This past week, I kept seeing links to this article: On 37th anniversary of priesthood ban’s end, black Mormons say race issues still need attention. And I kept thinking, well duh — is there anyone who thinks otherwise? Obviously just sweeping it under the rug doesn’t suffice. (Note: Jane Manning…
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…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Duggars edition!
The Josh Duggar incest/molestation scandal has been the big topic of discussion and analysis this past week. These guys aren’t Mormons, but the story has strong resonance for us because of their tradition’s familiar attitudes about sexuality, gender roles, and family: In the LDS church, there was a massive focus…
Atheists: Less Crime, Less Vengeance, Less Racism
Check out this article in the LA Times about Secular Family Values and how great they are. It’s a few months old, but worth reading and relevant to many conversations held here. The conclusion will reassure many MSP readers: Being a secular parent and something of an expert on secular…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Another day, another excommunication edition!
This time it’s Marisa and Carson Calderwood: We have received the decision from our Stake Presidency about our disciplinary court and it states that we are apostates. This is a title we wear with honor! Yes, we are apostates! We are proud to have been kicked out of an organization…
Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator: “It’s like religion. Believe what you want. Get out of it what you want.”
I loathe the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator with a fiery passion that is totally dormant as long as nothing reminds me of the test’s existence, which is how I prefer things. Once aroused, the fervor of my loathing takes a while to die down, which is why I’m blogging about it…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Survey says edition!
This week’s Mormon news item is one where I can give the CoJCoL-dS some real praise! Setting a good example for drought behavoir, they let the temple lawn go brown. You can probably guess what happened next… Perhaps you’ve heard about the new Pew Study on American religious trends, showing…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Season for the reason edition!
Yes, earlier this week, we celebrated the National Day of Reason, and now today we celebrate the hand–wringingest holiday on the Mormon liturgical calendar: Mother’s Day!! Let’s have a look at this year’s rendition of this yearly spectacle: If you have all the mothers stand up to receive a gift…
Sunday in Outer Blogness:
It’s been a slow week in Mormon news. The biggest item seems to be that you can now pay your tithing online (though you still can’t keep the amount confidential from your local leaders). Remember, tithing is basically the most important thing to do. Oh, and don’t criticize the leaders,…
Final religious amicus brief on US same-sex marriage
I’ve been following the same-sex marriage debate on the legal front since the days of Prop 8. In 2010, Judge Walker gave his damning ruling that “a gender restriction on marriage is nothing more than an artifact of a foregone notion that men and women fulfill different roles in civic…