The Top Ten Happenings in Mopologetics, 2012

[_sock puppet]

Well in his notorious "I quit" email that was one of his big threats that he would no longer wine/dine potential donors.

I assume that for the real MI income exceeding budget went upwards.

oh, he still whines them.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Incidentally, DCP recently had a rather dumb post on his blog where he was soliciting ideas for making money off of his Mopologetics. Someone ought to go into the comments and write, "You've already got one, and it's called, Mormon Interpreter." It seems pretty clear to me that he's "softening up" readers and donors for the big reveal coming down the tubes eventually, when we at last get to see the non-profit tax forms for the MI. In other words, I think he's testing out the waters, to see how tolerant his supporters are to the idea that he's making money off Mopologetics. Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder, too, if this is connected to his bad-mouthing of BYU. Maybe he feels that he's close enough to retirement age, and that he can shift over his "man-hours" to Mormon Interpreter and make a ton more money? It's just a thought.

Oh, and I got quite a chuckle out of his suggestion that his blogging is actually some kind of bold and heroic crusade against "bullies." Yeah, Prof. P.--and our posts here are eventually going to be up for the Pulitzer.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

That fat asshole just needs to go away. He's an embarrassment to Mormonism. No wonder why he was fired...

- V/R
Dr. Cam

[_Philo Sofee]

Incidentally, DCP recently had a rather dumb post on his blog where he was soliciting ideas for making money off of his Mopologetics. Someone ought to go into the comments and write, "You've already got one, and it's called, Mormon Interpreter." It seems pretty clear to me that he's "softening up" readers and donors for the big reveal coming down the tubes eventually, when we at last get to see the non-profit tax forms for the MI. In other words, I think he's testing out the waters, to see how tolerant his supporters are to the idea that he's making money off Mopologetics. Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder, too, if this is connected to his bad-mouthing of BYU. Maybe he feels that he's close enough to retirement age, and that he can shift over his "man-hours" to Mormon Interpreter and make a ton more money? It's just a thought.

Oh, and I got quite a chuckle out of his suggestion that his blogging is actually some kind of bold and heroic crusade against "bullies." Yeah, Prof. P.--and our posts here are eventually going to be up for the Pulitzer.

[_sock puppet]

Here's the part that grabbed me the most:

Donors have donated literally millions of dollars; scholars have dedicated thousands of hours to the apologetic goals of MI.

Huh? Millions of dollars to the apologetic goals of MI? They've been claiming for decades that the anti-Mormons are in it to make money; now we know who really has been raking in the dough.

Just how much money does Mopologetics require, anyway?

That is pretty amazing.

Amazing indeed. Mormon donors are that insecure in their beliefs that they'd donate millions to try to give some legitimacy to those odd beliefs? Mormon scholars are that insecure in their beliefs that they'd donate thousands of hours to try to give some legitimacy to those odd beliefs? Their beliefs do not stand on their own without such investments in trying to defend and prop those beliefs up?

[_Kishkumen]

Here is the call for business ideas:

My most vocal, malevolent, and obsessive internet critic remarked, a month or two back, that, so long as I have a blog, write a newspaper column, and publish on Mormon-related topics, I deserve and can expect to be maligned by him and his ilk. The latter is, I presume, entirely true. However, since I’m not inclined to go silent in order to placate small-time aspiring bullies and anonymous slanderers, it occurs to me that I might as well profit from their weirdly consistent hostility. As of yet, though, lacking experience and background in such things, I haven’t come up with a workable business model. Ideas would be appreciated.

I have to say, I would also love to make money anytime anyone anywhere uses my personal information, but it ain't gonna happen.

Really, though, he ought to take some hints from the Christian anti-cult ministries. He could easily peddle responses to these attacks, attack Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox doctrines and theologies, etc. We all know that there are ways for Peterson to increase greatly his income from polemics. And, when he retires, there will be little to stop him from doing so.

[_Ludd]

Here's the part that grabbed me the most:

Donors have donated literally millions of dollars; scholars have dedicated thousands of hours to the apologetic goals of MI.

Huh? Millions of dollars to the apologetic goals of MI? They've been claiming for decades that the anti-Mormons are in it to make money; now we know who really has been raking in the dough.

Just how much money does Mopologetics require, anyway?

Wow! "Millions" of dollars? That is a very interesting revelation. What in the hell did they use "millions" of dollars for? I'm serious. If we could look at the Maxwell Institute financial statements, what would "millions" of dollars be spent on? I mean, they weren't giving away the books they published. In fact, all the books I ever bought that were put out by the MI were damn expensive! The Nibley books were about $40 and one of them I looked into buying was $75. I also looked into buying some of their Book of Abraham series books, but changed my mind when I found out they were like $80! So what was all that money used for? It's no wonder those guys are so upset that Bradford killed the goose that was laying their golden eggs.

[_Ludd]

It is my belief that we will never witness a year of Mopologetic happenings to top this one.

No kidding! In fact, I kind of regret what has happened, since Peterson et al have been kicked off their bully pulpit forever. At least it seems that way. Somehow I don't think their new Mormon Interpreter project is ever going to gain the status they used to have when they were supported by BYU and the donors who were willing to shell out "millions" of bucks to support what they were doing as a more or less "official" voice of the church. I doubt there are very many people that are even aware of the new "MI". It must be pretty discouraging for the old FARMS folks to have been thrown to the curb the way they were.

[_sock puppet]

My most vocal, malevolent, and obsessive internet critic remarked, a month or two back, that, so long as I have a blog, write a newspaper column, and publish on Mormon-related topics, I deserve and can expect to be maligned by him and his ilk. The latter is, I presume, entirely true. However, since I’m not inclined to go silent in order to placate small-time aspiring bullies and anonymous slanderers, it occurs to me that I might as well profit from their weirdly consistent hostility. As of yet, though, lacking experience and background in such things, I haven’t come up with a workable business model. Ideas would be appreciated.

Here's an idea, Dan. Think about the active, tithe-paying 2nd (or greater) generation Mormons. You could cause a bit of doubt by introducing them at firesides and such to criticisms of the LDS truth claims, then tantalize them with a few points around the fringe of the issue, and explain that there's a think tank formed to address the criticisms through 'scholarly' rebuttals--if only there is the funding for it, if only...after all, an misguided bureaucrat at BYU has taken away the resources for them to continue. If only there was more funding... . Now, for the deal cinchers, tell them about your Malevolent Stalker, who is bent on destroying you--and in doing so depriving the LDS Church of the only one who can rebut these "newly launched" criticisms. If only there was the funding to keep this think tank going... .

[_Kishkumen]

That is pretty amazing.

I know a little something about a few of these counter-cult or apologetics Christian ministries and what they see in donations. It is nowhere near "millions."

At a priesthood meeting I attended a fellow related a story about his experience at the family function of one of the apostles. The apostle apparently said that the Church spends millions of dollars fighting anti-Mormonism.

I interpreted this to mean that the PR and advertising efforts of the Church cost millions and were viewed as fighting anti-Mormonism. Maybe I was wrong.