Criticism of Mormonism/Websites/MormonThink/Media coverage of MormonThink

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How does the news media view MormonThink.com?

A FAIR Analysis of: MormonThink A work by author: Anonymous

Overview

Questions

How does the mainstream media view the website MormonThink?

Answer

The media considers MormonThink.com to be an "anti-Mormon" site.

Detailed Analysis

February 8, 2014

• Naomi Zeveloff, "Britain Puts Mormonism on Trial," The Daily Beast (February 8, 2014): "According to Phillips’ biography on the MormonThink web site, where he is an editor, he converted to Mormonism in 1969 and went on to hold several leadership positions in the LDS Church in England, including Bishop, Stake President and Area Executive Secretary. Phillips’ falling out with Mormonism began, he wrote on the site, when he couldn’t square certain scientific beliefs with LDS teachings."

February 5, 2014

• John Bingham, "Head of Mormon church Thomas Monson summoned by British magistrates' court over Adam and Eve teaching," The Telegraph (February 5, 2014): "[The Church's dismissal of the summons] was issued in response to a private prosecution attempt by Tom Phillips, a disaffected former Mormon who now runs MormonThink a website highly critical of the church.

• John Johnson, "UK Judge to Mormon Leader: Defend Your Religion in Court," Newser (February 5, 2014): "Phillips expounds on his views at anti-Mormon website called MormonThink."

• Mary-Ann Russon, "Mormon LDS Church President Summoned to UK Court on Fraud Charges," International Business Times (February 5, 2014): "[Phillips] is now the managing editor of MormonThink, an online publication that criticises [sic] LDS history and doctrine."

• ICTMN Staff, "Fraud? Mormon Prez Summoned to Defend Church Teachings on Natives," Indian Country (February 5, 2014): "The complaint has been lodged by Tom Phillips, a former member of the Mormon church, who now runs MormonThink, a website that is critical of the church."

• Associated Press, "Former Mormon uses British legal system to question faith's fundamental beliefs," StarTribune (February 5, 2014): "Phillips is a former regional church leader in England who now runs a website that challenges church history and doctrine." (Phillips is also described as "a disgruntled ex-Mormon.")

• Leonardo Blair, "Mormon Church President Thomas Monson Ordered to Appear in British Court in Fraud Case Challenging Teachings," Christian Post (February 5, 2014): "The summons stems from legal action initiated by Tom Phillips, an ex-Mormon who now runs MormonThink, a website which is very critical of the church."

• Jessica Elgot, "Mormon Church Leader Thomas Monson Summoned To UK Court Over Claim Of Church 'Fraud'," Huffington Post UK (February 5, 2014): "[Phillips] now runs a website called MormonThink, critiquing the church."

February 4, 2014

• Dennis Wagner, "Mormon president ordered to appear in British court," USA Today (February 4, 2014): "[Phillips] now serves as managing editor of MormonThink, an online publication that critiques the Church's history and doctrine."

October 1, 2012

• Peggy Fletcher Stack, "Disciplinary hearing delayed for Mormon blogger," The Salt Lake Tribune (October 1, 2012): "Others suggested that the action might have been sparked by MormonThink's section discussing LDS temple ceremonies and their connection to Masonic rites, with links to photos and text of Mormon temple rituals."

September 29, 2012

• McKay Coppins, "No, The Mormon Church Is Not Excommunicating Romney Critics," BuzzFeed (September 29, 2012): "The politicization of Twede’s potential excommunication is emblematic. A 47-year-old scientist and fifth-generation Latter-day Saint living in Orlando, Twede ran MormonThink.com, a relatively obscure blog offering a defiantly unorthodox take on LDS history and doctrine. He had recently returned to the church after a five-year hiatus — not because of a spiritual awakening, he says, but so he could play watch-dog at the services. “I cannot effectively address the concerns of members of my church if I am not there with them seeing what they see and hearing what they hear,” he told CNN this week in an e-mail. On his blog, he talks about befriending a member of his ward and then e-mailing him materials designed to shake the congregant’s faith in Mormonism. And perhaps most troubling to church leadership, he devoted several posts on MormonThink to “revealing” temple rituals that Mormons believe are sacred, and should be kept private."

September 28, 2012

• R.B. Scott, "‘Mormon Moment’ Marked By Mischief And Meanness," NPR (September 28, 2012): "A few weeks ago David Twede, the unpaid editor of MormonThink, a blog that challenges conventional church teachings and management, was invited to an ecclesiastical hearing scheduled for this Sunday that would have determined whether or not he was guilty of heresy."

September 27, 2012

• Jaweed Kaleem, "David Twede, Mormon Blogger And Romney Critic Threatened With Excommunication, Will Have To Wait To Hear Fate," Huffington Post (September 27, 2012): "Some Mormons have also posited that the threats against Twede were due to a section on MormonThink.com that offered details of Mormon temple ceremonies, including photos. Mormon temples are considered sacred, and only Mormons are allowed to enter; it's gravely offensive to many Mormons to publicize details of temple rites."

September 21, 2012

• Laurie Goodstein, "Editor of Web Site May Face Mormon Excommunication," The New York Times (September 21, 2012): "The editor of a Web site that encourages Mormons to question church history and doctrine has been told that he faces a church trial and possible excommunication because he is an apostate who is trying to lead church members astray. David Twede, a fifth-generation Mormon who lives in Florida, is the managing editor of MormonThink, one of the most influential of the many Web sites on which active and former Mormons debate church teaching."