This is my first post on Main Street Plaza. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share some thoughts with you, and hopeful that I can contribute something to a community which has been a huge support to me over the past few years. That almost sounds like the way I would have started a sacrament ...
We had a long discussion recently about an author’s personal background here. The discussion centered around whether or not an author’s personal background was fair game. Particularly if an author’s background appears to relate to their work (or illuminate parts of their work). Views: 858 ...
Wow, what a week! Chock-full of discussions revolving around the theme of differences among people. First, conformity within the community, defining it. Check out this Mormon Matters discussion on the doctrine of wearing a white shirt to church — (maybe I’m being insensitive so say this, but) the passionate debate over it is hilarious! It ...
Over at A Motley Vision after the review of my novel, I was on the defensive for a while. My concern had been that I had been positioned as an “other,” although I was assured that I’m merely “on the fringe.” Obviously, any storytelling about homosexuality in the Church assumes a position in the sense ...
Ever wanted to meet a Jew turned Mormon? How about a female, in her mid-20s, living in South America, who is a former Buddhist? I haven’t, really, but a new feature on Mormon.org allows you to search for them: Meet Mormons. (FYI, lots of former Jews, no former Buddhists meeting my target criteria). Strangely, there’s ...
I’ve just written a review (here) of Steven H. Lee’s compelling memoir Falling into Life. One thing I didn’t mention in the review — but one of the most fascinating aspects of it — is that it represents perhaps the most complete two-sided portrait of an LDS mixed-orientation-marriage that exists. It turns out that Steven’s ...
Did anyone else catch the latest change to proselytizing in the US? Mormon missionaries are now surfing the web looking for people. Baptism numbers must be way down if the LDS Church is allowing missionaries to spend time online searching for converts (of course, with a companion looking over their should the whole time). According ...
Of course we can read the nearly final program, but — if you’re presenting — please feel free to tell us a few enticing words about your presentation. Note: Mr. Deity will be there!! (Also, feel free to tell me what you think of the ad on page 40. .) Views: 778 ...
Wow, everybody is talking about this new study that suggests that misinformed people rarely change their minds when presented with the facts — and often become even more attached to their beliefs. Why are former Mormons so interested in this topic? What’s the connection? Oh, yeah, this. This whole topic makes me want to question ...
That’s my excuse for getting this done so late today — along with another billion people, we had some important watching-the-world-cup-final to do at our house. It was very exciting, especially after it went into extra innings and everything. (And Andrew thought one needs an ulterior motive to post about soccer/football! — he finds an ...
I was just reading a fascinating new post at Times & Seasons — Wanted: Greener Grass. I won’t lie; part of what amused me was the link to a study of children’s drawings that captured their preconceived notions of what kind of person a scientist is (with implications as to the gender stereotypes harbored by ...
I’ve been active on this blog since chanson reviewed my gay, Mormon novel Ockham’s Razor last October. I will be presenting a paper about my novel at this year’s Sunstone Symposium titled “Two Paradigms for ‘Gay.’” (Half of my presentation will also concern Jonathan Langford’s novel No Going Back–also reviewed by chanson). Gerald Argetsinger, who ...
I recently saw the documentary “Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock” about Teri Horton, a woman who may have purchased a Jackson Pollock painting at a thrift store for $5. It was a fascinating documentary, with a clear perspective. The crux of the film is that Teri cannot prove that the painting is in fact, ...
Yes, Britta has declared her independence from the CoJCoL-dS! I found her blog through her Irreligiosophy interview — along with a couple other exmo blogs that I hope everyone will welcome to the Outer Blogness community! Andrew S has written an interesting series comparing this community to other blog communities. Can an online community be ...
Over at the faithful Mormon blog Faith-Promoting Rumor is a discussion enticingly titled “Do Relationships Make the Church True and False?” This post is a short enough one that you should just go over there and read it, but I guess I will still highlight some points here…when I was reading it, I will say ...