Runtu wrote:I received this email from a well-known apologist:
You and I have known each other for many years. I believe we met on alt.religion.Mormon roughly 13 years ago, and although we find ourselves on opposite sides of the Mormon divide we have remained friendly, speaking for myself. I have on occasion been very harsh with you, among others, in defending what I considered the truth. Of late I’ve realised that the foundations on which I based my faith and from which I judged you and others may not be as solid as they once seemed.
As some have mentioned, I made a decision long ago to adopt a fairly caustic persona online, and it served me well in puncturing the self-important among “critics,” but I often wonder if that persona has clouded my judgment and hindered my ability to make sound judgments about my religion. I took it upon myself not so much to defend our religion but to attack and delegitimise the anti-Mormons; you must admit that many of them deserve to be deligitimised. In my labours to defend the church, I became someone I did not recognise: a bitter and angry person full of the bluster and rancor I so derided in others. As Dr. #### can tell you, I’m a friendly person in person, but I fear that my online persona is encroaching into my life.
I find myself at a crossroads. It has become all too painfully clear that the Book of Mormon cannot be defended as history, and I am reluctant to accept it as “inspired fiction.” All these years I’ve vouched for Joseph Smith’s character and called those who criticised him “bigots” who are filled with hate. As I grow older, I see those traits in myself, and I wonder how I allowed this to happen. Discovering Joseph’s character by turns has been enlightening and crushing.
There is a part of me which wants to publicly own up to what I know, but I am at a loss as to how to do so. So much of who I am is tied to this persona I have created, and it would be most difficult to make a sudden turn. A friend suggested that I retire ####### and return with a new screen name, but I am quite sure the moderators would recognise me. At this point I see no choice but to continue as a defender. I have been told that my abrasive and “mean-spirited” (I don’t believe I ever reached that level, do you?) persona has driven many struggling members out of the church. If that is true, I may be able to help others avoid my situation by helping them see the issues more clearly.
[deleted personal correspondence]
Again I must apologise for treating you badly on occasion. I hope you can forgive me.
###
------
I'm trying to decide if this is legit or just a poor April Fool's joke.
Very interesting! At least one poster felt that this was related to Will Schryver's recent "announcement," though, clearly, whoever this "well-known" apologist is, s/he uses British spelling. I really can't think of another "well-known" non-U.S. apologist who uses British spelling aside from Pahoran. Further, we know how cruel "Pah" has been to Runtu in the past.... Very intriguing, in any case.