Sunday in Outer Blogness: Conflicted Edition!

The big news is (as I’m sure I don’t have to tell you) Osama Bin Laden is dead. And reactions are all over the spectrum. My own reaction was like one of Leah’s commenters:

I think that Due Process is a civilisatory achievement designed to remove bias and with it revenge from a system meant to deliver justice. Just like with the Guantanamo bay prison, or the treatment of Bradley Manning, I cannot see any special circumstance in this that even begins to counterweight the casting aside of such a basic and important tool.

But that’s just me (and that commenter). Reactions run the gamut from conservatives who think it’s so fabulous that Obama can’t possibly take credit, to folks who are simply pleased to see a villain defeated (by Obama), to people who think assassination is wrong on principle (but Bin Laden is an exception), to people who think at least the celebrating is inappropriate (empathizing with the tragedy of human death), to people (like me) who think Bin Laden was a villain — but not worth becoming villains ourselves over, to people who believe it was the opposite of the right thing to do. Not to mention the contribution by FARMS and the grimly amusing theological truth:

The good news is that Osama bin Laden in now exactly 1 year away from being eligible to have his temple work done. The bad news is that some fool will probably do it.

Wow, it so much more cheerful to talk about how conflicted we are about our complicated relationships with Mormonism! What about those “uncorrelated” Mormons? And when it comes to “uncorrelated Mormons” vs. the mishies, I’d put my money on Ren any day!! Is unwavering obedience (or boredom) really the cornerstone of Mormonism? (And don’t even get started on the gay). G tells of emotional advantages you lose when you stop believing. I agree with Winterbuzz that you have to acknowledge a problem in order to solve it (but should we really be solving this one?). Daniel sees his stay in exmo land as more a hobby than a failure to move on (me too!). Ain’t No Mo No Mo tells the tale of how she left. And Tom invented a clever exmo parallel to the iron-rod/liahona Mormon divide: Matrix vs. Inception exmos!

In general Mormon doctrine, Zo-ma-rah asks what we’re waiting for now that the CoJCoL-dS has stopped emphasizing how close we are to the last days. But if you could create your own world, why not be creative about it? What precisely is the mechanism of prophetic revelation? What ever happened to eternal progression? President Paternoster weighs in on fat ladies and Dave on Korihor. Is religion the root of moral behavior? Dadsprimalscream has a fascinating story about his missionary companion eloping, and Julia Sweeney is reading Martha Beck. Reuben has an interesting new take on the doctrine of wearing garmies (though I’m not sure the brethren will agree):

My recommendation is that you decide what garments symbolize to you, and then decide to let something else provide that symbolism at times when you choose not to wear the garments. Im thinking maybe a necklace, ring, or bracelet that you can keep with you no matter where you go.

And — as usual — Mormonism overlaps with politics. As is the case with the guy who was persecuted for piously disenfranchising gay people. (Note: loving God =/= hating gays.) Curtis gives a clear explanation of gerrymandering.

And — since it’s Mothers Day — let’s close with some posts on gender, family, parenting, education, and motherhood. I’m sure more tributes to moms will roll in during the day, but — as an amusing reminder that “Mom’s not perfect” — check out my SiL’s fabulously unsuccessful Polkadot Pancakes!