Is cloning going on behind the doors of Moore College... Is Phillip Jensen really responsible for his mistakes...

Will David Ould apologise or will Francis have to blackmail him to prove his Sydney evangelical worth... Will Francis retract his statement about Moore College being known as a cloning factory to the rest of the world or face being reported to his employer... all this and more at The Briefing!

David Ould on 18 March, 2012 at 8:52 pm said:Re: concluding sentence, Moore College and open mindedness. Moore College is well known as the “Cloning Factory”, a reputation that seems well earned.
Really? That doesn’t sound like the Moore College that so many of us spent many years in and are familiar with, but it does sound like the Moore College of hearsay and unsubstantiated comment that many of us are also familiar with.

Could you put some actual flesh on the bones of your accusation? In what way can you demonstrate Moore College has a “well-earned” reputation of being a “Clone factory” and of not promoting open-mindedness?

I ask, since your accusation is a heavy one and it really deserves substantiation. Or a retraction.

David Ould on 19 March, 2012 at 8:26 am said:
The hallmark of a mature person or institution is how it handles criticism.
Exactly how does one substantiate claims about “closed mindedness”? Do you have an objective measure to go by, or is it based entirely upon your subjective view?
Not handling criticism of your claim very well, are you? ;)
You should be the one who works this out, being the one who made the claim. I see you go on to retell something anecdotal which, sadly, you are unable to specifically remember. That always tends to be the way – accusations of this sort get thrown around a lot and yet when it comes to specifics there’s never anything solid. Names/dates/places all seem to be lacking. You even have a specific Bible verse in mind – but the experience made such an impression upon you that you have sadly forgotten it.

Fair enough. That’s always the way it seems – it’s much harder to squeeze some facts into the account than just run loose with your accusations. If I may be so bold, you should take some time to consider whether the issue really is an insistence on conformity from Moore College or more along the lines of a resistance on your part to what you are hearing.

As Lionel pointed out, for many of us our experience of Moore College was of a place that challenged our preconvictions and taught us to examine every argument put in front of us. Yes, there were some (and they would be a few) who would have been far happier just being spoon fed. But the vast majority of my peers were the exact opposite.

Of course, I could be completely wrong. It would go a long way to helping us to know which Bible passage this was whose meaning hung upon half a verse. But, sadly (and fortuitously) you have forgotten it. So while all you’re doing is flying very loosely tethered kites you’ll not be surprised if we don’t take your prejudice with anything other than a pinch of salt.

Francis Hansen on 19 March, 2012 at 3:38 pm said:
...And sir, your striking out of “prejudice” shows poor form. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Either call me on my perceived “prejudice”—a big call sir, a very big call, as it’s easy to paint someone as prejudiced who disagrees with themselves, a group or an institution— ie. prove it, or do not make the accusation. To that I expect an apology.

As I state, the term “Clone Factory” is not my own, but evidence of the fruit over a number of years lends credence to this moniker. I did not have this perception of Moore College prior to arriving in Sydney, and only encountered it afterwards. I do not bandy about such a pejorative lightly. I am taking to task a broad claim by Rev. Jensen, where there is contrary evidence.


David Ould on 21 March, 2012 at 11:32 am said:
Just as David used struck out characters, rather than being forthright in calling me prejudiced. Say it or don’t say it.
I thought it was a very forthright way of calling you prejudiced. At least it seems to have been since you got the message loud and clear.

Of course Moore College graduates are clones. I trained them myself!