This Twitter thread reminds me of my experience with Matt Roper, Jeff Bradshaw, and the Interpreter years ago when I gave Matt an ARC to discuss with me but instead he used it to write 3 articles for the Interpreter, one published the morning of my joint appearance with him at the John Whitmer Historical Association, that publication date timed so I couldn't respond. Last I heard, Matt now works at Book of Mormon Central, whose employees continue this type of practice.
https://twitter.com/loydo38/status/1582130166771290112
A short story about unethical and unprofessional behavior by apologists, in particular the : 1/
In Feb. of this year author Jeff Bradshaw asked for an advance reading copy (ARC) of "Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration" set to be published in August, hoping to get one ASAP so that he would have time to review it for the by it's release. 2/
The next month, Bradshaw was the first person to receive an ARC of the volume. He thanked me for it and said he was eager to read and review the book. I thought nothing more of it. 3/
Imagine my surprise in the first week of August when the announces a new book entitled "Freemasonry and the Origins of Latter-day Saint Temple Ordinances," by Bradshaw, and scheduled to be released August 13th--four days after the release of Method Infinite. 4/
That Bradshaw did not disclose to me when asking for an ARC that he was working on a competing book that would be published the same week as Method Infinite seemed to me to be incredibly unethical and unprofessional. But it gets worse. 5/
According to Bradshaw, the reason he did not disclose this to me was because when he asked for the ARC, he was not yet planning to write his book. Instead, he said the idea to write his book did come until the end of May--two months after receiving the ARC. 6/
If Bradshaw is being honest about the reason for not disclosing it, this means that his 550+ page book was written, edited, formatted, and published in less than 3 months. Draw your own conclusions of why they would rush this book to be released at that time. 7/
That Bradshaw used the ARC for his book is clear by Method Infinite being quoted and referenced throughout its pages, at least 15 times--some favorable, some critical. 8/
Whether Bradshaw was already writing his book and failed to disclose it, or if he had decided to write his own later, to use that ARC so that he and the could release their competing book within a week of Method Infinite is abhorrent. 9/
While I have philosophical concerns about the inherent purpose of religious apologetics, and have had my past beef with the and it's key founder, for the past several years I have sought to bury any hatchets there and maintain a cordial relationship. 11/
And despite my disagreements, I am friends with and have maintained mutual collaborative relationships with other apologetic organizations such as and the folks at the store. 12/
Because of the all too common use of ad hominem and personal attacks in the book reviews, I was already hesitant to provide them with any review copies. This has solidified that hesitancy. 13/
It had never crossed my mind to tell authors receiving an ARC that it was contingent upon them not using it to write a competing book that they intended to release at the same time of the book they claimed to be reviewing. 14/
But I guess I have egg on my face for expecting Bradshaw and the to follow basic ethical, professional, and academic integrity. Fin. 15/15
BTW, "Method Infinite" is now available in paperback. I'm obviously biased, but I think it's one of the most important books published in the past few decades on understanding Joseph Smith and early Mormonism.
Apologists call it critical, and critics call it apologetic. I think it hit the right spot.
I'm having trouble deciding who is worse, Interpreter or Mormonr. What a week for theft.
I’ve never heard of these folks before, but gosh, this is so awful! How unprofessional, and frankly, dishonest!
Mike Quinn coined the term "theocratic ethics" to describe unethical conduct being justified in furtherance of the (subjective) greater good. Dan Peterson was kicked out of the Maxwell Institute for this conduct, but he obviously instilled theocratic ethics at his