The Top Ten Happenings in Mopologetics, 2014

[_Jesse Pinkman]

Dr. Peterson...

Whoah. He's really aged recently. I think the Bob Bobberson epic took its toll on Mr. Peterson...

- Doc

I think that what has seriously taken its toll is the loss of his first granddaughter.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

If anyone can provide a link to Norton's trolling, it would be much appreciated.

V/R
Doc

Here you go, Cam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx2K9tVURns

Voof. Cringe worthy. I had to turn it off.

V/R
Doc

[_Markk]

I think that what has seriously taken its toll is the loss of his first granddaughter.

I think what may be wearing on him, is that in his heart he knows?

[_Doctor Scratch]

9. The Essays. 2014 saw the institutional Church itself getting heavily into the Mopologetics game via the issuance of a series of essays meant to "explain" problematic aspects of LDS doctrine and history.

Dr Scratch, If I recall correctly, you have long distinguished your disdain for mopologetics from the LDS Church. I believe you have circumscribed your criticism short of it stretching to include the LDS Church itself.

I am very interested in what, then, your take is on the fact that "the institutional Church itself getting heavily into the Mopologetics game". Do you still check your criticisms at the doorstep of the institutional Church? Or, given that it now has gotten itself heavily into Mopologetics, do your criticisms now invade the palace too?

There has always been some crossover, Professor Puppet. If you criticize the LGT, aren't you also (by implication) criticizing the prophets who also believe in such a thing, and who've perhaps even arranged for funds to be channeled in that direction? And consider some of my past reportage on alleged visits to the Mopologists by "The Oaks Faction." Does that count as criticism of "the Church"? Or of "Mopologetics"? So, the question is: where does one draw the line between the Church and the Mopologists? It's really kind of similar to Shades's Chapel/Internet Mormon distinction--it's useful in terms of making some generalizations, but you will always have some crossover.

Of course it's inevitable that some will think that "The Essays" should top the list, but from my perspective, the essays just aren't strictly "Mopologetic" in quite the right sense: there just isn't enough evidence that the production of the essays was motivated my vindictive anger, a crippling fear of being ridiculed, and a petty desire for intellectual superiority and respectability. Now, if we were to learn that Bill Hamblin, Louis Midgley, and Cassandra Hedelius had been recruited to consult on the essays, then of course it would rise to #1. But I said that the Church was "getting heavily into the Mopologetics game" for a reason. The essays *were* handled in a somewhat sneaky, end-around, well-we-have-no-choice-so-we-better-go-ahead-and-disclose-this sort of a way. To put it another way: the essays demonstrate the familiarity with anti-Mormon material that's vital to the identity of Mopologetics, but, on the other hand, they don't appear to contain the same fundamental hostility and sadism. Your mileage may vary, but that's my .02.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

I think that what has seriously taken its toll is the loss of his first granddaughter.

I think what may be wearing on him, is that in his heart he knows?

Serious question. Wouldn't Mormons be happy that an innocent is guaranteed the Celestial kingdom? I understand the grief of a loved one dying, but if you truly felt the child is guaranteed eternal salvation, wouldn't that give you an overriding sense of relief and happiness?

V/R
Doc

[_Markk]

Serious question. Wouldn't Mormons be happy that an innocent is guaranteed the Celestial kingdom? I understand the grief of a loved one dying, but if you truly felt the child is guaranteed eternal salvation, wouldn't that give you an overriding sense of relief and happiness?

V/R
Doc

As a believer (evangelical), it seems that we should rejoice when a person (believer) leaves us...but that is just not the way we are built...grieving, too me, is God given and necessary. I certainly don't have it figured out, but that's what I believe.

I believe after all DCP has gone through, he has got to know that all is not well in Zion...the last essay is a death warrant on Joseph Smith in that it makes him a bold face liar, that has got to bother him...he looks like someone beat the crap out of him, or drank a bottle ripple...hopefully it is just a bad pic.

[_sock puppet]

9. The Essays. 2014 saw the institutional Church itself getting heavily into the Mopologetics game via the issuance of a series of essays meant to "explain" problematic aspects of LDS doctrine and history.

Dr Scratch, If I recall correctly, you have long distinguished your disdain for mopologetics from the LDS Church. I believe you have circumscribed your criticism short of it stretching to include the LDS Church itself.

I am very interested in what, then, your take is on the fact that "the institutional Church itself getting heavily into the Mopologetics game". Do you still check your criticisms at the doorstep of the institutional Church? Or, given that it now has gotten itself heavily into Mopologetics, do your criticisms now invade the palace too?

There has always been some crossover, Professor Puppet. If you criticize the LGT, aren't you also (by implication) criticizing the prophets who also believe in such a thing, and who've perhaps even arranged for funds to be channeled in that direction? And consider some of my past reportage on alleged visits to the Mopologists by "The Oaks Faction." Does that count as criticism of "the Church"? Or of "Mopologetics"? So, the question is: where does one draw the line between the Church and the Mopologists? It's really kind of similar to Shades's Chapel/Internet Mormon distinction--it's useful in terms of making some generalizations, but you will always have some crossover.

Of course it's inevitable that some will think that "The Essays" should top the list, but from my perspective, the essays just aren't strictly "Mopologetic" in quite the right sense: there just isn't enough evidence that the production of the essays was motivated my vindictive anger, a crippling fear of being ridiculed, and a petty desire for intellectual superiority and respectability. Now, if we were to learn that Bill Hamblin, Louis Midgley, and Cassandra Hedelius had been recruited to consult on the essays, then of course it would rise to #1. But I said that the Church was "getting heavily into the Mopologetics game" for a reason. The essays *were* handled in a somewhat sneaky, end-around, well-we-have-no-choice-so-we-better-go-ahead-and-disclose-this sort of a way. To put it another way: the essays demonstrate the familiarity with anti-Mormon material that's vital to the identity of Mopologetics, but, on the other hand, they don't appear to contain the same fundamental hostility and sadism. Your mileage may vary, but that's my .02.

Thank you, Dr Scratch, for the explanation. The 'institutional Church' is, for me, the bureaucratic apparatus, top (President) down all the way to the rank and file members. The Corporation. 'The Church' is a term that casts a broader net, capturing the cultural including the talking heads that we refer to as the Mopologists that run a parallel outside that bureaucratic hierarchy. Mopologetics is like a viral strain that infests the organism that is 'the Church'. The target of my disdain is that entire organism. From your postings, I've thought your issues are more specifically targeted at the virus that is Mopologetics, and would follow it wherever it has infected the organism, even into the board room, to the Oaks faction.

It seems to me that the posting of the Essays on LDS.org signals how pervasive the virus has spread in the higher eschelons of the organism, to be now an entrenched part of the 'institutional Church' itself. No longer does it merely shadow the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy itself has now adopted the Mopology. The line between ecclesiastical and apologetic has been significantly blurred.

You're right, though, the institutional Church has stopped short of guttural tactics that have been and continue to be a hallmark of Mopologists. The Essays do not drip with "vindictive anger" or betray "a crippling fear of being ridiculed" or "a petty desire for intellectual superiority and respectability". Rather, the Essays seem full-on defensive, suggesting a fear of being found to have institutionally whitewashed over its own seedy past and clinging for dear life for religious respectability. The distinction between nose-holding tactics or not does yet pertain despite the posting of the mopologetic Essays on LDS.org.

Again, thank you for your response.

[_Markk]

You're right, though, the institutional Church has stopped short of guttural tactics that have been and continue to be a hallmark of Mopologists. The Essays do not drip with "vindictive anger" or betray "a crippling fear of being ridiculed" or "a petty desire for intellectual superiority and respectability". Rather, the Essays seem full-on defensive, suggesting a fear of being found to have institutionally whitewashed over its own seedy past and clinging for dear life for religious respectability. The distinction between nose-holding tactics or not does yet pertain despite the posting of the mopologetic Essays on LDS.org.

Sure...It is like quitting before you're fired...But still, it is in my opinion, the #1 mopologentic event simply because it slams the door in their face. This isn't like Dr. Scratch, or Shades firing a shot over the bow, or a quibble between themselves...this is the boss stepping in out of desperation and cleaning up a mess they created and could no longer manage.

[_sock puppet]

If anyone can provide a link to Norton's trolling, it would be much appreciated.

V/R
Doc

Here you go, Cam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx2K9tVURns

I wonder how DCP would answer that same question today, now that the essay Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo has been posted on LDS.org.

[_Bond James Bond]

Professor as always Christmas came early. Might I ask that you add to the list.

#11 Bob Bobberson's Allegorical Fables

It would have been higher except that Dr. Shades broke Bob's spirit, creating a writer's block that hasn't thawed yet.