The Top Ten Happenings in Mopologetics, 2024

[I Have Questions]

10. Interpreter Adopts a New "Half-Sphincter" Logo

From its very inception, the Mormon Interpreter blog has suffered from inadequacies. At first, there were severe problems with copyediting and with recycling of old articles. The problem with recycling old material persisted, along with a series of embarrassments, ranging from the Dales' silly statistical paper, to Greg Smith's hit piece on John Dehlin, to the attacks on the Joseph Smith Papers Project, which earned John Gee and Daniel Peterson a scolding from the General Authorities. And lately, it would seem, Interpreter has begun to feel more and more pressure from its Mopologetic competitors--especially from Jack Welch's Scripture Central, which is absolutely pummeling Interpreter when it comes to funding. Given this, it makes sense that Mormon Interpreter would attempt a kind of "re-branding" this year.

But the reviews were mixed. As longtime copyediting volunteer Tom observed, "I must confess that I don't know what the curious symbol next to the organization's name is intended to represent. An open book (shades of the time-honored practice of bibliomancy)? Rays of light? A heavenly gate? Dowsing rods in motion? My imagination is running wild." I myself wondered if it was meant to be a slinky in motion, but upon further consideration, the imagery seems clear: it's half of a sphincter. The graphic design people at Interpreter deserve real credit for this: it's impossible to think of a better symbol for what they do than half of a sphincter, or half an anus.

In 2018 the Wizarding World of Harry Potter launched a new logo.

The new Wizarding World logo is an open book, reflecting its literary origins, and contains elements emblematic of the beloved characters from both Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Astute fans will instantly notice the iconic lightning bolt, as well as a subtle nod to magical creatures, embedded in the logo. Additionally, the book’s fanned-open ‘pages’ are actually wands, each belonging to one of the legendary wizards or witches from the two franchises.

This is how the ‘new in 2018’ logo looks.



I’m sure it’s just a coincidence, and the Interpreter folks do not really see themselves as pure blood wizards in a world of muggles and mud bloods…If Rowling were as litigious as the SLC LDS Church the Interpreter Foundation might be in a sticky position.