SMPT in Claremont in Less Than Two Weeks

[_Daniel Peterson]

A reminder of the annual conference of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology, to be held in a couple of weeks (21-23 May) at Claremont Graduate University in California:

http://www.smpt.org/conferences_2009.html

Incidentally, Gadianton has been boasting since roughly January -- long before the leadership of SMPT had sifted through presentation proposals for the conference and extended invitations to participate -- that he is on the program. He was initially talking about doing a paper on the moral defects of “Mopologists” like William Hamblin and Louis Midgley (and, very possibly, me), but has since claimed to have rethought that rather bizarre and inapropos topic in favor of a paper that “delves into the deep structure of Mopologetics.” (Perhaps such a paper really exists on the program, but I confess that I cannot see it.)

We had invited only three speakers by the time Gadianton began boasting that he was already on the conference program -- the Claremont process theologians Prof. Philip Clayton and Prof. John Cobb, and, also on the Claremont faculty, the Latter-day Saint historian Richard Bushman -- and none of them seems likely to be posting here as the atheistic Gadianton. So his claim seems dubious, at best. My own paper proposal, he says on another thread here, was only accepted late ("DCP finally got accepted too"), by which he apparently hopes to insinuate, falsely, that it was accepted after all the others on the program were, and long after his.

Moreover, also elsewhere on this board, Scratch has already branded my forthcoming SMPT presentation, entitled "Reflections on My Experience with Interfaith Dialogue," a "smear piece." But he obviously hasn't read it yet, since it doesn't exist. (I haven't written it. I returned very, very late Thursday night from the Middle East, and am only sitting down now to flesh out my thoughts for the conference.) Scratch continually accuses me of smearing various people; his description of my as-yet unwritten Claremont presentation as a "smear" illustrates rather well just how fairly and precisely he applies the term.

[_The Dude]

Scratch continually accuses me of smearing various people; his description of my as-yet unwritten Claremont presentation as a "smear" illustrates rather well just how fairly and precisely he applies the term.

Just admit it: you love it!

[_Doctor Scratch]

My own paper proposal, he says on another thread here, was only accepted late ("DCP finally got accepted too"), by which he apparently hopes to insinuate, falsely, that it was accepted after all the others on the program were, and long after his.

Well, was it? I certainly found it interesting that your proposal was listed on the online program sans any abstract or description of any kind. Did you even have to submit one, or do you just get a free pass on account of your Mopologetic gravitas?

Moreover, also elsewhere on this board, Scratch has already branded my forthcoming SMPT presentation, entitled "Reflections on My Experience with Interfaith Dialogue," a "smear piece."

Have you ever written on this topic without ripping into those people who are on the other side of the fence, as it were? Look: if you manage to produce a totally balanced, attack-free paper, I'll be sure to cough up an apology.

But he obviously hasn't read it yet, since it doesn't exist.

Indeed, not even an *abstract* seems to exist! Breaking with typical conference submission protocol, the SMPT seems to have accepted your proposal simply because you were the one making it.

Scratch continually accuses me of smearing various people; his description of my as-yet unwritten Claremont presentation as a "smear" illustrates rather well just how fairly and precisely he applies the term.

Ha. Actually, I think better illustrations can be found among your "interfaith dialogues" which are now very helpfully stored over on SHIELDS. Tell me: what do I have to do to arrange that photocopies of your "break your arrogance meter" and similar remarks be distributed to folks who are in the audience for your talk? You know, so that everyone has a clear picture of what your "interfaith dialogues" are frequently like? Will you mention your deep, bigoted prejudice against Calvinism, for instance?

[_Doctor Scratch]

Scratch continually accuses me of smearing various people; his description of my as-yet unwritten Claremont presentation as a "smear" illustrates rather well just how fairly and precisely he applies the term.

Just admit it: you love it!

Yes, Dude: I would agree with you that DCP loves to engage in smear tactics. It's his raison d'etre.

[_The Dude]

Just admit it: you love it!

Yes, Dude: I would agree with you that DCP loves to engage in smear tactics. It's his raison d'etre.

He loves to play that game, smearing and being smeared, and drawing attention to it on MADB where hardly anybody has a clue what he's talking about, but the little people get the reminder that DCP is the principal figure in mopologetics. Oh the drama! Such a beautiful life.

He couldn't do it without you.

[_Yoda]

Where is Gad?

I would love to hear his side to this.

[_Dr. Shades]

Actually, I think better illustrations can be found among your "interfaith dialogues" which are now very helpfully stored over on SHIELDS.

ROTFLMAO!

Sorry, DCP, but if you're reading this, let's face it: Even you certainly must LOL at that one!!

[_Doctor Scratch]

Where is Gad?

I would love to hear his side to this.

I have a feeling that DCP is misrepresenting what Gad said.

[_harmony]

Makes me wonder what he could write, if he gave his subject some more time. Two weeks seems kinda... short. I mean... other people have been preparing for months.. Daniel is Super Apologist! He only needs a little bit more than a week.

Faster than a speeding computer! Stronger than a 6" thick thesaurus! Able to leap tall arguments with a single bound! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... Super Apologist!

Wait a minute. Is he flipping the bird to that plane?

[_Yoda]

Where is Gad?

I would love to hear his side to this.

I have a feeling that DCP is misrepresenting what Gad said.

How so?

Gad has been talking about speaking at the SMPT Conference in multiple threads since January of this year.

I think that everyone here, including myself, has taken Gad at his word that he would be speaking.

My question at this point is.....Is he still scheduled to speak, and what is his topic?