Let’s see what’s up in the world of former-Mormons-and-friends this week! Two people have moved on from discussing Mormonism, one has posted an exit story, others are working through their Mormon issues, dreaming of Mormons, contemplating other people’s choices — or interpreting miracles! Jonathan Blake asks whether we should express…
What Causes Same-Sex Attraction? Catholic Newspaper: “The Devil”
The oldest Catholic newspaper in the US published and quickly retracted an article that suggested that same-sex attraction is caused by Satan. The logic went like this: Disruptive imbalances in nature that thwart encoded processes point to supernatural actors who, unlike God, do not have the good of persons at…
Alan Osmond, Macho Man
From the YouTube description: Eldest Osmond brother Alan says in a new interview that the Osmond Brothers’ dancing was too effeminate, so they brought in Chuck Norris, who basically taught them how to add karate-style moves to make it more manly. Says Osmond: “Chuck, we need to toughen up our…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Happy Halloween Edition!
I assume most folks here see nothing wrong with the Mormon Missionary costume, yet would agree with Adrienne that “Pocha-hottie” and company are offensive costume ideas (H/T). Feel free to discuss the difference in this week’s comments. Speaking of Halloween and racism, well… let’s start with racism. As much as…
Building on a Religious Background
The following is an article I wrote for the October / November 2011 issue of Free Inquiry (the magazine of the Council for Secular Humanism), reposted here with permission from the editors. The Oct/Nov issue is a special issue on Mormonism, and one other MSP regular also contributed to it….
Is North Star Sending a Bad Message?
North Star is a Church-affiliated organization that serves as “a place of community for Latter-day Saints dealing with issues surrounding homosexual attraction who desire to live in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the values and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Since it…
The Moth Presents Elna Baker
Yes Means Yes? Catch The Moth and Elna at Town Hall, NYC on November 2nd.
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Ladies First Edition!
Fortunately someone came up with a satirical response to that awful tree (among other worthy targets). Unfortunately, it wasn’t the only nonsense the women had to put up with this past week — from minor slights on women’s music to major concerns about women’s health and safety. But women have…
Hot Halloween Idea – Mormon Missionary
Apparently the Mormon missionary look is in this year for Halloween, making Time’s top ten topical costume list. Anyone planning on dressing up? I’m out; too many bad memories. If we were smart, we’d start selling customized name tags here at MSP to make a profit off the interest in…
Heaven Ain’t Close in a Place Like This: Mormon.org and Maxwell Institute
“Hi, I’m Brandon. I’m a Mormon.” So begins Mr. Brightside’s somewhat perfunctory Mormon.org profile: Brandon Flowers is the frontman of the rock band The Killers. In 2010, he also released a solo album entitled Flamingo. In late 2001, Brandon Flowers responded to an ad that Dave Keuning had placed in…