Now that Mitt Romney is the Republican Party’s heir apparent, every day means more sunlight shining on the less-attractive bits of Mormonism. As you may have heard, a newscaster made an inaccurate (and insulting) claim about Joseph Smith (and then apologized for it, something a prophet wouldn’t do). This would…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: The Easter after Conference Edition!
As usual, the interesting conference stories trickle in during the week after General Conference (though many in our community have stopped taking an interest in it). The best part (aside from the amazing food) was when Russell Nelson trashed the Big Bang — something apparently no one has done in…
Who’s holding the microphone???
Molly recently left a comment here that, I think, expresses a question on a lot of people minds: Must admit to having trouble understanding why Joanna Brooks is taken so seriously. Her work is very softball, and frequently skirts meaty issues or downplays legitimate problems completely. This was largely in…
The Contradiction of God: Brett Cottrell’s “The Valley of Fire”
Theology can be confusing and contradictory. If God’s omnipotence and omnibenevolence can be reconciled with the existence of evil, it kinds makes you wonder what’s going on in God’s head. Even if it doesn’t make sense, it makes a great premise for a fantasy-adventure novel!! In The Valley of Fire…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Skipping Conference Edition!
So, who listened to General Conference this (past) weekend? Did you have to sit through it with LDS family members and think about what they’re learning? I hear the high point was a celebrity in the choir (and ladies’ favorite apostle). If you skipped it, it’s not hard to guess…
BBC’s This World: The Mormon Candidate
Finally, a Mormon documentary for the rest of us. Hailed by the creator of the I am an Ex Mormon video series as “my favorite video about Mormonism I have ever seen.” Part 1: Mitt Romney Part 2: Mormons Part 3: Exmormons Part 4: Prophets Part 5: Park Part 6:…
Sunday in Outerblogness: Uncorrelated Edition!
When chanson asked me to fill in for her this week, I was glad to give the hardest working Ex-Mormon blogger a well-deserved weekend off. Especially since she just got through naming Joanna Brooks the X-Mormon of the Year! What I didnt anticipate was how much I would enjoy spending…
Mormonism: a “Native American” faith?
With Mitt Romney’s nomination closer and closer, there’s a lot of talk about whether Mormonism has made it…whether it’s succeeded, been accepted by American society… I was watching a Morning Joe episode that featured Matthew Bowman, author of a new book The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith,…
Congratulations 2011 X-Mormon of the Year: Joanna Brooks!!
One more time with the disclaimer: For the purpose of this award, the “X” is a variable standing for any category of exceptional Mormon — it does not imply the nominee (or winner in this case) has left the church. Sorry to be a broken record on this point, folks,…
Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration (review)
For kicks, I decided to pass the time during my lazy, uneventful day off by watching Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration, a church-sponsored film about the life of Joseph Smith. I found it on YouTube, split into five pieces, each with a description of the video containing a…