Dan Peterson Booted From His Meti Office

[why me]

I was reading Dan's blog and discovered that he has been booted from his METI office. The episode he related on his blog is rather thought provoking and a little sad. It seems that even at BYU, there is much imperfections among human beings. Sorry Dan. You deserved better. Keep up the good workk and don't let this get you down.

http://www.patheos.c...cut-of-all.html

Edited September 18, 2012 by why me

[Storm Rider]

I am so disgusted with these type of political machinations. These are the types of the things that cause indelible, negative impressions in the hearts and minds of so many other people. These types of things have always made it easier to live outside of Utah and in areas where I am not easily touched by such pettiness. These creates such bad karma for those who made and approved such decisions.

[DavidB]

How about we just drop the whole issue. I believe Brother Peterson has a comment section on his blog.

Edited September 18, 2012 by DavidB

[cesc101]

too bad...

too sad...

seriously annoying...

But,

Such is Life...!

»»Dan, Please take your eyes off "Egypt", & focus your energy on the "canaan" you invariable must [now] conquer...

[cesc101]

How about we just drop the whole issue. I believe Brother Peterson has a comment section on his blog.

yea...!

But, some of us don't get around reading his blog that often, so it helps a lot when it occasionally brought up here

[why me]

How about we just drop the whole issue. I believe Brother Peterson has a comment section on his blog.

This is a discussion board. The blog is not exactly a discussion board. Here we can comment about it and have a dialogue. Also, it needs to be known what has happened to Dan. Many people do not go to blogs because they are here and have no time to discover blogs and what is being said on them. Also, it needs to be known just how he is being treated by some people who he has known for many years.

[DavidB]

This is a discussion board. The blog is not exactly a discussion board. Here we can comment about it and have a dialogue. Also, it needs to be known what has happened to Dan. Many people do not go to blogs bso what does anyo ecause they are here and have no time to discover blogs and what is being said on them. Also, it needs to be known just how he is being treated by some people who he has known for many years.

What does any of this have to do with LDS Doctrine, Geography etc?

The social hall might be appropriate place. But since no one but Brother Peterson or Brother Bradford can offer anything but hearsay and tabloidish opinions, there really isn't anything to discuss.

Brother Peterson works for BYU, he as with all employees must bow to their employer. The issue is long past and over with.

[Antoni]

Very sad to see anyone treated this way.

[why me]

What does any of this have to do with LDS Doctrine, Geography etc?

The social hall might be appropriate place. But since no one but Brother Peterson or Brother Bradford can offer anything but hearsay and tabloidish opinions, there really isn't anything to discuss.

Brother Peterson works for BYU, he as with all employees must bow to their employer. The issue is long past and over with.

This is the general discussion section. In it we can have a general discussion about how a member has been treated by other members. And lets relate it to doctrine. Personally, I believe the lds should treat other lds kindly and brotherly and sisterly. And this was not he case with Dan. Can I call it putting gospel principles to practice. And in this case, it was not done.

Edited September 18, 2012 by why me

[Glenn101]

What does any of this have to do with LDS Doctrine, Geography etc?

The social hall might be appropriate place. But since no one but Brother Peterson or Brother Bradford can offer anything but hearsay and tabloidish opinions, there really isn't anything to discuss.

Brother Peterson works for BYU, he as with all employees must bow to their employer. The issue is long past and over with.

I assume that someone is making you read the comments in this thread???

Glenn

[DBMormon]

I don't know Dan personally and I wish him the best, but must also acknowledge something bigger is happening here. It is time to admit on some level that whatever Dan stands for, is something the institution feels a dramatic separation and change is desired.

I think it is time to admit that this goes higher then the NAMI as Dan is too high profile and too well known for the Church to sit back and allow him to be "side-railed"

[Storm Rider]

I think the topic itself is appropriate for discussion. It may be more appropriate elsewhere on the Board, but if that is the case I assume a mod will move it as they see fit.

There may have been a time when such crude behavior could be exercised at BYU without anyone else being the wiser for it; however, today is not that day. This behavior is just unacceptable at an institution that belongs to the Church. This degree of heavy-handedness has no place at BYU and it should be stopped. I can assure you that if I am ever again in a position to discuss another gift to BYU I will bring this situation up. There is no condition where this would be acceptable.

[Darren10]

I don't know Dan personally and I wish him the best, but must also acknowledge something bigger is happening here. It is time to admit on some level that whatever Dan stands for, is something the institution feels a dramatic separation and change is desired.

I think it is time to admit that this goes higher then the NAMI as Dan is too high profile and too well known for the Church to sit back and allow him to be "side-railed"

While I've no doubt Dan's a very fine man and while he's helped me see the LDS doctrines in new lights, hagiographizing him really won't serve any purpose. I don't think the LDS Church is conspiring to allow a good man such as Dan to get 'side-railed' in order to suqeeze in some new agenda. BYU is political. It's that simple. Politics, even in the church, is a creature all of its own.

[why me]

I think the topic itself is appropriate for discussion. It may be more appropriate elsewhere on the Board, but if that is the case I assume a mod will move it as they see fit.

There may have been a time when such crude behavior could be exercised at BYU without anyone else being the wiser for it; however, today is not that day. This behavior is just unacceptable at an institution that belongs to the Church. This degree of heavy-handedness has no place at BYU and it should be stopped. I can assure you that if I am ever again in a position to discuss another gift to BYU I will bring this situation up. There is no condition where this would be acceptable.

I think that it is wortthy of the discussion thread. We need to reflect on how people are treated by a church institution. And begin to ask why someone who has given a lot of time to apologetics and scholarship can be treated this way by a church institution. I think that it is worthy of discussion.

[Darren10]

I think that it is wortthy of the discussion thread. We need to reflect on how people are treated by a church institution. And begin to ask why someone who has given a lot of time to apologetics and scholarship can be treated this way by a church institution. I think that it is worthy of discussion.

That's sensible.

[David T]

Very sad to see anyone treated this way.

I don't see this as a surprise, or as a shock. Since he was removed from his position, he resigned as fundraiser, stated he will not recommend new sponsors, started a competing publication, and also has become a repeated, highly vocal critic of the organization on facebook, his blog, and at FAIR conference.

Apart from one may think of the initial handling of his removal as editor of the Review, is it really unreasonable for the organization to not want him physically present at this point?

Edited September 18, 2012 by David T

[shalamabobbi]

My only experience with BYU, (other than that is where the MTC was), was passing by in a car after my mission and happening to be sporting a beard at the time and someone on campus looking at it, yelled "FREAK!"

[DBMormon]

Having a Good friend who works at NAMI, I also have a perspective

While I've no doubt Dan's a very fine man and while he's helped me see the LDS doctrines in new lights, hagiographizing him really won't serve any purpose. I don't think the LDS Church is conspiring to allow a good man such as Dan to get 'side-railed' in order to suqeeze in some new agenda. BYU is political. It's that simple. Politics, even in the church, is a creature all of its own.

Really? How did I make Dan a Saint? strange. So does that mean you are unable to come to terms that Direction has changed, and the church is moving away from the style and approach of Dan and others? It is nothing against him. But it seems apparent. Though the angry Mob may still scream over it.

[Mark Beesley]

This is a discussion board. The blog is not exactly a discussion board. Here we can comment about it and have a dialogue. Also, it needs to be known what has happened to Dan. Many people do not go to blogs because they are here and have no time to discover blogs and what is being said on them. Also, it needs to be known just how he is being treated by some people who he has known for many years.

Well, when you get into "discussions" like this, the Board becomes a speculation Board, or something less useful.

Frankly, having read Dan's blog, it appears he has learned little from recent events. He continues to insist living his life on the Internet and making rather ill-considered comments for a rather judgmental and unforgiving public, your's truly included.

Sorry Dan, but it isn't your light that is shining on the hill.

[Scott Lloyd]

I think it is time to admit that this goes higher then the NAMI as Dan is too high profile and too well known for the Church to sit back and allow him to be "side-railed"

This is from a Sept. 16 blog post by Dr. Peterson:

I now know for a fact, on the very highest authority, that, despite widespread rumors to the contrary and despite even claims from some to have privileged information regarding alleged participation of the presiding quorums of the Church in my ouster, it was not ordered from Salt Lake City.

The unwarranted speculation that the deplorable events of this past summer at the Maxwell Institute were ordered by general Church leadership is nothing more than unkind gossip.

[why me]

Well, when you get into "discussions" like this, the Board becomes a speculation Board, or something less useful.

Frankly, having read Dan's blog, it appears he has learned little from recent events. He continues to insist living his life on the Internet and making rather ill-considered comments for a rather judgmental and unforgiving public, your's truly included.

Sorry Dan, but it isn't your light that is shining on the hill.

Of course Dan can silence himself from the Internet and hide in a hole, licking his wounds. But that wouldn't be human but it would be a groundhog. I think that he is doing something that is necessary for discussion: his treatment when he was away from the country and his current treatment by a church institution. If you would put yourself in his place would you be a human being and have a voice or a groundhog licking your wounds after a confrontation with scorpions?

Edited September 18, 2012 by why me

[cinepro]

BYU is political. It's that simple. Politics, even in the church, is a creature all of its own.

This whole situation is really sad, and while I can understand the feelings of those who would hope for better behavior from a "church" institution, in the end it really just looks like the same kind of politicking and machinations that you find in any other organization.

It's okay to hope for better, but we need to recognize it for what it is.

[why me]

This whole situation is really sad, and while I can understand the feelings of those who would hope for better behavior from a "church" institution, in the end it really just looks like the same kind of politicking and machinations that you find in any other organization.

It's okay to hope for better, but we need to recognize it for what it is.

Exactly right. But it is unfortunate when it happens inside the church. We should expect better from those who claim to hold the priesthood or who are active in church promoting brotherly and sisterly love in talks and classes.

Edited September 18, 2012 by why me

[Scott Lloyd]

Of course Dan can silence himself from the Internet and hide in a hole, licking his wounds. But that wouldn't be human but it would be a groundhog. I think that his is doing something that is necessary for discussion: his treatment when he was away from the country and his current treatment by a church institution. If you would put yourself in his place would you be a human being and have a voice or a groundhog licking your wounds after a confrontation with scorpions?

Many years ago, when I was a youth growing up in the Church, my teachers quorum adviser uttered a maxim that has stayed with me ever since:

"Nobody kicks a dead dog."

[ERayR]

Well, when you get into "discussions" like this, the Board becomes a speculation Board, or something less useful.

Frankly, having read Dan's blog, it appears he has learned little from recent events. He continues to insist living his life on the Internet and making rather ill-considered comments for a rather judgmental and unforgiving public, your's truly included.

Sorry Dan, but it isn't your light that is shining on the hill.

I can not think that this attempt at censorship originated in the Church office building.