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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Use of sources/Perception and Reality: Difference between revisions
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Do you see the difference between the way Esplin wrote his words and the way they were used by the author in the hardback? The author has criticized the editor of the hardback for making mistakes—was this one of them? Esplin speaks of a perception, whereas the author assures his reader of a reality. | Do you see the difference between the way Esplin wrote his words and the way they were used by the author in the hardback? The author has criticized the editor of the hardback for making mistakes—was this one of them? Esplin speaks of a perception, whereas the author assures his reader of a reality. | ||
Just because people may have viewed the early Church with a negative perception does not mean that the perception reflected reality. Esplin recognizes this possible "disconnect" between perception and reality with his carefully selected words. | Just because people may have viewed the early Church with a negative perception does not mean that the perception reflected reality. Esplin recognizes this possible "disconnect" between perception and reality with his carefully selected words. The author, on the other hand, fails to recognize the disconnect implicit in Esplin's original words, choosing to do away with the perception and presenting an image of reality. Such subtle twisting of an author's words is, of course, dishonest. | ||
Readers of ''One Nation Under Gods'' wouldn't know that by reading the hardback (available in public libraries), of course, unless they obtained the paperback version, or unless they took the time to look up an obscure article, two decades old, to see how the original author chose to use his words. | Readers of ''One Nation Under Gods'' wouldn't know that by reading the hardback (available in public libraries), of course, unless they obtained the paperback version, or unless they took the time to look up an obscure article, two decades old, to see how the original author chose to use his words. | ||
Revision as of 06:10, 22 December 2008
| The Mormon Quest for Power | A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods A work by author: Richard Abanes
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Christ Setting up a Theocracy in Missouri |
Perception and Reality
The Quote
One Nation under Gods, page xx (hardback)
...his comment stirred long-forgotten memories in non-Mormons of an era when Mormonism existed as a "radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots with a charismatic leader—a nineteenth century People's Temple sect characterized by polygamy, theocracy and economic cooperation."10 (emphasis added)
The quote was corrected to the following in the paperback version:
One Nation under Gods, page xiv (paperback)
...his comment stirred long-forgotten memories in non-Mormons of an era when Mormonism "was perceived as a radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots with a charismatic leader—a nineteenth century People's Temple sect characterized by polygamy, theocracy and economic cooperation."10
The Reference
Endnote 10, page 479 (hardback), page 477 (paperback) 10. Esplin, 33.
The Problems
The author's use of the quote in the hardback version of his book makes reference to "an era when Mormonism existed" in a certain way; a way he then quotes author Fred Esplin to support. When the paperback version came out a year later, this error was corrected. Unfortunately, the hardback version is still in wide circulation, and is available in public libraries.
The problem is that while Esplin wrote the words that the author quotes in the hardback version, he doesn't say what the author says with those words. Take a look at the original quote, from "The Saints Go Marching On: Learning to Live With Success," Utah Holiday (June 1981), 33:
Public opinion of Mormons has turned full circle. The early church was perceived as a radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots with a charismatic leader--a nineteenth century People's Temple sect characterized by polygamy, theocracy and economic cooperation.
Do you see the difference between the way Esplin wrote his words and the way they were used by the author in the hardback? The author has criticized the editor of the hardback for making mistakes—was this one of them? Esplin speaks of a perception, whereas the author assures his reader of a reality.
Just because people may have viewed the early Church with a negative perception does not mean that the perception reflected reality. Esplin recognizes this possible "disconnect" between perception and reality with his carefully selected words. The author, on the other hand, fails to recognize the disconnect implicit in Esplin's original words, choosing to do away with the perception and presenting an image of reality. Such subtle twisting of an author's words is, of course, dishonest.
Readers of One Nation Under Gods wouldn't know that by reading the hardback (available in public libraries), of course, unless they obtained the paperback version, or unless they took the time to look up an obscure article, two decades old, to see how the original author chose to use his words.