Saturday, January 15, 2011

Dan Peterson and the FARMS Review reviews ... me.

Yesterday I was skimming through Daniel Peterson's introduction to the most recent issue of the FARMS Review, "An Unapologetic Apology for Apologetics," and something caught my eye. He writes (quoting a couple anonymous writers):

Some Latter-day Saints who object in principle to the apologetic enterprise may hold to a slightly different faith—or, at least, affirm the faith a little differently—than do most members of the church. A hypothetical situation was proposed to one such objector, and his response was revealing. "Suppose," a questioner wrote,
that a friend or family member approaches you and says "I am beginning to have doubts about my testimony. There are things from the history of the Church which I never knew about, but which concern me. For example, my friend said that Joseph Smith stole the temple endowment from Freemasonry. I was told the endowment was revealed by God, and now I am really having some confusing doubts."
What would you do? Would you say, "Well, your problem is that you are using 'reason' to assess the claims of the gospel. I think what you need is more faith. If you just have faith and pray about it, it will be okay." Would you say something else? What would you do? 18
In response, the objector said that he would answer that,
yes, Joseph Smith used Masonic rites to develop his endowment ceremony. If they want to ask more questions, I'd give them more answers: No, I don't think they are based on actually ancient rituals. Yes, I find them beautiful and meaningful nonetheless. No, I don't think they are magically efficacious. Yes, I believe that God uses them to bind us into communities to build the Kingdom of God, etc.19
The appropriate way to respond to our critics, he continued, "depends on the criticism."
Sometimes the proper response is: Yes, you are right. Sometimes the proper response is to point out poor argumentation (which could be equally done by a non-believer). Sometimes the response is "I don't know." Other times the only response is: Perhaps, but it doesn't matter.
When I read this the last couple quotations reminded me of something I had read elsewhere. After doing a quick google search I realized that it seemed familiar because it was something that I had written on a message board several months ago. Upon further skimming of the article I noticed that nearly each section of Peterson's article was quoting and responding to other comments I had made on that thread, as well as to a paper I had written on Mormon apologetics for a class I had with Richard Bushman last spring.

Needless to say, I am a bit honored that Peterson took the time to publish a response to quick comments that I had made in an informal (and awful) message board and a 12-page paper for one of my classes. And because Peterson and I had once been friends I appreciate that he avoided the traditional snide remarks and personal jabs that are often a trademark of the FARMS Review--even throwing in a couple compliments in my direction.

3 comments:

  1. I always wonder which MADB posters he's quoting from. The same goes for Mike Ash's work. Perhaps the new board rules and name change will make MADB a more respectful, albeit informal place to discuss the social, historical, and cultural strengths, nuances, and paradoxes of Mormonism.

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  2. I find this interesting....."When I read this the last couple quotations reminded me of something I had read elsewhere. After doing a quick google search I realized that it seemed familiar because it was something that I had written on a message board several months ago. Upon further skimming of the article I noticed that nearly each section of Peterson's article was quoting and responding to other comments I had made on that thread, as well as to a paper I had written on Mormon apologetics for a class I had with Richard Bushman last spring." I may be a bit naive but it seems a bit dishonest especially in an academic sense to use the ideas and arguments of another without provide the due citations of such arguments. This especially in an academic paper. In your comments on a message board was your identity attached such as a photo, tag or your full name so that those who also posted would know your identity? This author to take your words, your arguments, from a message board seems to walk a plagiaristic line. Or am I wrong and you did maintain anonymity in your participation on a message board. More strongly to take statements from a paper written for a class seems even more dishonest. This is concerning and in my professional and academic background may reveal the absence of credibility of the author in general out side of his arguments found in his writings. How sad.

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  3. Brian,

    Because my comments were made with a pseudonym it was good internetiquette (I just coined that myself)to not "out me," even though my identity on the board was pretty well known. (And Dan explains that he is doing just that in a footnote.)

    And since he is not claiming that any of my arguments are his own I do not think he is guilty of any dishonesty. (Though perhaps he should perhaps give some credit to my friend LOAP, whose comments he is piggy-backing off of.)

    Although my paper was available online and included my name, I'm fine without him giving me credit. However, since Dan knows me and has my email, I think it would have been nice for him to send him a little note asking/saying what he was going to do.

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Please provide a name or consistent pseudonym with your comments and avoid insults or personal attacks against anyone or any group. All anonymous comments will be immediately deleted. Other comments are subject to deletion at my discretion.