Talk:D. Michael Quinn/Archive 1

Quinn's excommunication
From what possible source does the author of this claim to know the reason for D. Michael Quinn's excommunication from the LDS Church?

The LDS Church does not reveal to the public the reasons nor particulars regarding someone's excommunication. (anonymous comment by 4.228.105.47)


 * Anon - The September Six affair was widely publicized, and Quinn publicy discusses the reasons why. You can actually find transcripts of Quinn discussing this online through a Google search. Newspapers, including the SL Tribune also have quoted Quinn as to the reasons why. This is true that the Church does not discuss the reasons why a person is excommunicated, however, the individual is free to disclose whatever they wish, which was the case with this group of individuals. -Visorstuff 08:30, 29 Jan 2005 (UTC)


 * It should read that Quinn claims he was excommunicated for apostasy, especially since there are other obvious reasons why he might be excommunicated (homosexuality?) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.51.216.197 (talk) 23:24, 20 September 2010 (UTC)

Publicly proclaimed belief
Language about Quinn "publicly proclaiming" that he is a believing Latter-day Saint seems intended to throw doubt on his assertion. In effect, to me, this seems to take sides against him.

Execellent question - however, he is proclaiming to be a Latter-day Saint - and in very public settings, such as the newspapers and in symposia. His membership in the LDS Church is non-existant, so it is by his own assertions that he is an adherent. Remember he was excommunicated, and therefore the wording will need to be cleaned up to show he asserts this, but is not a member. No "doubt" in his intentios was meant, as I believe he still has a "testimony," and that view is needed to balance out his controversy, but he proclaims it, not as a member, but as a believer. I will modify the statement. Good point. -Visorstuff 18:01, 16 August 2005 (UTC)

I agree with Visorstuff here. Nereocystis 20:00, 16 August 2005 (UTC)

References needed for critics of "Early Mormonism and the Magic Worldview"
The charges against Quinn's "Early Mormonism and the Magic Worldview" really need references. Does anyone have specific charges with references to back them up. I have to admit that I still haven't read more than a few pages of this book. Nereocystis 20:00, 16 August 2005 (UTC)


 * I've tried to add some specificity on both sides of this debate. Since this is my first ever contribution to Wikipedia, I don't know if I've got the formatting right.  But I think I've been able to sharpen the critiques a little bit and add some references.  The FARMS and BYU Studies reviews that I've added to the page seem to be the major negative reviews of the book; the one negative review that I could find published at another journal was by an author who had previously written a BYU-related negative review.  The other non-BYU-related reviews were pretty positive; I've provided additional information about those.  I've also tried to give a bit more information about what the book actually says.  Finally, I've added skimpy little sections on the other major topics that Quinn has written on.  I hope this is helpful!

In, Lavinia Fielding Anderson, Dialogue, Spring, 1993, p. 29, says that the first edition of Early Mormonism and the Magic World View did not refer to the Salamander Letter. This article suggests that the letter was used in early versions of the book. If the letter did not appear in the first edition, then I suggest that this paragraph be rewritten. Does anyone have evidence for the use of the Salamander Letter in early versions, perhaps early articles written by the author. If not, I'll delete the reference. Nereocystis 23:05, 25 August 2005 (UTC)


 * I need to look more into this - I believe I've read something by or an interview of quinn about him having to re-write a major portion of his work because the salamander letter was deemed a forgery. Maybe it was on the Tanner's newsletter. I'll have to dig around. In any case, it should read "early versions of the text" rather than "early editions." My bad. I'll look around for my source. -Visorstuff 23:32, 25 August 2005 (UTC)

Robinson's review said that the salamander letter would have completed the argument, and shows some evidence that the book included the letter in earlier drafts. I have just skimmed the review. The article should be rewritten a bit to provide a more accurate view of the reviewers, and the evidence behind their views. I'll work on it, if you don't. Nereocystis 17:45, 26 August 2005 (UTC)

Feel free - I've got another three projects I'm working on, and won't have time to treat this well for some time. -Visorstuff 18:12, 26 August 2005 (UTC)

Ex-Mormon category
I thought about adding Quinn to this category myself, but decided he didn't belong because he still considers himself a latter-day saint. For this reason I am removing him from the category. If you disagree, please discuss. Taco Deposit | Talk-o to Taco 00:43, August 26, 2005 (UTC)

He still considers himself a Latter-day saint, but no longer has membership in the church. There is a difference between membership (being a mormon) and belief (believing in mormonism). The category should remain, even though he wouldn't fit into the typical "exmormon stereotype" (although most exmormons probably don't fit the "exmormon stereotype" do they? - you don't fit it :^)). -Visorstuff 15:48, 26 August 2005 (UTC)

Just added the category Ex-Mormons. Reason: he is no longer a member. Other BYU professors who have been ex-communicated or who have resigned also fit whether or not they call themselves Ex-Mormons or not. Also, in my experience there is really no such thing as a stereotypical Exmormon (though there are some stages, but that's for another artice). Greenw47 12:36, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

External Links

I am a bit worried about all links being for FARMS, beacuse of the political implications of their realtionship with Quinn

Please explain. Do you mean it reflects badly on FARMS? Or on Quinn for being associated with FARMS? Greenw47 13:45, 27 May 2006 (UTC)

Biography assessment rating comment
The article may be improved by following the WikiProject Biography 11 easy steps to producing at least a B article. -- KenWalker | Talk 08:26, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

Lead too long
The lead is too long, containing things that should be in the article not the lead. It also has some pov issues.--Blue Tie (talk) 12:02, 3 January 2008 (UTC)

Homosexuality ?
What would a person's sexual orienatation have to do with his religious beliefs ? I say that this section should be removed as insignificant. Duke53 | Talk 18:53, 1 April 2010 (UTC)

Practicing homosexuality is forbidden by the LDS Church —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.51.216.197 (talk) 23:27, 20 September 2010 (UTC)