Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Lynn Wilder and Micah Wilder are Cowards who Refuse to Debate

Since late-2021, after he sent me a copy of his book, I have tried to get Micah Wilder and his mother, Lynn Wilder, to debate. Both these people are not "private" people--they go into public arenas and critique The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including radio and tv programs, as well as write books against the Church and support their particular flavor of Protestantism. However, as this exchange proves, they are not willing to interact with informed Latter-day Saint apologists and scholars, and just want to attack the caricature of "Mormonism" they present to ill-informed Protestants. They are both cowards.

For a PDF of the exchange, one can find it on dropbox.

Here is a reproduction of the exchange:

Email #1

 

Date: September 26, 2021

Subject: Querying Interest in Debate on Baptismal Regeneration

From: Robert Boylan

To: Micah Wilder

 

Hi Micah,

 

Thanks for the free copy of the book you sent to my SLC address. I read it when it arrived a few months ago.

 

Recently, I have been asked by a few friends to reach out to you and ask if you would be willing to debate live/in a public venue on the topic of baptismal regeneration? I would be more than happy to do such, and bear the burden of taking the affirmative.

 

I sent you a PDF copy of my book defending, using the Bible and historical-grammatical exegesis, in favour of the doctrine, which I know you reject (you explicitly reject it a few times in your book) so you can read how I defend the doctrine there (as well as the appendices refuting the concept of imputed righteousness, something you accept in your book but never defend, at least, exegetically).

 

As you often do public presentations on “Mormonism,” including at two conferences in the Utah area  alone in September (at least that I am aware of; there may have been others), I am sure you have no objections to the concept at least.

 

I will be back (hopefully for good) in Utah in late November, and will be participating in at least two debates before the end of the year (one on Sola Scriptura against a Reformed Baptist; one on whether the Immaculate Conception of Mary is apostolic in origin against a Roman Catholic). 

 

In case you are wondering about my credentials, I have degrees in theology from a Catholic institution (Pontifical University of Ireland, Maynooth), am the author of 6 books on the Bible and its relationship to LDS theology (e.g., Sola Scriptura; Mariology; Eucharistic Theology), run a pretty popular LDS blog, am a contributing editor to the journal, Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and work as a research analyst for a LDS “think tank” with a lot of my work focusing on 19th-century LDS history and primary texts. I mention this, not to boast, but to show that I am not just some random LDS who wants to pick a fight but someone with a reputation in LDS apologetics and is informed, not just about “Mormonism” but also non-LDS traditions, such as Protestantism.

 

If you are game, we can make some preliminary arrangements about when/where, etc. If you cannot for someone reason, do hit the idea against Lynn(*) and/or Michael (I am cc'ing Lynn in this email).

 

Best,

 

Robert Boylan

ScripturalMormonism.blogspot.com

(*) As an aside, I interacted with your mom's "arguments" against divine embodiment in my most recent book. See Appendix 5: Latter-day Saint (and Biblical) Theology on Divine Embodiment, pp. 157-76 (attached).

 

Email #2

Date: November 1, 2021

From: Robert Boylan

To: Micah Wilder, Lynn Wilder, glm@themissionutah.com [God Loves Mormons]

 

Hi again Micah/Lynn,

It has been about 4 weeks and no response. Not sure if you are open for a public debate on baptismal regeneration, but would like to know (1) if you would and (2) if not, why not, as you are often public in your attacks on "Mormonism." I am cc'ing God Loves Mormons in this challenge to debate baptism and its relationship to salvation as (1) I have tried in the past to interact with them, even on this issue, and maybe this time they will respond (BTW: Ritch/Bradley: I do not mind a 1 on 2 debate if it is has to come down to that or you can ask your friend Bill McKeever whom you have done some collabs with if he is "game") and (2) they are "local" to Utah (being in St. George [Micah is in Florida so I can understand the issue with travel])--I will be in Utah from December 1 until Feb 28, and would like to arrange a debate on this central issue (I have one debate scheduled against Jeremy Howard on Sola Scriptura and will have a 2nd, once a venue is found, against Peter Doumit on the Immaculate Conception).

 

Thanks.

 

Email #3

 

Date:

From: Robert Boylan

To: Lynn Wilder, Micah Wilder

Date: May 2, 2023

 

Hi Lynn,

 

As you recently appeared on the UK Premier Radio again critiquing Mormonism and supporting your flavour of Protestantism, I am once again reaching out to see if you will do a moderated public debate on soteriology (e.g., whether baptismal regeneration is affirmed in the Bible [which I would affirm; you deny]) as well as the issue of biblical sufficiency/sola scriptura. As you are pretty active in Protestant venues, I hope you will actually engage in debate with an informed LDS apologist on issues that divide LDS and Protestants.

 

I am cc'ing Micah in case he wants to debate instead (I do not mind 2 vs. 1 as we will have 50% time). I moved from Ireland to Utah in December, so it won't be difficult to arrange a debate, I am sure.

 

 

Robert Boylan

ScripturalMormonism.blogspot.com

 

Email #4

 

Date: May 2 2023

From: Lynn Wilder (cc. Micah Wilder)

To: Robert Boylan

 

Hi, Robert,

 

Nice to hear from you. That debate on Premier Radio from 2014 was the only debate I've ever agreed to do; it's not recent. Michael Flournoy--the LDS apologist and author of two books, one being A Biblical Defense of Mormonism--that I debated has since chosen biblical faith and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

 

I respectfully decline to debate. I do not consider debate a fruitful way to inform others of the love of Jesus.

 

Warm Regards,

 

Dr. Wilder

 

Email #5

 

Date: May 2, 2023

From: Robert Boylan

To: Lynn Wilder, Micah Wilder

 

Hi Lynn,

 

I saw it was being advertised so I thought it was a new presentation. Be that as it may, as someone who writes books against "Mormonism," appears on various shows, and gives presentations against the Latter-day Saint faith, I do think it is cowardly not  to agree to a public moderated debate. That speaks volumes.

 

If you ever change your mind, let me know.

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