Mopologetics and the Sending of Emails

[_Ray A]

I've searched through my posts both here and on MADB, and through everything I've ever published with FARMS or the Maxwell Institute. I can find nothing that matches what you claim. I've scarcely ever so much as mentioned Michael Shermer. Can you supply a reference, please?

Dan, this is how you're so disingenuous.

And you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to email your anti-atheism articles in Meridian to Michael Shermer. He should get a good grasp of your stand on this through them. I don't need your silly and puerile SHIELDS exchanges.

[_Ray A]

I called him "Dr. Shermer" because I was certain that, if I didn't, somebody would attack me for failing to use his academic title.

BS

[_Daniel Peterson]

Just go ahead and call me a liar, Ray. It'll be cleaner, more decisive.

Dan, this is how you're so disingenuous.

I'm not disingenuous, Ray. I didn't know what on earth you were talking about.

And you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to email your anti-atheism articles in Meridian to Michael Shermer. He should get a good grasp of your stand on this through them

Whatever. You're going to do whatever you currently feel impelled to do.

Did I mention Michael Shermer in any of those? I don't recall having done so.

Professor Shermer and I aren't going to be discussing atheism, as such, so I don't know what he'll make of your intervention.

[_Ray A]

Just go ahead and call me a liar, Ray. It'll be cleaner, more decisive.

Liar doesn't immediately come to mind. Deluded does.

Did I mention Michael Shermer in any of those? I don't recall having done so.

Here we go again. Shermer is an atheist. "Ding-Dong!!" Eric is an atheist. "Ding-Dong!!".

Finally, the purpose of this thread, which he titled "Why I am not a Mormon" is a farce. By that I mean that his reasons are a smoke-screen. They are an excuse. I won't confess his sins in public, but at the risk of stating the obvious, let's just say that if he loved God more than the things of the world he would be a very strong Latter-day Saint. As it is, the "world" has his attention at this time. I hope he will, in time, realize the path he is on has only brought him much pain, much sorrow, and much deprivation. God is at the helm and God will not be mocked. Eventually every knee shall bow before Christ and every tongue will confess His Messiahship. And that includes my son and every self-professed atheist on this list. When he finally gets tired of sin, I think he will make the right decisions, repent, and return. And we will welcome him with open arms. And you and he will probably look back on this thread and have a good laugh together.

Professor Shermer and I aren't going to be discussing atheism, as such, so I don't know what he'll make of your intervention.

Professor Shermer needs to know what you and your friend really think about atheists. So are you going to kiss-ass with Shermer while treating Eric the way you do?

[_Daniel Peterson]

Just go ahead and call me a liar, Ray. It'll be cleaner, more decisive.

Liar doesn't immediately come to mind. Deluded does.

Whatever, Ray.

Did I mention Michael Shermer in any of those? I don't recall having done so.

Here we go again. Shermer is an atheist. "Ding-Dong!!" Eric is an atheist. "Ding-Dong!!".

Finally, the purpose of this thread, which he titled "Why I am not a Mormon" is a farce. By that I mean that his reasons are a smoke-screen. They are an excuse. I won't confess his sins in public, but at the risk of stating the obvious, let's just say that if he loved God more than the things of the world he would be a very strong Latter-day Saint. As it is, the "world" has his attention at this time. I hope he will, in time, realize the path he is on has only brought him much pain, much sorrow, and much deprivation. God is at the helm and God will not be mocked. Eventually every knee shall bow before Christ and every tongue will confess His Messiahship. And that includes my son and every self-professed atheist on this list. When he finally gets tired of sin, I think he will make the right decisions, repent, and return. And we will welcome him with open arms. And you and he will probably look back on this thread and have a good laugh together.

So, because I've virtually never mentioned Michael Shermer, your evidence for what I think of Michael Shermer is something that Eric's stepfather wrote that doesn't refer to Michael Shermer?

Good grief, Ray.

Professor Shermer and I aren't going to be discussing atheism, as such, so I don't know what he'll make of your intervention.

Professor Shermer needs to know what you and your friend really think about atheists. So are you going to kiss-ass with Shermer while treating Eric the way you do?

I really don't know what Professor Shermer will make of your sending him a quotation from Eric's stepdad (that never mentions Professor Shermer) in order to enlighten Professor Shermer about me.

[_Ray A]

I really don't know what Professor Shermer will make of your sending him a quotation from Eric's stepdad (that never mentions Professor Shermer) in order to enlighten Professor Shermer about me.

You're misreading, Dan. Why would I send Shermer an exchange between two "dyed in wool" Mormons who can't see beyond their literalistic, cultic noses and spiritual snobbery?

I'm thinking, for a start, of articles like THIS.

Barrett cites psychological data indicating that children are biased from a very young age, by the very nature of their minds even prior to theological indoctrination, toward acceptance of the world as having been created by a “nonhuman superbeing.” He quotes another psychologist’s suggestion of “the possibility that children naturally develop as ‘intuitive theists,’” and that “religious instruction merely fills in the forms that already exist in children’s minds.” At one point, without committing himself to the view, Barrett even cites an Indian man — part of Barrett’s research has been conducted in India — who explained to him that children are less corrupted than adults because they have more recently been in the presence of “the Divine.”

Good luck arguing such points with Shermer. And I am going to send him these links.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Whatever, Ray.

[_Ray A]

Whatever, Ray.

As far as "aplolgetics" is concerned, you're a lost cause. And as for your "belief in Christ", your treatment of Eric disgusts me. You have no idea how much. You will do anything to protect your stupid Chruch, and demonise anyone who dares to differ. So like Joseph Smith, blackening the characters of the women HE seduced.

I only hope your other admirers see through your utter pretense. Eventually.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I wish you the best, Ray. I always have.

[_Ray A]

I wish you the best, Ray. I always have.

I'm not in the mood for niceties from you.