Randy Bott and the Priesthood Ban

[old_gregg]

I didn't see anything about the Washington Post article in which Randy Bott was quoted as saying:

“God has always been discriminatory” when it comes to whom he grants the authority of the priesthood, says Bott, the BYU theologian. He quotes Mormon scripture that states that the Lord gives to people “all that he seeth fit.” Bott compares blacks with a young child prematurely asking for the keys to her father’s car, and explains that similarly until 1978, the Lord determined that blacks were not yet ready for the priesthood.

“What is discrimination?” Bott asks. “I think that is keeping something from somebody that would be a benefit for them, right? But what if it wouldn’t have been a benefit to them?” Bott says that the denial of the priesthood to blacks on Earth — although not in the afterlife — protected them from the lowest rungs of hell reserved for people who abuse their priesthood powers. “You couldn’t fall off the top of the ladder, because you weren’t on the top of the ladder. So, in reality the blacks not having the priesthood was the greatest blessing God could give them.”

Thoughts?

[Jeff Lebowski]

What in the hell?

[Sullyute]

I didn't see anything about the Washington Post article in which Randy Bott was quoted as saying:

Thoughts?

I concur with Don...

The current president of the Genesis Group, Don Harwell, considers such thinking vile.

This is why the Church needs to apologize and move forward. Speculation from a BYU professor about blacks not being prepared for the priesthood just makes the church look really bad and racist.

[CardiacCoug]

Yeah that's the kind of thinking that needs to be stamped out of the Church. It's really a shame that BYU still tolerates that type of stuff when they are so intolerant of faculty who would say more progressive types of speculative religious things.

Incidentally, Dr. Bott started dating a 16-year old when he got back from his mission so he really has tried to emulate Joseph Smith in great detail.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

I remember Bott saying the same thing about women during a class at the Y. Women shouldn't complain about not having the priesthood because it means they can't go deep into hell like men can.

So at least he's not discriminatory in his views.

[pellegrino]

this is one of the consequences of BYU hiring religion professors from CES ranks who have been credentialized and have never experienced rigorous academic training in the appropriate field. You get a bunch of amateurs spouting of shit that should have never been said in the first place. It's laughable that they referred to Bott as a theologian. He has a phd in educational leadership (what in the hell is that?) from, you guessed it, BYU. Any high priest from that generation is just as much a theologian as Bott is.

[Maximus]

Yeah that's the kind of thinking that needs to be stamped out of the Church. It's really a shame that BYU still tolerates that type of stuff when they are so intolerant of faculty who would say more progressive types of speculative religious things.

Incidentally, Dr. Bott started dating a 16-year old when he got back from his mission so he really has tried to emulate Joseph Smith in great detail.

Yay lets start the personal attacks because we disagree with the guys theology!

[New Mexican Disaster]

Yay lets start the personal attacks because we disagree with the guys theology!

Well if you know someone it's easier. And what BOtt said is shameful .

[Maximus]

Well if you know someone it's easier. And what BOtt said is shameful .

No denying it is shameful. Also no denying personal attacks dont help things.

[HauteCoug]

Really Bott? REALLY?!

[SoCalCoug]

Yay lets start the personal attacks because we disagree with the guys theology!

Are personal attacks okay if someone's just an asshole?

[Maximus]

Are personal attacks okay if someone's just an asshole?

Is bott an asshole because he is wrong on this issue? Is he an asshole because you say so?

[myboynoah]

This is absolutely one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. BYU cannot possibly be happy with this and needs to take action. Bro Bott's wings need a healthy clipping.

[old_gregg]

Is bott an asshole because he is wrong on this issue? Is he an asshole because you say so?

bott has said things in the past that are as unacceptable as this, including telling classes that depression is the result of unrepented-for sin. he's a clown.

[SoCalCoug]

Is bott an asshole because he is wrong on this issue? Is he an asshole because you say so?

I'm not saying anything because I don't know him. But you criticized someone who claims to know him for a personal attack. Just wondering where the boundaries are.