Sunday in Outer Blogness: Modern Revelation Edition!

In these dark times when it seems the heavens have gone silent, the faithful turn to the LDS Newsroom for God’s latest pronouncements on hot drinks and caffeine. Of the various reactions, Daniel Midgley’s kind of sums up the problem:

I’m not sure if this is a policy clarification, or a full-on revelation — the LDS Newsroom seems to be in charge of church doctrine now. But whatever. The Mormon Church can arrange things how it likes.

What’s kind of surreal to me, though, is that if this is how an omniscient being wants to communicate his will to his people, he’s not a very good communicator. Why so much confusion and ambiguity for fifty years?

It seems an omniscient being might have a clearer policy on faith-promoting urban legends as well, not to mention homosexuality. (And as far as naughty drinks are concerned, caffeine isn’t Utah’s only option.)

Of course not all of the leadership duties of the CoJCoL-dS have been handed over to the Newsroom. There was this interesting exchange somewhere in the Europe area.

One popular discussion topic this week was Mormons vs. Evangelicals, mostly clarifying how they are different from one another, plus Mormonism as polytheism. (Regarding church growth here‘s the problem with claiming to be the fastest growing religion.)

This week saw the formation of a couple of new group blogs! Ex-Mormon Mavens launched with an exit story and a post on Mormon women and anger. And Into the Hills started up with the mercy of original sin. Meanwhile, lots of other borderland group blogs are going strong, with discussion series like war and peace, attitudes towards sexuality, the poetry of wearing pants, on gratitude, and a Mormon in the cheap seats on being told you don’t understand the gospel.

In additional discussion topics: the mother/martyr archetype, God’s justice system, can a man have a biblically appropriate relationship with his most beloved firearm?, is foreskin restored in the resurrection?, your broken brain, the influence of social media, and how would you feel about a warning for “Mormon Night”?

Then there were a number of personal stories, including an MRI, pregnant at your daughter’s wedding?, or have to wait outside?, dealing with rape, helicopter parenting, Mormon style, plus an interesting examination of how a partner’s transition affects one’s own sexual identity.

And Brett Cottrell posted pictures of his book reading!

And no week would be complete without discussion of (and making fun of) Mitt Romney.

I have had a crazy week getting the kids back to school, etc., but I guess it’s always like that. I hope all is well for you, and happy reading!!