From My Informant: A Coup for the Old Guard?

[_lulu]

Not their main function.

Now you've got me looking up their mission statement, harmony. I hope I don't break out in hives.

You are quite on point.

http://maxwellinstitute.BYU.edu/about/m ... tement.php

[_harmony]

Not their main function.

Now you've got me looking up their mission statement, harmony. I hope I don't break out in hives.

You are quite on point.

http://maxwellinstitute.BYU.edu/about/m ... tement.php

Hopefully Dan is reading your post. He thinks I'm wrong all the time.

[_Doctor Scratch]

It's interesting to note how the Maxwell Institute's Mission Statement has evolved. Here is the version from 2006:

Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship Mission Statement
The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship exists to

Describe and defend the Restoration through highest quality scholarship
Provide critically edited, primary resources (ancient religious texts) to scholars and lay persons around the world
Build bridges of understanding and goodwill to Muslim scholars by providing superior editions of primary texts
Provide an anchor of faith in a sea of LDS Studies

http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http:/ ... te.BYU.edu

Now compare this with the current version:

By furthering religious scholarship through
the study of scripture and other texts,
Brigham Young University's
Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
seeks to deepen understanding and nurture
discipleship among Latter-day Saints
while promoting mutual respect and goodwill
among people of all faiths.

Notice that the bit about "defend[ing] the Restoration" has been totally eliminated from the description. FARMS has apparently been dissolved, and the notion of "defending" has been canned from the Mission Statement? They've also gotten rid of that portion about being an "anchor of faith in a sea of LDS Studies," which means, I guess, that we should no longer expect any more attacks on Chapel Mormons like Rod Meldrum. The Saints don't need an academic "anchor" in the form of the Mopologists anymore, apparently.

Wow... This new version almost seems like a parody of the old Mopologists--it is just utterly and radically--bafflingly--different: a Bizarro World version of a Mopologist Mission Statement. It really does seem like the most offensive Mopologists were called on the carpet by the Brethren. I can't think of any other persuasive reason as to why we would be seeing all these radical changes--including DCP's heavy blogging. If he was told that he could no longer do certain kinds of writings, it would make a ton of sense that he would need another outlet. Perhaps the blog is that outlet?

And Harmony:

Apologetics is what they do for fun, not for work.

That just isn't true. Quinn notes in the "Chronology" section of the second Mormon Hierarchy book that the FARMS people successfully argued in favor of having FARMS Review and MI publications count towards promotion decisions. Prof. P. has said repeatedly that his job title is "Professor of Middle Eastern Studies" (or whatever), but I'm willing to bet that his actual job description looks very different, and that it's a lot looser in terms of the activities it covers. If it looks like a typical academic contract, then it is probably divided along lines like, 40% teaching, 40% research/writing, and 20% service. His Mopologetic writings could probably fall within either the research or service percentages. The same would hold true for any of the other key apologists. For example, I'm under the impression that John Gee is primarily a research professor (I could be wrong about this), meaning that he doesn't really teach, so his contract is probably something like 80% research and writing, with 20% devoted to "service." You can bet that his Book of Abraham apologetics are treated as "work" for him. They may have a great deal of fun in doing this sort of thing, but the fact remains that they have been reaping career benefits from this for some 15 or so years. Some people, like John Tvedtnes, seems to have made whole careers doing nothing but LDS apologetics.

[_harmony]

And Harmony:

Apologetics is what they do for fun, not for work.

That just isn't true. Quinn notes in the "Chronology" section of the second Mormon Hierarchy book that the FARMS people successfully argued in favor of having FARMS Review and MI publications count towards promotion decisions. Prof. P. has said repeatedly that his job title is "Professor of Middle Eastern Studies" (or whatever), but I'm willing to bet that his actual job description looks very different, and that it's a lot looser in terms of the activities it covers. If it looks like a typical academic contract, then it is probably divided along lines like, 40% teaching, 40% research/writing, and 20% service. His Mopologetic writings could probably fall within either the research or service percentages. The same would hold true for any of the other key apologists. For example, I'm under the impression that John Gee is primarily a research professor (I could be wrong about this), meaning that he doesn't really teach, so his contract is probably something like 80% research and writing, with 20% devoted to "service." You can bet that his Book of Abraham apologetics are treated as "work" for him. They may have a great deal of fun in doing this sort of thing, but the fact remains that they have been reaping career benefits from this for some 15 or so years. Some people, like John Tvedtnes, seems to have made whole careers doing nothing but LDS apologetics.

Pictures, Scratch (or in this case, links), or it didn't happen.

In other words... innuendo and guesses doesn't cut it. Put up the links that show what you're saying... or I can just put it out in the kitty litter box with all of Droopy's stuff.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Pictures, Scratch (or in this case, links), or it didn't happen.

In other words... innuendo and guesses doesn't cut it. Put up the links that show what you're saying... or I can just put it out in the kitty litter box with all of Droopy's stuff.

Huh? It's in the "Chronology" of the Quinn book. FARMS joined BYU in the late 1990s, so just look under the mid- to late-1990s section of that "Chronology." Or are you saying that Quinn was engaging in "innuendo and guesses"?

As for a link, click here:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8111025

If you look in the column on the right-hand side of the page, you'll see a series of "Related Links." One of these is to "Dr. Daniel Peterson's Resume." Click on that, and you'll be able to read a .pdf of his CV. This is the document he would submit for decisions related to promotion and so forth in his job. Look at that and tell me whether or not it contains apologetic work, and you'll have your answer. This stuff absolutely counts as "work."

[_harmony]

This stuff absolutely counts as "work."

Actually, I think you'll find it counts as "published works". Academic types count everything from their thesis forward.

But then, you know that.

[_Kishkumen]

Actually, I think you'll find it counts as "published works". Academic types count everything from their thesis forward.

But then, you know that.

Are you speaking from experience?

[_Yahoo Bot]

This stuff absolutely counts as "work."

The resume was offered to buttress his expertise as an expert witness in court where he was called as as an expert on religious texts. Generally, experts must list everything under the sun. So whatever he did that was work or fun he listed.

I don't think Dr. Peterson teaches anymore at BYU.

[_Yahoo Bot]

Actually, I think you'll find it counts as "published works". Academic types count everything from their thesis forward.

But then, you know that.

Are you speaking from experience?

You and Scratch. Relying upon pathetic nerd-boy get-a-life let's-WoW avatars. Two peas in a toilet.

[_Kishkumen]

You and Scratch. Relying upon pathetic nerd-boy get-a-life let's-WoW avatars. Two peas in a toilet.

Well, that was almost funny.

Maybe someday.