New RFM Podcast on Church History Interview

[wtfluff]

He adds he will answer any question completely and honestly.

My only question: When did he become a comedian, and a "historian?"

[consiglieri]

I already bet Bill $100 that Steve Harper would never appear on his show.

As of this point, he has not accepted the invitation.

I think my money is safe.

[jfro18]

I already bet Bill $100 that Steve Harper would never appear on his show.

As of this point, he has not accepted the invitation.

I think my money is safe.

He can't appear on your show... he works for the church and there is no way in hell they would let him do an interview with a source that is going to challenge him on the spot.

I guarantee he will ask you to submit questions via email and he will answer them so that he can maintain space from being challenged on audio without having good answers.

It's why people who are still TBMs can read the CES Letter and not lose their testimony - because they then go to FAIR and go "Oh see... the answers are here." Because of that separation, they can't see that FAIR is deflecting/distorting/straight up gaslighting them without actually answering the problem.

[Just This Guy]

I think my money is safe.

Sad but true.

[blazerb]

I'm curious what questions people have. I don't have a lot. Answers seemed to all fit together once I stopped needing to believe the traditional narrative.

If I had to ask a question, I'd like to know if he thinks the traditional narrative is flawed as Richard Bushman believes. If so, what aspects of the narrative are most problematic for him? If not, where does he disagree with Bushman.

ETA: I'd also like to know in what way he thinks you and Bill misrepresented his position.

[Archimedes]

I think the interview will stay posted for a long time. I also think Bro Harper achieved what the church was looking for.

The target audience is not the fraction of church membership that really wants to understand the real history of the Mormon church. The target audience is the TBM core of the church that is still trying desperately to maintain faith and keep their Eternal Families intact.

The TBM core will not take the time to listen to the Harper interview. They have Ministering and re-re-branding to do. Church leadership points to the interview and says, "we have provided answers to these questions. Look, here is a podcast by a Church Historian, who explains how to answer your church history questions. You need look no further, these questions have been resolved."

For people who still desperately need the Mormon church to be true in order to maintain their place in the universe, that will be enough.

Nothing to see here folks, questions answered. Get back to work.

[consiglieri]

Although Bill has recently prodded Steve Harper for a response, one has not been forthcoming.