DCP's interviews on Mormonstories

[Guest]

I also appreciated Dan's nod to "bad behavior" from some unnamed Mormon apologists (*ahem* Will Schryver *ahem*) and how even though he did not condone their conduct, he felt constrained from coming out publicly and saying so because of the weight attached to his name and opinions.

So, where was that constraint on calling out the behavior of a fellow apologist when he made this post?

Saying that a man ought to have "no place in decent Christian society" is worthy of publicly reproving a fellow apologist and FARMS Review contributor, but making unwelcome remarks about a woman's breasts is too low on the demonology totem pole to merit comment?

You're all free to believe that Dan privately disapproves of the volatile behavior often displayed by certain apologists who shall remain unnamed. Two months ago, I would have thought the same thing. If Dan and I had been on speaking terms four months ago, I would not have publicly posted my now-famous thread right away; I would have expressed my concerns to Dan in private in hopes that it could all be resolved without public drama or embarrassment or cancellation of upcoming publications.

But as of two weeks ago? Let's just say I'm glad I was not in a position to take my concerns to Dan in private first, because it doesn't sound like he would have taken me seriously. Then again, I no longer believe that he ever did.

I'm sure that he disapproves of some apologist's behavior somewhere. But not the stuff you guys are hoping he disapproves of.

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[_Daniel Peterson]

MsJack speaketh from within an information vacuum regarding this subject.

[_MsJack]

MsJack speaketh from within an information vacuum regarding this subject.

Yes---an information vacuum of your creation.

And until you stop keeping things purposefully vague, I'll probably continue to do so.

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[_Jason Bourne]

I enjoyed this interview very much so.

Some thoughts.

1: It confirmed to me what some of my in real life interactions with Dr Peterson already had shown to me-He certainly is not the monstrosity some of his critics paint him out to be. He is a relatively pleasant affable fellow that loves what he does for work, loves his religion, loves life and is a fairly well read, smart and cultural person. I also found that his religous views are perhaps a bit more wide ranging and even liberal than what I would have thought. I was happy to see that LDS cultural things can quite drive him nuts similar to what I feel.

2: I am happy to know that he thinks the policy on making temple worthy couples wait a year if they wanted to have a wedding where non LDS family can come to first is bad policy. Dr Peterson don't let Pahoran and others like him know this because you will incur his wrath, be accused of ark steadying, valuing the temple less and basically as less than faithful when compared to others who do not agree.

3: I do think that Dr Peterson's message board persona is different than his real life one other than I he likes seems to like to be witty and yank someone chain in both settings. That may get him in trouble on line.

4: It was good to hear him be honest that his apologetics always starts with the position that the Church is true and works back from that. That may be how apologetics works but I think it weakens things from a real proof test for truth. It also can end up with bad defenses at times.

5: I am happy that he thinks persons who require a political position that is conservative to be considered faithful are off base and out of line with what the Church says. Droopy and BC are you listening?

6: I like his universalist view. It is one I espouse myself.

7: I do think like many very smart academics Dr Peterson likes to hear himself speak and be the center of attention, likes to be published and so on. I do not think that a bad thing however and have some of that in myself in the setting I work in and even at Church I have thought at times that I had more interesting things to say than many others. I am a fairly good speaker and like to give talks in Church and like the compliments I often receive. It is along that line that I make this comment.

There may be more I think of. But I walked away thinking I would love to have lunch with Dr Peterson one on one and I think I may offer it to him next time I am in his neck of the woods or he mine. He has offered me more than once a time to chat about things that seem to trouble me and if it works into his schedule someday I hope to take him up on it.