Christian
Bad Memes
If you’re on Facebook, you’ve probably seen many of these memes. I’d like to point out some of the ones that I’m not much of a fan of. Take this one from Elder Ezra Taft Benson. On the one hand, it seems to be intended for conservative leaning folks, those who can’t seem to stomach […]
Are Addictions and Free Will Compatible?
A few weeks ago, I discussed Utah’s attempts to call porn a public health crisis. I don’t think such a designation is useful for a few reasons: (1) the Utah Legislature allocated no funds to combat the problem, (2) there is considerable debate about whether porn or sex addiction is a legitimate scientific condition, and […]
Canaanite Dieties
It’s Easter time again (next Sunday is Easter if you weren’t paying attention.) Easter is that one holiday that Mormons observe, but don’t really celebrate. With Easter comes the story of the Passover. (This is one of those strange years in which Easter occurs a month BEFORE Passover.) In the past, I’ve blogged about various […]
Comparing 1978 to 1985
Continuing with the theme of Black History Month, I thought I’d reflect on changes in the past 30 or so years. In 1978, the LDS Church announced the lifting of priesthood restrictions. In 1985, the RLDS Church (now known as the Community of Christ) announced the lifting of priesthood restrictions on women. Not a single […]
War on Christmas? Blame Christians
Starbucks got a lot of flack because they used plain red cups this year instead of ones decorated with snowflakes as in years past. Steven Colbert had a funny bit about it. But did you know that from a historical perspective, it was Christians who don’t like to celebrate Christmas?
The Saddest Funeral
All funerals are sad, but I attended a memorable funeral a few weeks ago. Almost six years ago, I expressed my discomfort in home teaching a mentally ill man. When I first met him, he told me he was a paranoid schizophrenic, he heard voices, and he didn’t want Obama to take away his […]
White Dudes Talk about Race
I attended Black, White, and Mormon, “A CONFERENCE on the EVOLVING STATUS of BLACK SAINTS WITHIN the MORMON FOLD” at the University of Utah a few days ago. I took a lot of notes from the speakers, and had planned to give an overview. Lester Bush gave an outstanding speech Thursday evening. I should have started with his […]
Church for Saints and Sinners
I really enjoyed an interview a few weeks ago with Nadia Bolz-Weber. She is a Lutheran Pastor who founded The House of All Saints and Sinners, and she prides herself on literally welcoming the outcasts to her church. These people include junkies, drag queens, and transgender. Here are some excerpts from the interview. How is she […]
Sanders Appeals to Conservatives
Bernie Sanders is a socialist. Yup, I said it. Apparently Karl Marx thought that Socialism leads to Communism (as is the USSR – Union of Soviet Socialist Republic) or Naziism, which was headed the the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. But the opposite seems to be true. Both Naziism and the Soviet Union have died, although certainly […]
Mormon Heretic 