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Dr. Daniel C. Peterson -
"Infymus" (Michael Hoenie) Correspondence
Critics of the LDS Church hate Dr. Daniel
C. Peterson. In fact, it seems from looking at certain places on the
Internet that many of them have an obsession with Dr. Peterson. One
wonders why the venom from these apostates? Can it be that they have
got him "dead to rights?" We resoundingly shout NO! They are not
close to telling you about the real Dr. Peterson, a man with incredible
humor and kindness. This we know from firsthand experience with him.
From our experience, critics like to insult and lambaste Dr. Peterson, but
think he is mean when he responds to them calling them on their actions.
Such an experience is reproduced below in
an exchange wherein Dr. Peterson attempts to get Mr. Hoenie to correct his
lie about Dr. Peterson in his The Mormon Curtain internet blog:
Letter One
From: "Daniel C. Peterson" <daniel_peterson@byu.edu>
Date: Sat, 05 Nov 2005 13:55:46 -0600
To: <infymus@mormoncurtain.com>
Subject: Correction
Dear Infymus:
I was just pointed to your blog, and found it interesting. When I get
some time, I'll read through all of the stuff that you have there
about me.
However, in the meanwhile I would like to correct a misstatement at
your site: "Daniel C. Peterson," you say, "is paid directly by the
Mormon Church to contradict, counteract, suppress, withhold and
dismiss any claims made by persons outside the LDS Church."
This is not true.
First, I'm not paid "directly by the Mormon Church" at all. I'm paid
by Brigham Young University, as are all other professors and staff at
the University (including those who are not Latter-day Saints). Thus,
at best, I'm indirectly paid by the Mormon Church. This is
less dramatic than your formulation, but it’s more accurate.
Second, no part of my salary -- absolutely none, not a dime -- comes
from my apologetic undertakings. I am a professor of Islamic studies
and Arabic at Brigham Young University, situated in the Department of
Asian and Near Eastern Languages:
http://asiane.byu.edu/arabic/index.php?content=people/peterson
Additionally, I am the founder, editor-in-chief, and director of the
University's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative:
http://meti.byu.edu/
Formerly, I was also the director of the Center for the Preservation
of Ancient Religious Texts, overseeing projects to digitize
manuscripts in the Vatican Apostolic Library, in various monastic
libraries in Lebanon, and elsewhere, as well as our on-going work on
creating electronic databases for the Dead Sea Scrolls. I have,
however, now turned that responsibility over to another.
My salary comes from these activities. I receive no salary whatsoever
from dealing with critics of Mormonism.
I trust that you will correct your misstatement soon. I’m sure that
you’re committed to truth and accuracy.
With best wishes,
Daniel Peterson |
Letter Two
From: Infymus <infymus@infymus.com>
Date: Sun, 06 Nov 2005 07:51:23 -0700
To: "Daniel C. Peterson" <daniel_peterson@byu.edu>
Subject: RE: Correction
Realize that the topic header is mine, of course, however, the
articles posted under the topic (that being your name) are culled from
the Ex-Mormon world.
I will look into your claims that the LDS Corporation does not
directly pay your salary to be an apologist. If we traced the money
backwards through BYU, the source would ultimately lead to the LDS
Corporation and into the pocket of unsuspecting tithed members.
“I trust that you will correct your
misstatement soon. I’m sure that you’re committed to truth and
accuracy.”
Ah, just as you are committed to the
“truth” as well. Thanks for making me laugh this morning.
I will look into your claims and get back to you.
Michael Hoenie. |
Letter Three
From: "Daniel C.
Peterson" <daniel_peterson@byu.edu>
Date: Sun, 06 Nov 2005 09:05:29 -0600
To: Infymus <infymus@infymus.com>
Subject: Re: Correction
On 11/6/05 8:51 AM, "Infymus" <infymus@infymus.com> wrote:
[Infymus]
Realize that the topic header is
mine, of course, however, the articles posted under the topic (that
being your name) are culled from the Ex-Mormon world.
I will look into your claims that the LDS Corporation does not
directly pay your salary to be an apologist. If we traced the money
backwards through BYU, the source would ultimately lead to the LDS
Corporation and into the pocket of unsuspecting tithed members.
There is no secret about the fact that
Brigham Young University is funded by the “LDS Corporation,” as you
choose to call it, and the fact that the “LDS Corporation” is
supported by the tithes of its members is also widely known
(particularly among tithe payers). Likewise, the fact that I’m
employed by Brigham Young University is scarcely classified
information: I’m listed in University catalogues, in the University’s
telephone directory, and on the University’s website (among other
places). I’m not precisely sure, therefore, why you imagine that
tithe payers would be “unsuspecting,” or what it is that you propose
to “look into,” but I certainly wish you well in your investigations.
Courage!
[Dr. Peterson]
“I trust that you will correct your misstatement soon. I’m sure
that you’re committed to truth and accuracy.”
[Infymus]
Ah, just as you are committed to the “truth” as well. Thanks for
making me laugh this morning.
I’m aware of the common assumption among a
certain class of critics of the Church that I’m a mendacious mercenary
hack who cares nothing for the truth. I’m not surprised that you
share it. The notion is pure hostile fantasy, of course, and there is
no real evidence to support it, but it reveals much about those who
hold it.
[Infymus]
I will look into your claims and get back to you.
I will be tensely awaiting the results
of your research, whatever that will involve. Here are a pair of
suggestions: I have no idea where you live, but, if you’re in Utah, I
invite you to come by 3087 JFSB, where you will be able to see my
actual name on an actual office name plate in the same area where
other actual members of the actual faculty of the actual Department of
Asian and Near Eastern Languages have their offices. If you’re
lucky, I myself (or, on your apparent theory, perhaps a deceptively
similar “LDS Corporation” clone) will actually be in the office,
pretending to be a professor of Arabic. Alternatively, even if
you don’t live in the state, you can order one of the books produced
by the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (either through the Brigham
Young University bookstore or through the University of Chicago Press,
which distributes them). Inside, you will find my actual name, as
actual editor-in-chief of all four subsidiary series. This could win
you the Pulitzer Prize.
I’m not sure what the timetable for your investigation is. I’ll be in
Washington DC this next week, on business relating to the Middle
Eastern Texts Initiative. (Anyway, that’s my story, and I’m
sticking by it.) And then, the week before Thanksgiving, I’ll be in
Philadelphia, at an academic conference there relating to Near Eastern
studies. (Or perhaps I’ll be somewhere else entirely, lying about
Mormonism. Pending the outcome of your work, nobody will know for
certain.) I probably won’t pay much attention to my e-mail during
those trips, but I’ll be on pins and needles until you’re able to
inform me what my salary is for. Please do hurry.
Cordially,
Dan Peterson |
Letter Four
From: "Daniel C. Peterson" <daniel_peterson@byu.edu>
Date: Sun, 06 Nov 2005 09:46:02 -0600
To: <infymus@mormoncurtain.com>
Subject: Correction
Incidentally, while you’re at it, I hope that you can clear something
else up for me.
On your site, you explain that I’m “paid directly by the Mormon Church
to contradict, counteract, suppress, withhold and dismiss any claims
made by persons outside the LDS Church."
Now, I understand what it would mean for me to “contradict” and
“counteract” the claims of critics, and even what “dismissing” them
would involve. But it would be very helpful to me if you could
explain how I “suppress” and “withhold” such claims. If I’m to do my
job adequately, I think I need to understand this part of it better
than I do now. Do I need to gain monopolistic control of world
publishing? Shut down the World Wide Web? Imprison critics in
Siberian gulags? Jam global broadcasting? Please advise.
I’m hesitant to broaden the scope of your investigation too much, but
you would be doing me a considerable favor if you could respond to
this issue.
Thanks,
Dan Peterson |
Letter Five
From: infymus <infymus@infymus.com>
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 07:49:15 -0700
To: "Daniel C. Peterson" <daniel_peterson@byu.edu>
Subject: RE: Correction
Sorry Dan, I'm not going to get
into a play on words with you. The text stays. If you want the
background text (Ie. your educational background) changed, let me
know.
Cheers,
Infymus.
Michael S. Hoenie. |
Letter Six
From: "Daniel C. Peterson" <daniel_peterson@byu.edu>
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 10:22:07 -0600
To: infymus <infymus@infymus.com>
Subject: Re: Correction
Dear Brother Infymus:
The gulf between your fabricated portrayal of me and the reality is no
mere “play on words.” I’m not “paid directly by the Mormon Church,”
my BYU salary as an Arabist does not pay me “to contradict,
counteract, suppress, withhold and dismiss any claims made by persons
outside the LDS Church," and, most glaringly of all, there is
absolutely no evidence that I have any power whatsoever to “suppress”
and “withhold” claims made by people outside of the Church (or, for
that matter, in the Church).
Yet you intend to continue with your false statement that I’m “paid
directly by the Mormon Church to contradict, counteract, suppress,
withhold and dismiss any claims made by persons outside the LDS
Church.”
I can scarcely contain my surprise.
However, it will now be unmistakably clear that you make your false
statement knowingly. And that speaks eloquently about the degree of
your commitment to the truth. Thanks for making me laugh this morning.
With best wishes,
Daniel Peterson |
Letter Seven
On 11/7/05 2:12 PM, "infymus" <infymus@infymus.com>
wrote:
Are you
deliberately trying to bait me?
I’ve been attempting to get you to tell the truth and to stop
distributing untruths. If that irritates you, your irritation is not
my problem but yours.
Fine,
the LDS Church does not pay you for being a Mopologist.
I will change the wording in that context.
What IS the meaning of IS, Daniel? Depends on what the meaning of
IS, IS.
Who then exactly funds FARMS? Where does the money come from to
support the research, the reviews and the FARMS website, domain
space and general FARMS material? The LDS Corporation may not be
paying you directly, however, the LDS Corporation is
funding FARMS.
The “LDS Corporation” is not funding FARMS, and FARMS does not
pay me. These are not mere verbal quibbles, Brother Infymus.
You have been casually trafficking in malicious falsehoods for which
you had no supporting evidence whatever.
I will change in your BIO section of
the topic area – only the statement that you are being paid by the
LDS Corporation.
As for the rest of your asinine email, I will ignore it. Anything I
say or do will be used against me in your long-winded texts. Your
emails come across as trite and reading between the lines, I’d say
you’re an ass as you mock me indirectly.
>From here out, your emails are going in the trash automatically.
My my. Off your meds? |
Additional Note:
Infymus's last approximately eight (as of 12 Nov 2005) messages to Dr. Peterson were graphically sexual/insulting/demeaning in
content. We are including one of subsequent
messages that has been censored so that the public can see the nature of
the character of Michael Hoenie, one of those who is a participant on the
Recovery from Mormonism message board. We wonder why it is
that as soon as these people leave the Church to what they claim is a
higher plain of freedom in thought and lifestyle, so many of them
immediately drop into the gutter. We have witnessed this time and
again. This certainly suggests something about their new "better"
way of life.
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Michael Hoenie: "So Dan
tell me, when you get your fat bald [obscene] [obscene] [obscene]
your [censored], and you're
[obscene] her [obscene] [obscene] ...
Do you call out your own name? I'll bet you
do." |
And the rest of Mr.
Hoenie's obsessive continuing messages (with no response from Dr.
Peterson) have continued in a similar vein. And then he and his
cohorts have the nerve to say that Dan is a name caller.
Note for Michael
Hoenie, in response to what he has posted on his blog: He
appears to have difficulty reading English. It was I (Stan Barker)
who praised Dr. Peterson, not Dr. Peterson praising Dr. Peterson.
His assessment doesn't even make any sense!
Commentary:
Sadly, such semi-notables
as Steve Benson immediately posted comments on the Recovery from Mormonism
message board complaining about the mean and nasty Dr. Peterson. (If you
are LDS don’t even think about posting there – your comments will be
removed very quickly.) So apparently it is okay for them to attack,
telling lies and acting like little children, but if Dr. Peterson
expresses his disgust at their techniques and lack of interest in the
facts, then he is mean and nasty! |
