The most popular topic in Outer Blogness this week was the political act of eating chicken!! Andrew H pointed out that the Christians weren’t exactly following Jesus’ example or even doing themselves a favor:
Suddenly, my religion is alien to me small, petty, reactive. My faith has lost its bearings. I dont feel like praying anymore, not even for the mom who begged me to pray for her gay son who vowed yesterday never to return to church again.
Can I blame him? Perhaps it is better if he stays away.
I recognize these sentiments. When you realize that your friends outside the faith are probably going to be healthier and happier if they stay that way…. you are entering the first stages of your faith shutting down.
(Keep in mind Jesus’ teachings aren’t always as great as people seem to claim…)
Diana is disappointed in Americans, Erin debated Chick-Fil-A supporters on Facebook, and Mormon 411 heard this from a Mormon friend:
he basically said that gays were unhappy, miserable, and lost. They like to hate everyone and are always angry about something.
Arguing for the other side, Doug Gibson claimed “respect for free speech drove most to Chick-fil-A” — which is quite possible, but it merely changes the charges against them from bigotry to failing to understand how free speech works. And when confronted with an amusing graphic about the different types of “Biblical Marriage”, a NOM blogger basically agreed that the Bible OK’s all of these questionable marriage arrangements — as long as the participants are opposite-gendered.
Meanwhile, John Gustav-Wrathall and his husband will be raising another foster child, Johnny Townsend discussed the logic of anti-gay rhetoric, and Dad’s Primal Scream has some advice for gay Mormons.
In cool news, you’ve probably heard about the Mars landing. (Too bad things on Earth are not doing so well.) Please remember that if you believe in modern Mormon prophecy, then the Moon landing (and the Mars landing, by the same logic) was a hoax.
The Sunstone Symposium is still echoing through blogspace! Donna recounted some of our amusing adventures, like the time she tried to find her party in an SLC bar:
When we arrived at the brew pub, I told the hostess we were looking for the group of Ex-Mormons. She smiled and said, “Well, feel free to wander around until you find the Ex-Mormons you’re looking for.”
Seth Payne defended Sunstone for its inclusiveness, and Mormon Heretic compared it to the FAIR (Mormon apologetics) conference. From what I’ve been reading about apologetics this past week, it doesn’t sound very cool.
Book reviews!! Donna reviewed Heaven Up Here and Postmormongirl reviewed The Girls from Fourth Ward. If I weren’t already three books behind in my book review queue, I’d really like to read this book, and these books sound pretty cool too! I’ve also started reading some of Paul Senzee’s mission stories — it looks like he even won some awards! SoSaysMe read a book that sounds almost perversely interesting:
She said she was writing the book to those who are questioning the church… Those that have left or are struggling… But if that is her audience, then why did she use phrases like “anti-mormon rhetoric”? Language like that reinforces harmful stereotypes about those that have left. It reinforces members ability to dismiss the “apostates”. It definitely doesn’t feel helpful to those that are questioning and trying to reconcile themselves with the religion.
Too bad they can’t keep people from leaving the church the old-fashioned way anymore. Perhaps all we really need to get us to come back are some inspiring words from everyone’s favorite Stake President — or to look more closely at hot portraits of Joseph Smith!
If you have trouble believing, you can always just choose to believe or follow Nephi’s advice. Is it worth staying if it’s not true?
Some have described the challenges of being Mormon: the leaders changing the ward you attend, lacking a role, trying to always be positive, lying (making a fake official twitter feed), and self-censoring — followed by Andrew’s analysis:
What can we say about a person who doesnt expect to be treated with respect, equality and decency? Do we admire them for not being attached to these illusory desires, or do we pity them for not having a fire within them that craves these things and demands that others not deprive them of it?
In other faith journeys, Steph discusses strategies for coping with anger (without religion). Atom Shock has gone from Jewish-Mormon to Dudeist Minister attending a Christian church socially.
Now that I’m back in Switzerland, things are calming down and getting back to normal. I even had time to update Outer Blogness!! If you have a blog that should be included but is not there, please leave a comment.
And have a great week!!
Chanson, you are such a trouper to keep this column going through family reunions, Sunstone, and 10 hour plane rides. Thanks!
CHanson, thanks so much for the mention! 😉
Donna — It’s my pleasure! I hope people follow the links — there’s some great stuff!
Paul — No problem, you story looks quite interesting! I’m working on a “Books” page for MSP, and I can include your book if you like.
chanson, did you hear about chicken offsets? Much like carbon offsets, when you spend a certain amount of money at chik-fil-a, you would donate a percentage to GLBT causes through the chicken offset program. I don’t have a link, but it’s a creative suggestion.
@4 No, I didn’t hear about that — but it sounds like a cool idea! 😀
I know it must be a lot of work to do this, so thank you! I look forward to this piece every week!