More Unusual Behavior is on Display as "Undaunted, Episode 2" Drops

[Doctor Scratch]

Perhaps I missed it, but it seems to me that "SeN' failed to announce that the second episode of "Undaunted" was posted to the Mormon Interpreter blog site. You can check it out here. It would seem that Dr. Peterson is preoccupied--he’s traveling and whatnot, and dwelling on the notion that non-religious folks couldn't possibly be able to appreciate classical music such as Schubert's Mass in G:

While I think that I was an agnostic in my immediate pre-teens, and possibly even an atheist, I’ve never had the experience of being an atheist as an adult. So I can’t speak with any real authority here, but it’s inconceivable to me that performing and hearing Schubert’s Mass in G — and Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, and Michael Praetorius’s Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, and so on and so forth — would not be a relatively arid and impoverished experience if I didn’t believe what I was singing about.

Uh huh. And I guess this is a tacit admission that all the Islamic, Jewish, Hindi, Buddhist, etc. works of art that he ever encountered were "arid and impoverished" experiences, since he doesn't believe in those religions? Like I've said before: this is somebody who is dismissive of and hostile towards others' beliefs. It's been shown to be the case over and over again.


Still, what about the new "Undaunted" episode? Well, you can watch it for yourself, but once again I am reminded of Rev. Kishkumen's observation about the whole film being a story about how all the witnesses had a "homosocial" attraction to Joseph Smith. It's easy enough to be convinced by that assertion watching this newest entry. It opens with an image of a window. What's inside, you might ask? Why, it's Joseph himself, and he's fiddling with a stick between his legs! Meanwhile, Martin Harris paces nervously back and forth, casting shy glances in Joseph's direction and smiling sheepishly. Quite interesting!

We'll have to wait to see what the next installment will bring....

[Gadianton]

Matthew Passion, and Michael Praetorius’s Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, and so on and so forth — would not be a relatively arid and impoverished experience if I didn’t believe what I was singing about.

Good lord. Does DCP actually believe in art or only propaganda? There's certain kinds of performances and art where I can understand the sentiment. For instance, disciples of Stalin no doubt felt inspired in ways others didn't when looking at Soviet-era paintings. Hitler no doubt felt inspired by Wagner in ways that outsiders to the Nazi party couldn't understand. Should a person become a Nazi in order to appreciate Wagner more?

Art can be decoupled from ideology. In fact, as a self-styled libertarian, DCP ought to better appreciate that, and even fear people like himself.

I'm pretty sure no matter how much I were to ever believe in Jesus, I'd never get more out of Schubert than Yuja Wang performing Flight of the Bumblebee or Ligeti's Etude no. 13.

As for his current project 50 Shades of Gold:

"You've asked for my help, but you can't show them to me?"

"Well, as I've said, I've been commanded not to."

[Everybody Wang Chung]

At the 28 second mark we are treated to this gem:



These clips are starting to resemble a gay soap opera. I can’t wait for Episode 3 to drop.

[Rivendale]

At the 28 second mark we are treated to this gem:



These clips are starting to resemble a gay soap opera. I can’t wait for Episode 3 to drop.

God made it hard for Joseph. Joseph could have kept his mouth shut and things wouldn't have been so hard. He wouldn't have had to beat off three attackers while running with the plates. He wouldn't have dislocated his thumb beating off those attackers.

[drumdude]

I take DCP at his word that he is incapable of empathizing with atheists. I just don’t believe his lack of empathy stops with atheists.

[Moksha]

Should a person become a Nazi in order to appreciate Wagner more?

No way, Dr. Peterson can appreciate the Flight of the Valkyries on a deeper level than the Schutzstaffel.

[Dr Moore]

While I think that I was an agnostic in my immediate pre-teens, and possibly even an atheist, I’ve never had the experience of being an atheist as an adult. So I can’t speak with any real authority here, but it’s inconceivable to me that performing and hearing Schubert’s Mass in G — and Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, and Michael Praetorius’s Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, and so on and so forth — would not be a relatively arid and impoverished experience if I didn’t believe what I was singing about.

It makes sense, if read in the contrapositive. Those arts have meaning because DCP believes what he is singing about. In just the same way that defending racist, misogynistic, bigoted doctrines and policies, as stated by past and current Church leaders, is a relatively vibrant and rich experience because the Mopologist believes what he/she is talking about.

[drumdude]

It’s a shame Dan spent his life studying Arabic and Islam, now that we know he could never fully appreciate any of it since he is not a believer. Their works of art and daily call to prayer must ring hollow in his eyes and ears compared to the beige carpet walls and droning organ of a Sandy Utah sacrament meeting.

[Kishkumen]

The best part of all of this, in my opinion, was actually the interview afterward. Wow, talk about hilarious. It doesn’t matter that Martin Harris not only testified of the Book of Mormon but also testified of the Shakers’ Flying Roll after the Book of Mormon?



Tell the whole story, guys. But you won’t and I don’t blame you because it does not look good.

There is nothing particularly compelling about the Book of Mormon witnesses, unless one is interested in the spiritual convictions of a bunch of farmers and day laborers in western New York in the early 19th century. I find it absolutely baffling to watch people talk about Martin Harris the “honest and well to do farmer” as though that were probative of the antiquity of the plates, their existence, or the reality of Hebrew Christians in Ancient America.

I can accept that Martin Harris believed he had witnessed miracles. Evidently he experienced Shaker miracles too. And?

[Dr Exiled]

These apologists, they don't realize, by design, that fraud victims don't want to admit being dupes and will defend the fraud rather than admit folly. The "beloved" witnesses fell into this and didn't want to admit being dumb enough to be duped by an obvious, perhaps pious fraud.