George Mitton, Mopologist Lieutenant, Dies at 97
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 2:17 am
In case you have not heard the news: George Mitton, the longtime contributor to FARMS and Interpreter, has died. I offer my sincere condolences to his loved ones.
Mitton was largely a “behind-the-scenes” presence: a “foot soldier” who was necessary to carrying out the Mopologetic leadership’s plans. But he seldom ever found himself in the spotlight. Perhaps his main “moment of fame” came some 15 years ago or thereabouts, when Kevin Graham misidentified him as “Mitchell” (after he had shown up at a conference alongside a few other Mopologists in order to heckle a Church critic). DCP and Hamblin, in response to this, began to repeat, over and over again—on the old FAIR message board—“Heil Mitchell! Heil Mitchell!”, apparently in imitation of the Nazi salute. One wonders if Dr. Peterson will raise his arm in an imitative “Nazi salute” at Mitton’s actual funeral—provided that his busy, non-stop travel schedule permits him to attend, that is.
In the usual venues, Mitton is being praised for “contributing to the kingdom,” with his service to Interpreter being adduced as the key example—as if editing Interpreter book reviews “counts” as “service” to the Church of Jesus Christ.
I admit that, apart from his connection to Mopologetics, I did not know the man. Still, I find myself scratching my head over the Mopologetic summation of his life. I assume that he did more worthwhile things in his life beyond overseeing smear articles, but to read the Mopologists’ eulogies, you’d think this was the highlight of the man’s accomplishments. It’s as if he did not have a meaningful life outside of Mopologetics.
In any case, his passing marks a critical milestone in the history of Mopologetics.
Mitton was largely a “behind-the-scenes” presence: a “foot soldier” who was necessary to carrying out the Mopologetic leadership’s plans. But he seldom ever found himself in the spotlight. Perhaps his main “moment of fame” came some 15 years ago or thereabouts, when Kevin Graham misidentified him as “Mitchell” (after he had shown up at a conference alongside a few other Mopologists in order to heckle a Church critic). DCP and Hamblin, in response to this, began to repeat, over and over again—on the old FAIR message board—“Heil Mitchell! Heil Mitchell!”, apparently in imitation of the Nazi salute. One wonders if Dr. Peterson will raise his arm in an imitative “Nazi salute” at Mitton’s actual funeral—provided that his busy, non-stop travel schedule permits him to attend, that is.
In the usual venues, Mitton is being praised for “contributing to the kingdom,” with his service to Interpreter being adduced as the key example—as if editing Interpreter book reviews “counts” as “service” to the Church of Jesus Christ.
I admit that, apart from his connection to Mopologetics, I did not know the man. Still, I find myself scratching my head over the Mopologetic summation of his life. I assume that he did more worthwhile things in his life beyond overseeing smear articles, but to read the Mopologists’ eulogies, you’d think this was the highlight of the man’s accomplishments. It’s as if he did not have a meaningful life outside of Mopologetics.
In any case, his passing marks a critical milestone in the history of Mopologetics.