FAIR goes too far.

[_Droopy]

I was astonished today to find something waiting for me in my email inbox. Now, I have never really given much thought to becoming a formal publisher for Cassius (at least in the multivocalities department). Here goes nuttin'.

An informant, whom I trust and would seem to have no reason to deceive, states that FAIR has stepped in something sticky and warm. He is someone who is closely associated with their leadership, with whom I share non-Mormon related interests. I will quote in part:

Call it the wheels of justice that turn slowly, or call it the normal fashion of large organizations with thousands of file folders, but relevant information about the recent misbehavior of Schryver has landed on the right desk. I know of several individuals who felt cheated or otherwise confused by the apparent lack of discipline on the part of the board concerning the breach. Two recent developments will lead to Schryver's relative silence, and will further lead to a drastic scaling back of his FAIR participation.

I queried:

Is this the thing that Will did with Trevor? Making fun of his paper on Mormon Discussions or the normal calling women whores and being a jerk? What were the two things?

His response:

Among other things, economic and familial pressures have forced him to reduce his monthly support to FAIR. As you may have heard, his daughter has been seriously ill and requires more support. In addition, there are other problems at home. I understand Will is reorganizing his priorities. I think it is commendable.

Furthermore, someone in the COB unofficially rebuked the right people for Will's recent misdeeds with Trevor. I don't know who was doing the rebuking or really who was being rebuked. The latest emissions from Schryver were endangering the mission of FAIR. I understand the language in the missive was quite sharp.

Schryver will continue his association with us, but will be forced to do so at a much reduced fashion. I cannot imagine he would be given any real responsibilities in the near future unless he cleans up his act. I speculate he will not be "outing" many apostates for a while. He has become more of a liability than his pecuniary contributions would warrant.

Wee Willy will be the death of more than the Church, eh?

This is as much evidence as is required for the inference that Will's scholarly work on the Book of Abraham is perceived as a clear and deadly threat to the entire edifice of Book of Abraham anti-Mormon criticism and that Will must be delegitimized and impugned at any cost (and who better than Scratch to do the dirty work?).

I can hardly wait for publication of Will's work on the subject.

"And the walls come tumbling down..."

[_harmony]

This is as much evidence as is required for the inference that Will's scholarly work on the Book of Abraham is perceived as a clear and deadly threat to the entire edifice of Book of Abraham anti-Mormon criticism and that Will must be delegitimized and impugned at any cost (and who better than Scratch to do the dirty work?).

I can hardly wait for publication of Will's work on the subject.

"And the walls come tumbling down..."

First, we need something... a paper, a presentation, a freakin' fireside chat... that shows Will has actually done anything scholarly. Then we'll decide if it's a threat or a joke.

And keep in mind, Droop... it isn't us that he's leaving now.

[_Trevor]

This is as much evidence as is required for the inference that Will's scholarly work on the Book of Abraham is perceived as a clear and deadly threat to the entire edifice of Book of Abraham anti-Mormon criticism and that Will must be delegitimized and impugned at any cost (and who better than Scratch to do the dirty work?).

Or maybe we just think he behaves like a turd on these boards. As for me, I can't say I am shaking in my boots over his ever-imminent apologia on the Book of Abraham. In fact, I am rather hopeful that he will have something useful to add to our knowledge of it, whether he does so deliberately or not.

You see, I don't care whether Will's arguments really pan out or not, because they indicate absolutely nothing about the truthfulness of Joseph Smith's literary productions.

[_Trevor]

Then we'll decide if it's a threat or a joke.

Or a joke threat.

[Guest]

You see, I don't care whether Will's arguments really pan out or not, because they indicate absolutely nothing about the truthfulness of Joseph Smith's literary productions.

This would seem actually rather counter-intuitive, as if the overwhelming weight of the evidence suggests that the Book of Abraham is an authentic ancient text, then Joseph cannot be considered its "producer" at all, and if the Egyptian alphabet and grammar have nothing to do with the translation of the Book of Abraham as given, and if other missing material is the actual source of the Book of Abraham (as all present evidence indicates), then you have the same problem with all theories claiming to have exposed Joseph as a fraud.

[_Trevor]

This would seem actually rather counter-intuitive, as if the overwhelming weight of the evidence suggests that the Book of Abraham is an authentic ancient text, then Joseph cannot be considered its "producer" at all.

Your syntax isn't gelling. What are you trying to say?

[_CaliforniaKid]

If this is true, then I hope your daughter feels better very soon, William.

[_Droopy]

This would seem actually rather counter-intuitive, as if the overwhelming weight of the evidence suggests that the Book of Abraham is an authentic ancient text, then Joseph cannot be considered its "producer" at all.

Your syntax isn't gelling. What are you trying to say?

Bye.

[_Droopy]

This was the entire post, after I went back and edited a bit.

This would seem actually rather counter-intuitive, as if the overwhelming weight of the evidence suggests that the Book of Abraham is an authentic ancient text, then Joseph cannot be considered its "producer" at all, and if the Egyptian alphabet and grammar have nothing to do with the translation of the Book of Abraham as given, and if other missing material is the actual source of the Book of Abraham (as all present evidence indicates), then you have the same problem with all theories claiming to have exposed Joseph as a fraud.

[_Trevor]

...then you have the same problem with all theories claiming to have exposed Joseph as a fraud.

Well, there really is no need for any theories of Joseph Smith's fraudulence. Until there is any reason outside of a testimony to believe that any of his works are actually ancient texts, such efforts are a waste of good time.