Sunday in Outer Blogness: Excommunication again edition!!

I feel like a broken record here, blogging about this again, but I’m not exactly the one who’s in a rut. The CoJCoL-dS has excommunicated yet another blogger for the terrible crime of discussing doctrine online in an interesting and thought-provoking way. Here’s a first-hand account.

Another blogger is currently in danger of losing access to his children due to his blogging. It gets to the point where one is almost proud to be destined for destruction.

Then there are these popular stories that are kind of tangentially related to Mormonism. First, there’s Caitlyn Jenner (who is receiving an award). Second the Duggars gave a disturbing interview in which they did the opposite of convincing people that quiverfullers can be trusted with children. (Contrast modern ethics.) Or with basic honesty:

While, again, I’m not thinking Josh Duggar needs to be lynched for what he did when he was fourteen, I do think the Duggars are full of shit. What Boob is saying doesn’t match up with what was in the police reports. He claims that Josh came to him crying about touching his sisters. I don’t believe that happened. I think it’s much more likely that one of the sisters was doing the crying, not Josh. Michelle is saying they all got “professional” counseling when she earlier said Josh had just gone to do manual labor for awhile.

The Duggars say Josh has changed. Maybe he has. But they are making it sound like this was all very innocent stuff and no big deal. And again, a lot of what they’re saying in this interview is not jibing with what was in the police reports from 2006.

In real Mormon news, the mishies face impossible tasks. More young women than ever are leaving religion, and the CoJCoL-dS wants you to know that it’s because they’re so selfish. Meanwhile, the situation for girls is starting to get a little terrifying:

I naturally assumed this was a handful of crackpots in isolated areas trying to out-righteous each other for scraps of praise until last week when my sister-in-law shared with me that her stake is now requiring all girls to wear both a tee shirt and knee length shorts over their one-piece swimsuit to swim–at Girls Camp!

By the way, this sort of crap doesn’t just harm the girls:

The only thing more frightening to me than my own sexuality was a man’s sexuality. I was told that if I exposed my shoulders or thighs, the young men around me would be unable to control their lusts and I was undermining their priesthood. The thought of being sexually vulnerable with a person that lacks so much self-control that they can’t handle a tank top was and is terrifying. Clearly the church shames men for their sexuality, but hearing those messages as a woman, sex was something to be dreaded and feared. My expectation going into marriage is that sex is something I do to please my husband and keep him under control, because if I don’t put out, he’s going to turn a raging sex monster.

And there are generally some problems relating to outsiders:

She had her cousin visiting that day, and so she called on her to say the closing prayer. I had assumed the whole time that this cousin was a member, but she asked how to start a prayer. I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or just being silly. The other kids prompted her, so she started properly, asked for it to rain cupcakes and unicorns, and then ended. I’m not even sure if she said amen or not. The rest of the class looked at her like she was crazy. They didn’t even laugh (which was surprising) and then someone suggested that we have someone else say a real prayer.

Well, that’s one person who will probably never step foot in a Mormon chapel again.

And their PR department apparently has a really terrible sense for whom they want people to associate them with.

In other interfaith interactions, some letter ideas for mixed-faith families. Remember when Mormons were worried about D&D? Plus the age-old question: is Mormonism a cult?

In scripture study, God has some problems with logic. Also, we learn why it is foolish to wait and hope for the end of the world. Plus the stuff about other gods and what to do with people who believe in other gods. On the other side of the coin, Mormon Atheist provided a progression of Mormon podcasts. And the Archangel Gabriel explained some of God’s strange behavoir.

In life journeys, it hurts to discover you were bamboozled, and Kiley is moving on.

In books, the new version of Brett Cottrell’s book has hit the shelves!! Plus the Hugos are not done.

Well, Summer has finally arrived here in Switzerland, and we spent the day on a lovely birthday celebration for my son. I hope you’ve had a pleasant weekend as well. Either way, happy reading!