In my last SiOB, I highlighted a list of “things that both atheists and Mormons can largely affirm together” by Aaron Shafovaloff. Then Andrew S picked up the discussion and even attracted Aaron Shafovaloff himself to attempt to explain it. I had highlighted the list mostly because many of the…
Maybe Conservativism Is Hurting Religion After All….
Given that the “liberal churches are losing members because they’re liberal; conservative churches are growing because they’re conservative” argument is invoked every so often here at MSP, I thought people would be interested in this article from Religion Dispatches analyzing some of the problems with that claim. An excerpt: Hout…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: St. Patrick’s Day Edition!
Yes, today marks everyone’s favorite excuse for serving green beer and other Irish treats, plus some other important occasions such as my half-birthday (I guess that makes me 41 1/2), as well as the International day of action to defend apostates and blasphemers. In Theology, Roger D. Hansen made a…
Joseph vs. The Gold: Help me script it!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08wRRff8x0k Ever since seeing this not so good version on youtube, I’ve been wondering what a good recreation of the Joseph Smith run with the plates might look like. Â It’s all based on Lucy Smith’s account: “The plates were secreted about three miles from home… Joseph, on coming to them,…
self-delusion; do they not realize it?
I know I’ve done a bit of rabble-rousing with my last few posts, but this is another one that was spurred by the ethnography I recently read about Mormonism. Â In it, the author talks about how Mormon parents think about their kids in discussing the life trajectory of Mormons as…
video found: J. Reuben Clark’s statement on keeping black blood away from white Mormons
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Racqdp5E0x0
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Rewriting the Scriptures Edition!!
If you haven’t heard, the CoJCoL-dS decided to dust off the old scriptures, polish ’em up, and give them a slightly different meaning. A bit of additional hedging. The most dramatic change was to shy away from the claim that the Book of Abraham was translated from the papyrus in…
Tithing vs. Taxes: Winner – Taxes!
Caught this interesting article in Forbes about a Mormon who hasn’t been paying his taxes. Â He’s currently trying to negotiate with the IRS the rate at which he will pay his back taxes. Â He wants to pay them at a pretty paltry $3,000 a month, claiming his lifestyle requires that…
Mormon Trolls, Gorgons and Orcs, and Being Tired of Good People
Currently the most posted story in my Facebook feed is this excellent NY Times op-ed from Ta-Nehisi Coates, entitled “The Good, Racist People.” Coates uses the recent frisking of Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker as an opportunity to analyze the racism of “good” people: In modern America we believe racism to…
The Inconvenient Truths about Mormon Lactivism
Recently there has been much talk surrounding a YW leader who is unfortunately threatened of having her temple recommend withdrawn if she does not leave the room or cover herself while breastfeeding at church meetings. (Call to Action – Lactivism) There are many things wrong with this scenario. The LDS…