a small Utah film festival, and eventually, this movie about the witnesses' barely-concealed homosexual crushes on Joseph Smith, made it to the big screen, with spotty distribution across the U.S. and Canada.

I would take credit for having spotted this, but you can't take credit for something that everyone with two eyes and a functioning brain can readily see.