The Deep-seated Rage of Lou Midgley

[_moksha]

This is the first positive thing I have heard about Professor Midgley. It is good to know he has a positive side as well.

He's a real character, a genuine original, and one of my favorite people on the planet.

Coming from me, does that count for him or against him?

For him, of course.

[_The Nehor]

The very first time I saw Professor Midgley was at a BYU debate in which, as I remember, he demolished W. Cleon Skousen and Skousen's fruitcake notions about a vast international conspiracy of Illuminati and communists.

I haven't read much from Skousen, but I have thumbed through his books describing the 6000ish or so years of Earth's History which he deduced from a reading of the scriptures. I still shake my head in wonder just contemplating that people actually latch onto the belief system this decidedly.

By the way, my mob took to reading some books when I was younger about worldwide conspiracy theories, the anti-flouridation crap, etc. I think hearing her describe what she believed, from these books, was "really" going on in the world, and realizing how stupid it all was, really did wonders for my skeptical faculties, as it were.

I served with one of Skousen's grandsons. He told me some of the stuff Skousen believes but doesn't say. I probably shouldn't share them here but let's just say....wow.

Still, while I choose not to believe it I am proud to belong to a Church where he can believe that, I can believe my nutty notions, and we all still meet in the same buildings and partake in the same ordinances.

[_moksha]

Still, while I choose not to believe it I am proud to belong to a Church where he can believe that, I can believe my nutty notions, and we all still meet in the same buildings and partake in the same ordinances.

Right on! People from different Centuries and even alternate realities can share the pews together.

[_Gazelam]

Seth,

I haven't read much from Skousen, but I have thumbed through his books describing the 6000ish or so years of Earth's History which he deduced from a reading of the scriptures. I still shake my head in wonder just contemplating that people actually latch onto the belief system this decidedly.

I couldent make it past chapter one of his first thousand years. I firmly believe in Adam and Noah, but there were plenty of other things Skousen was throwing in there that were just... ridiculous.

[_Gadianton]

The very first time I saw Professor Midgley was at a BYU debate in which, as I remember, he demolished W. Cleon Skousen and Skousen's fruitcake notions about a vast international conspiracy of Illuminati and communists.

Since none other that ETB wrote the preface to Skousen"s "The naked capitalist" where he puts forward his Illuminati conspiricy theory, I guess we can conclude Midgley trounced the prophet too.

That is the Internet Mormon way afterall, the scholars, in their minds, owning the brethren.

[_Daniel Peterson]

The very first time I saw Professor Midgley was at a BYU debate in which, as I remember, he demolished W. Cleon Skousen and Skousen's fruitcake notions about a vast international conspiracy of Illuminati and communists.

Since none other that ETB wrote the preface to Skousen"s "The naked capitalist" where he puts forward his Illuminati conspiricy theory, I guess we can conclude Midgley trounced the prophet too.

That is the Internet Mormon way afterall, the scholars, in their minds, owning the brethren.

Way to spin!

[_beastie]

Lou can be aggressive -- which (as you know) isn't my style at all -- and he can certainly be feisty and combative. Filled with "rage," though? That's just a demonizing myth.

Ah, a demonizing myth. Yes, of course, that's why defenders of the faith so often accuse critics of being angry, ranting, obsessed, etc.... it's the demonizing myth. :O

Hmmm, I seem to recall DCP, right on this board, telling me I was angry (or some synonym), indignant, etc....when I felt none of those emotions. But I must be misremembering, because surely someone so perceptive at spotting demonizing myths wouldn't stoop to it himself, right?

I checked my memory, and it appears my memory is reliable. Here's what I recently said:

You Christians think God's or the universe's sense of justice couldn't be sated unless he agreed to allow his son to be killed? Gotta have that blood, that blood makes it all right.

DCP's response:

The anger and hostility are palpable.

I hope you find your straw man gratifying.

beastie:

If only a half-god could be killed, then all would be right with the world. Yeah, that's a 10, as well as a very familiar myth.

DCP:

Maybe someday you'll be at peace with yourself. I hope so.

So I'm angry, hostile, and not at peace with myself - all adjectives that no one who knows me in real life would choose to describe me. Sounds like a demonizing myth to me.

[_Gadianton]

Trevor,

I disagree with you because I think Midgley's anger is right on the surface, not deep-seated. There are just too many accounts from his "victims" affirming this.

Whatever else one might say about Cleon Skousen as a historian, he had the prophet's endorsement of many of his ideas, and he was a very nice, soft-spoken and deeply spiritual person. I can only imagine how that debate with Midgley went.

I'm sure Midgley's supporters were having a good laugh over the punches thrown from his side.

[_Trevor]

Trevor,

I disagree with you because I think Midgley's anger is right on the surface, not deep-seated. There are just too many accounts from his "victims" affirming this.

Whatever else one might say about Cleon Skousen as a historian, he had the prophet's endorsement of many of his ideas, and he was a very nice, soft-spoken and deeply spiritual person. I can only imagine how that debate with Midgley went.

I'm sure Midgley's supporters were having a good laugh over the punches thrown from his side.

I like Daniel's version of him not having rage. I think he simply behaves like a jerk in these public debates. He may be a nice guy otherwise.