The Future of Mopologetics - A Second Opinion

[_Doctor Scratch]

I would be more cautious about assuming anything at this point. The Mopologists know exactly how much is at stake in terms of continuing to be affiliated with BYU. My 2 cents is that they are going to do everything they can to get Bradford removed from the MI. That's probably why DCP CC'ed so many people on his email: it was a means of recruiting "soldiers" for the battle that's now underway. Did you notice the different tone and demeanor in his posts on MDD? For me, that's a sign that he thinks the tide has turned in his favor.

[_Kishkumen]

I would be more cautious about assuming anything at this point. The Mopologists know exactly how much is at stake in terms of continuing to be affiliated with BYU. My 2 cents is that they are going to do everything they can to get Bradford removed from the MI. That's probably why DCP CC'ed so many people on his email: it was a means of recruiting "soldiers" for the battle that's now underway. Did you notice the different tone and demeanor in his posts on MDD? For me, that's a sign that he thinks the tide has turned in his favor.

I tend to think you are right, Doctor.

[_Aristotle Smith]

I would be more cautious about assuming anything at this point. The Mopologists know exactly how much is at stake in terms of continuing to be affiliated with BYU. My 2 cents is that they are going to do everything they can to get Bradford removed from the MI. That's probably why DCP CC'ed so many people on his email: it was a means of recruiting "soldiers" for the battle that's now underway. Did you notice the different tone and demeanor in his posts on MDD? For me, that's a sign that he thinks the tide has turned in his favor.

My problem with this is that 1) In my experience it's very hard to un-fire somebody. Even if somebody manages to get un-fired, it's usually quite temporary because the employment dynamic has changed radically. 2) Anyone with half a brain has their ducks lined up before firing someone. If he didn't, then Bradford is a serious amateur.

[_Kishkumen]

My problem with this is that 1) In my experience it's very hard to un-fire somebody. Even if somebody manages to get un-fired, it's usually quite temporary because the employment dynamic has changed radically. 2) Anyone with half a brain has their ducks lined up before firing someone. If he didn't, then Bradford is a serious amateur.

It seems to me that DCP may believe Bradford is a lightweight who will cave in the face of a groundswell of support from their MDDB minions, some fellow scholars, and perhaps some GAs.

[_harmony]

My problem with this is that 1) In my experience it's very hard to un-fire somebody. Even if somebody manages to get un-fired, it's usually quite temporary because the employment dynamic has changed radically. 2) Anyone with half a brain has their ducks lined up before firing someone. If he didn't, then Bradford is a serious amateur.

It seems to me that DCP may believe Bradford is a lightweight who will cave in the face of a groundswell of support from their MDDB minions, some fellow scholars, and perhaps some GAs.

Besides Packer, who is, let me remind everyone... 89 years old, which of the Brethren supports Dan?

[_Kishkumen]

Besides Packer, who is, let me remind everyone... 89 years old, which of the Brethren supports Dan?

Only the ones who are not apostates. Just ask Will.

[_Aristotle Smith]

I would like to add to my short term predictions. In the long term predictions for the regrouped FARMS (recently dubbed OMIDs) I wrote the following:

Third, the new crew will have lost the resources of FARMS/NAMIRS. Here I am mainly speaking about past publications. My guess is that a large percentage of interest in FARMS/NAMIRS is generated from interest in Hugh Nibley's past publications. They will no longer be associated with that. Plus, now it will become harder to refer people to past publications, since doing so will necessarily send them into enemy territory. The bottom line is that they will be starting from scratch to a large degree.

I think that a real bone of contention in the short term is going to be the ownership/use/copyright status of past FARMS/NAMIRS publications. Specifically, who gets to keep access/rights to Hugh Nibley's work, past issues of FROB, and past work outside of FROB done by persons who will make up the new FARMS (the OMIDs). The other works are things like Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon or Sorenson's An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon. Both sides are going to want access to and/or control of this material.

For the OMIDs it will be crucial to be able to quickly establish that they are not the new kids on the block, that they are merely continuing a legacy. And having control of/access to this material will go a long way to establishing this. Further, there's a lot of work that has gone into this past work, and they don't want to lose their labor of love.

For the NAMIRS crowd, it will be crucial to establish that THEY are the ones carrying on the true legacy of FARMS. Continuing to publish and control this material will also go a long way to establishing that they still care about apologetics, which will defang one of the accusations that the OMIDs will make, that NAMIRS no longer cares about the original goals of FARMS. In truth NAMIRS won't be carrying on the FARMS legacy and they won't care about apologetics, but they need to overcome those objections in the short term.

My prediction: This is a classic case of authors/content creators vs. those who publish the work. In these cases the publishers almost always win, meaning NAMIRS wins and the OMIDs lose.

[_Joe Geisner]

Here is the latest:

http://maxwellinstitute.BYU.edu/news/in ... &type=news

I don't understand why they do not date this stuff?

It seems like Bradford is presenting a very reasonable and complimentary announcement.

[Guest]

Here is the latest:

http://maxwellinstitute.BYU.edu/news/in ... &type=news

I don't understand why they do not date this stuff?

It seems like Bradford is presenting a very reasonable and complimentary announcement.

Yes it does seem that way, but there is something else going on I think.

FROB is dead. Really dead. We know that Dan had been working on some issues (FROB is 2-3 issues behind schedule, depending on how you want to count it). These are no longer going to see the light of day. Whatever maneuvers DCP was going to engage in to try and get those published are now dead, there's no magazine in which to publish them.

Also, this means the Dehlin hit piece is also dead. Since the hit piece was written for FROB, NAMIRS likely can assert copyright over the work. Any attempt to publish it elsewhere can be met with a legal smackdown. But, since FROB is dead, it can't be published there. If this reading between the lines is correct, it's quite ingenious on the part of NAMIRS.

[_Stormy Waters]

Here is the latest:

http://maxwellinstitute.BYU.edu/news/in ... &type=news

I don't understand why they do not date this stuff?

It seems like Bradford is presenting a very reasonable and complimentary announcement.

From the link

We will be in contact with our subscribers shortly with information about a subscription refund. We have not yet set a launch date for the new Review, but we will post further developments on our website as they occur.

It appears that they've gotten at least some degree of backlash on this.