Dan Peterson Booted From His Meti Office

[why me]

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."

But kick they are. My heart goes out to him packing his books just after putting the books on the shelf. And as a book lover, there is nothing worse than putting those books in boxes for awhile because of a lack of room. Plus, the indignation of going through such an experience in front of those he knows.

I think that we need a 'love-in' at the METI offices now. Lets bring back the late 60's.

[CA Steve]

Is his office at METI his only office?

[Scott Lloyd]

But kick they are. My heart goes out to him packing his books just after putting the books on the shelf. And as a book lover, there is nothing worse than putting those books in boxes for awhile because of a lack of room. Plus, the indignation of going through such an experience in front of those he knows.

I think that we need a 'love-in' at the METI offices now. Lets bring back the late 60's.

Did you mean "love-in" or "sit-in"?

[rameumptom]

Let's be clear of one thing: NAMI does not equal Church. Dan Peterson does not equal Church.

Ask anyone who knows any of the Twelve how they come to decisions, and you'll find that they often have strong debates over policy and sometimes even doctrine. That said, because of how the Quorum and First Presidency are established, once the debate is over and the decision made, all fall in line.

BYU and NAMI are not like this. Strong debates occur, but then power plays occur, as well. Jerry Bradford and Dan Peterson have both struggled to make NAMI into their own image, and in this case, Dan lost. We'll see in the long term if Jerry ends up harming NAMI, due to lack of donors and perhaps even scholars bothering to write for him. If he does not get a new volume of MSR out within the next 6 months, I'm guessing it will pretty much be a dead journal.

That Dan is having success with Interpreter and other projects, may show that the donors and scholars follow him into his newer projects. For example, Dan is on the board for SaltPress.org, and why should Adam Miller and others write for Jerry, in a realm where we really do not know what Jerry wants, when they have such a great publishing source as SaltPress?

That Interpreter has put out more articles in one month than MSR has in a year, also shows success for Dan's endeavors. While I'm sure the METI will suffer without his guiding hand, I have no doubt that Dan can find other projects involving Arabic texts, etc. The last few months have disrupted his stride, but by this time next year, I'm guessing he will be doing well. Not so sure how Jerry Bradford will fare.

[KevinG]

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.

As a graduate student at BYU one of the first lessons I learned was while BYU enjoys the financial support of the LDS Church and aspires to include some inspiration in its charter it is not much different from any other major university when it comes to politics and the attitudes of its professors.

[Glenn101]

Scott Lloyd said "Nobody kicks a dead dog."

and

But kick they are. My heart goes out to him packing his books just after putting the books on the shelf. And as a book lover, there is nothing worse than putting those books in boxes for awhile because of a lack of room. Plus, the indignation of going through such an experience in front of those he knows.

I think that we need a 'love-in' at the METI offices now. Lets bring back the late 60's.

I think the point is that if Dan had rolled over and played dead, the boots at METI would be still, but since he had the temerity to yelp, the boots stil want to keep kicking. In the spirit of spanking a crying child in order to make him stop crying.

Glenn

[why me]

Did you mean "love-in" or "sit-in"?

Love-in. The powers that did this need to see love in action.

[why me]

I think the point is that if Dan had rolled over and played dead, the boots at METI would be still, but since he had the temerity to yelp, the boots stil want to keep kicking. In the spirit of spanking a crying child in order to make him stop crying.

Glenn

They don't know Dan even after all these years.

[mrmandias]

Too bad, but the way Peterson has been treated has been underhanded and unChristian from the start. This is just more of the same.

[why me]

Too bad, but the way Peterson has been treated has been underhanded and unChristian from the start. This is just more of the same.

This is true. But what is amazing is that Dan is still a faithful member, sticking with the church, showing strong faith, and not going to youtube as a disgruntled lds academic telling his story. Rather he goes to his blog and enlists comments about what happened to him for better understanding.

A person of weaker faith could have been on their way out the door for lesser treatment by members of the church. .

[Calm]

the church is moving away from the style and approach of Dan and others?

The Church is not BYU. BYU is not the Church.

[Bob Crockett]

Too bad, but the way Peterson has been treated has been underhanded and unChristian from the start. This is just more of the same.

To whom are you referring? What real-life persons are being unChristian to Dr. Peterson?

[rongo]

I'm confused. Has Dan been removed from the Middle Eastern Text Initiative project as well?

I thought that he was removed as editor of the FARMS Journal/JBMS/etc. This makes it sound like he isn't on with METI any more, either. He is still an Islamic studies professor at BYU, right?

[Calm]

Yes to the last. He still has his regular office (just too many books to keep in it....he has some seriously beautiful books btw, I would want them out surrounding me just for the sheer beauty of them).

Don't know if he is still connected with METI or not. Would be just wrong to cut him off from that.

My husband is in a slightly similar situation, having just gotten settled in a two office situation...one for his usual teaching stuff, the other for some work he did outside of that. They just pulled the plug on the second one which puts a damper on his ability to effectively take care of both areas. Very disappointing and frustrating plus now he has to figure where to put all of his stuff. I think it was just because someone in administration didn't think it was fair for someone to have two offices, he didn't really share too many details. This seems to happen a lot in academia in my experience, little power plays here and there.

Edited September 18, 2012 by calmoriah

[The Nehor]

This is true. But what is amazing is that Dan is still a faithful member, sticking with the church, showing strong faith, and not going to youtube as a disgruntled lds academic telling his story. Rather he goes to his blog and enlists comments about what happened to him for better understanding.

A person of weaker faith could have been on their way out the door for lesser treatment by members of the church. .

Makes me staying in the Church despite the misspelling of my name on my Patriarchal Blessing seem relatively easy.

[USU78]

BYU is a hollow reed that will pierce the hand of him who leans on it.

[Vance]

BYU is a hollow reed that will pierce the hand of him who leans on it.

Saturday night's game as evidence.

[DavidB]

This is true. But what is amazing is that Dan is still a faithful member, sticking with the church, showing strong faith, and not going to youtube as a disgruntled lds academic telling his story. Rather he goes to his blog and enlists comments about what happened to him for better understanding.

A person of weaker faith could have been on their way out the door for lesser treatment by members of the church. .

That is correct he did not go to YouTube, instead he created his own blog to complain about his treatment; and allegedly by his own words he purposefully acted to divert donations away from Maxwell institute...so yes he remains faithfull at present, but displays all the trappings of those you ridicule who go to YouTube.....other than being faithfull at present there is not much difference.

As best as can be determined he has done nothing to curtail those who unrighteously sit in judgment of Bradfords worthiness.

Edited September 18, 2012 by DavidB

[Scott Lloyd]

To whom are you referring? What real-life persons are being unChristian to Dr. Peterson?

Perhaps those who continue to feed the rumor mill that his removal from the editorship was ordered by the Church hierarchy when such a supposition is without foundation and, it now appears, has been denied by someone in a position to know.

I allude to this from Dan's blog:

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.

Edited September 18, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[The Nehor]

That is correct he did not go to YouTube, instead he created his own blog to complain about his treatment; and allegedly by his own words he purposefully acted to divert donations away from Maxwell institute...so yes he remains faithfull at present, but displays all the trappings of those you disparate who go to YouTube.....other than being faithfull at present there is not much difference.

Wait....insulting BYU organizations is like being an apostate? Well, I guess I am going to hell in any case. I am off to spend my tithing money on booze and hookers. See ya losers!!!!

[Calm]

allegedly by his own words he purposefully acted to divert donations away from Maxwell institute

Being honest to people who think their donations are going to work on apologetics when it is not going to be any longer is not acting to divert donations from the MI, in my opinion, but just telling the reality of the situation so people can decide for themselves where they want their money to be used.******

My husband has worked with entrepreneurs who are high up on being solicited for donations to business schools and of which many are very generous in their attempts to support others like themselves at the beginning stage. My husband has heard way too many stories about how once a donation has been given, it gets diverted into other, less 'flashy' areas of the business schools that the administrators want to support (in many cases because that is their chosen field of expertise). It is not an uncommon practice of fundraising in universities, unfortunately and many a donator has learned from sad experience even if one tries to tie one's donation to a particular project, it is remarkable how the funds can get bled off into other areas or at least so it would seem from the stories they've told. It is also a great way to lose a donator for a university as they feel betrayed. I think it much wiser and honest to be upfront about where funds are actually going and for what purpose.

*******Dan has clarified he is simply no longer raising funds for NAMI.

Edited September 19, 2012 by calmoriah

[Scott Lloyd]

Being honest to people who think their donations are going to work on apologetics when it is not going to be any longer is not acting to divert donations from the MI, in my opinion, but just telling the reality of the situation so people can decide for themselves where they want their money to be used.

In fact, I'd say it would be unethcial, certainly indecent, not to be candid with prospective donors about the potential use of the funds being solicited from them.

Edited September 19, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

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

Seems a private matter...unless he is posting this to the world.

[KevinG]

Seems a private matter...unless he is posting this to the world.

It was private until some critics (to use the word generously) decided to claim Dan was kicked out of his department at the orders of the General Authorities. Dan is using his blog to set the record straight as it were.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

It was private until some critics (to use the word generously) decided to claim Dan was kicked out of his department at the orders of the General Authorities. Dan is using his blog to set the record straight as it were.

His "benevolent stalker"...say no more I get it. Sorry Dan...