Archive for April, 2007

« Older Entries

Christopher Hitchens Excoriates Joseph Smith and Mormonism in Slate Article and Book — “god is not Great”

Friday, April 27th, 2007

Ouch! From Christopher Hitchens’ latest Slate article, and new book. This guy supports the Iraq war and George Bush, and hates Mormonism. I don’t quite get it.

A question/challenge to my readers (which reminds me of this post from last year): in spite of the venom, what percentage of this essay is actually historically/factually accurate, vs. incorrect? After reading the article, I’m guessing around 60%.

================

Subject: Mormonism: A Racket Becomes a Religion
Posted Friday, April 27, 2007, at 7:23 AM ET

If the followers of the prophet Muhammad hoped to put an end to any future “revelations” after the immaculate conception of the Koran, they reckoned without the founder of what is now one of the world’s fastest-growing faiths. And they did not foresee (how could they, mammals as they were?) that the prophet of this ridiculous cult would model himself on theirs. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—hereafter known as the Mormons—was founded by a gifted opportunist who, despite couching his text in openly plagiarized Christian terms, announced that “I shall be to this generation a new Muhammad” and adopted as his fighting slogan the words, which he thought he had learned from Islam, “Either the Al-Koran or the sword.” He was too ignorant to know that if you use the word al you do not need another definite article, but then he did resemble Muhammad in being able only to make a borrowing out of other people’s bibles.

(more…)

Posted in Joseph Smith, LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Politics, Romney, book of mormon, mitt | 11 Comments »

Boston Globe Review of Helen Whitney’s PBS Documentary: The Mormons

Friday, April 27th, 2007


Boston Globe: A gripping look at foundations of Mormon faith

By Sam Allis, Globe Staff | April 27, 2007

Imagine a four-hour documentary on the Mormon church that skips its most prominent member in the country today, Mitt Romney.

“The Mormons,” a collaboration between PBS powerhouse series ” Frontline ” and ” American Experience, ” is that show. Yet its mere airing may finally force the former governor to explain publicly his faith and its influence on him as a politician, much as John Kennedy did with his Catholicism in 1960. What it will surely do is complicate his run for the White House.

The Romney candidacy notwithstanding, it’s high time that Americans separate fact from fiction about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it is officially called. The timing is excellent for veteran documentarian Helen Whitney, whose fascinating look at the Mormons airs Monday and Tuesday on WGBH.

Many church members will chafe at Whitney’s spotlight, while countless non-Mormons will be shocked by church history and practices. They will be put off by its secrecy and authoritarian structure. By the absence of black men as full members until 1978. By its early embrace of polygamy.

They will find risible the notion that the Garden of Eden was located in what is now Jackson County, Mo., or that ancient Israelites came to America more than 2 , 000 years ago. The early Christian church looked loony to a lot of people, too, yet it has had 2,000 years to polish its myths. The Mormon church is less than 180 years old.

Still, the Mormons have spooked America since the church’s creation. Joseph Smith was called a fraud when he founded the church in 1830, and despite its best efforts to inject itself into the American cultural mainstream, the church is still viewed with suspicion in some quarters. Polls show that a substantial number of Americans would not vote for a Mormon for president. Catholic and Protestant denominations alike have challenged the inclusion of the church in historic Christianity. (more…)

Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, PBS, Romney, frontline, mitt | 22 Comments »

Utah Republican Blames ‘The Devil’ For Immigration

Friday, April 27th, 2007

Let us pray that this fellow is not LDS…. :)

(KUTV / The Salt Lake Tribune) PROVO – Forget al Qaeda.

If you really want to blame someone for trying to destroy the United States, point the finger at… Satan?

The devil, Lucifer… whatever you want to call it, one Utah Republican says it is he who is trying to bring the USA down.

And Satan’s apparent weapon of choice: Allowing illegal immigrants to cross the border.

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah County District 65 Chairman Don Larsen has submitted a formal resolution to oppose the devil’s plan to destroy the country — to be discussed this weekend at the Utah County Republican Convention.

“In order for Satan to establish his ‘New World Order’ and destroy the freedom of all people as predicted in the scriptures, he must first destroy the U.S.,” Larsen’s resolution states. “[It is] insidious for its stealth and innocuousness.”

Larsen’s proposal to defeat Satan? Close the borders to illegal immigrants to “prevent the destruction of the U.S. by stealth invasion.”

Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Politics, Romney, mitt, utah | Comments Off

A Personal Connection to the Iraq War, and to the Walter Reed Debacle: James Coons

Tuesday, April 24th, 2007

James Coons and I were teammates on the varsity basketball team at Katy High School from 1986-1987. He was actually my backup at center/power forward.

Recently I learned that James committed suicide at Walter Reed Hospital a few years back, after serving in Iraq.

His story was just featured on ABC News.

As you can imagine, it is so strange and sad to see a former friend show up in the national news, and to learn of his death.

Check it out, and please save a prayer tonight for James’ family, and for all the soldiers in this war (on both sides).

Posted in Iraq, War | 3 Comments »

LDS Family Services: Why No Programs for Those Disaffected by LDS History and Doctrine?

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007

If you go up to the LDS Family Services site, you see that the church has special programs for:

What I fail to find are any programs for members who have become troubled by LDS History or Doctrine — and experience severe trauma as a result. Certainly given the heavy activity in ex- and post-LDS web sites, there is a market/need for such outreach. Yet I can’t find anything.

Anyone know of official church outreach programs to help these folks? If there aren’t any — any guesses as to why not?  Finally, any predictions on if/when such programs might finally arrive?

Posted in History, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, church | 36 Comments »

Mini-Documentary on BYU Cheney Protests and “Free Speech Zones”

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007

(From Rod).

Stay ’till the end. Elder Samuelson’s response to a student question is worth the wait.

Posted in BYU, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Politics, cheney | 22 Comments »

Ralph Nader Coming to BYU, and Why I’m Really Glad BYU Invited Cheney

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

I first saw Ralph Nader speak while on an internship in Washington D.C.  Since then, I’ve always respected the man.  I even voted for him in 2004 when I didn’t know where to turn.

It now looks like Ralph Nader has agreed to come to BYU as an “alternative commencement” speech to Dick Cheney.  I’m gonna do everything I can to be there.
This makes me very happy.   Please consider supporting Nader’s visit by contributing here.

In my view, it has turned out to be a very, very good thing that the LDS church decided to bring Vice President Dick Cheney to BYU.  Who would have ever guessed that a sizable population of BYU students had the fight and the spirit to speak out so effectively, and so forcefully.

It gives me hope for Mormonism, frankly.  I could not be happier.

(Thanks to David for the head’s up)

Posted in BYU, LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Romney, mitt, nader, ralph | 11 Comments »

Boyd K. Packer (the Mardinal) and Gordon B. Hinckley (the Mope) Mentioned Last Night on the Colbert Report

Tuesday, April 17th, 2007

Kinda funny. Check this out (thanks to Paula).

It is a response to:

Transcript follows:

“Before we start tonight, a rare correction is in order. On Thursday I identified Boyd K Packer as the President of the Mormon Church…or as I call him, the Mormon Pope, or ‘Mope’. He is not. He is the current Acting President of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the Mormon Church. That would make him something like a Mormon Cardinal… or Mardinal. Apparently the real Mope is ‘Gordon B Hinckley’. Got the job in 1995, but he can’t be doing all that great of a job if I don’t know who he is. So time for Hinckley to go! See, rather than retract my statement misidentifying Boyd K Packer, I’m calling on the Mormon Church to issue a correction by making Boyd K Packer the Mope. [cheering in audience] And make Packer’s Mopeship retroactive as of last Thursday. That shouldn’t be a problem for you Mormons. If you can retroactively baptise George Washington, you can retroactively make me look right!”

Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Politics, Romney, colbert, mitt | 11 Comments »

World’s Coolest Web Sites: The 11th Annual Webby Awards Nominees & Winners

Tuesday, April 17th, 2007

For those interested.  Some of the world’s coolest web sites by category:

The 11th Annual Webby Awards Nominees & Winners

Posted in Internet, Technology, webby | Comments Off

Kieth Merrill: Dutcher comments showed arrogance

Saturday, April 14th, 2007

(I must say that this article is a really, really disappointing response in my opinion from someone who claims to be a faithful member of a Christian church, but I’ll write more on that later)

Kieth Merrill: Dutcher comments showed arrogance

KIETH MERRILL

Richard Dutcher’s “parting words” to Mormon cinema — and with it any lingering allegiance to the LDS Church — would be laughable if it weren’t so tragic. There is an old adage that suggests: “Never dignify stupidity with a response.” I should listen.

But hey! Dutcher flips off the films at the Legacy Theater and those of us who created them.

My pointed retort is at the end of this note — and Dutcher deserves every word.

With his latest tirade, Dutcher has become a wonderfully ugly poster child for the pitfalls of Mormons who want to play in the movie business but don’t take seriously the warnings of scripture, prophets and GOD — that seeking “the honors of men” and “riches of the world” are paths into darkness. Read apostasy. Dutcher’s pompous pronouncement is perfectly timed to spice up my commencement address to the wannabe Mormon filmmakers in the BYU Department of Fine Arts and Communications. [Friday, April 27, 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.]

I can’t wait.

Dutcher has made five movies. One is pretty good. One is OK. The others are mediocre, depending on your tolerance. The “rave reviews” he loves to post on his Web site come from the same folks who praised “The Departed” — but Hollywood and its critics have long since ignored redeeming social value as a criteria of quality and entertainment that inspires as a measure of true brilliance.
(more…)

Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, cinema, dutcher, film, richard, richard dutcher | 29 Comments »

« Older Entries