Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:If an apologist uses the stratagem of name-dropping, then one must consider its context. Is he or she name dropping from having met someone, or he or she name dropping from a mere Internet exchange? The latter pales in comparison with the former, of which, demonstrates the sphere of influence the apologist might possess. For example, if Professor Peterson mentions an apostle with whom he shared lunch, then it’s a given his ability to influence doctrine is far greater than say, Life on a Plate, who, dare I say it, will never contribute more to the apologetic cause than a fawning admiration for Professor Peterson or some benign insight given on a heavily moderated forum like the Mormon Apologetics and Discussion Board.
Okay, yes, thank you, Doctor. I see what you're saying, I think, and I very much agree with you. These insights are invaluable to what is, as Dr. Robbers has pointed out, an increasingly substantial body of literature.
I can virtually guarantee after having spent an hour or so this last weekend with two Mormon missionaries the likelihood of anyone mentioning Life on a Plate by name is virtually zero. Why I ask? It’s because he doesn’t have access to the power structure through which he can have his ideas formalized in print, and therefore secure one’s self a place in Mormon apologetic atmospherics.
Once again, I'm finding it very difficult to disagree with anything you're saying here.
Connectivity is the key to influence. Whether one garners that through some sort of familial assimilation or through a tribal affiliation isn’t so important, but it’s just having obtained the accessibility to the Mormon hierarchy itself is the key.
Just for the sake of discussion.... Who would you count as being the Top Ten Most Important Mopologists? I wonder if I could trouble you to write up a tentative list, just for discussion's sake....
Well, look at me. I’ve rambled on a bit too long, and for that I apologize, Doctor. I hope I’ve made myself a little clearer on the subject, and if you require a little more conjecture on my part, please do feel free to press the issue.
I would be delighted to hear further conjecture, Doctor. It occurs to me that your observations have some rather disquieting implications, chief of which is the suggestion that the Brethren are actually doling out orders for the top Mopologists.
Well, here is some food for thought: recall that Prof. Peterson was once called upon to function as an "agent" for the SCMC. One thing that has always seemed....mysterious....to me is the fact that The Good Professor was simply called up one day. Does that not sound rather bizarre to you? Just imagine: you are a Professor of Arab Studies, sitting in your office and doodling a little smiley face in the margins of one of your students' essays. You helpfully caret in a [SIC] in order to make it blindingly, embarrassingly clear that an error has been made. As you smile softly to yourself and congratulate yourself on your expert teaching skills, the phone rings. The voice on the other end is hollow and metallic sounding.
"Hello? Is this Dr. ______?" Almost as if the person is speaking into a voice modulation device, sort of like what Gary Sinise used in Ransom.
"Yes," you stutter, confused at who might be calling you.
"Good. This is ___________. I work for the Strengthening Church Members Committee. Do you know what that is."
You pause. This organization has been mentioned in the news lately. The New York Times suggested that it was formed in order to "spy" on dissident members of the Church. As you recall this information, you realize that the robotic-sounding voice on the other end of the line is still waiting for a reply. "Uh, yeah, I've heard of the Committee," you sputter.
"That's good. You know that the Committee operates under the strict supervision of the Twelve. Right?"
"Of course."
"Well, Dr. _______, I'm sure you're wondering why I called you today."
"Yes, you could say that." You emit an uncomfortable laugh. You notice that your armpits have dampened.
"The reason we've called you is that we need you to drive down to Salt Lake City in order to speak with someone. This person has some questions about the Church. Dark questions. This person's 'questions' are stirring up trouble, both with the person's family and within the person's ward. Can I count on you to help us out here?"
"Sure, of course," you mutter, and the voice cuts you off---
"Good. Be at 1400 South....." he recites the address and the phone abruptly hangs up.
This is pretty much how Dr. Peterson has described this going down: he got a phone call, and *boom*! All of the sudden he's an "agent" for the SCMC. The big question here is: How did the SCMC know that he would make a useful "agent"? Apparently, then had to be aware of his apologetics, and his boasts about testimonies he supposedly saved.
So: I think that this would lend some support to what you're saying. The top Mopologists are "juiced in" with the hierarchy and its various "arms."
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