Modern Mormon Men

This is an extension of the revived Bishop Higgins blog.  Taking a stand to even out the playing field of the over-extended Mormon mommy blogs, these men have started their own mommy blog.  I place it here for all my Mormon friends who enjoy the intricate details of the culture in which they grew up.  If you can't laugh and make fun of your own culture, life ain't sweet enough  Enjoy!

Modern Mormon Men

Mr. Diety

As I was trying to avoid work this past weekend I stubbled upon this.  It is so funny!  Especially for those of us who don't mind making fun of religion.  mr.diety is the brain child of Brian Dalton who was raised in as a Christian and has become an atheist after having taking a long hard look at what he had learned and how so much of it, to him, became absurd or even dangerous to believe.  He has taken his real life experiences, the research he has completed, and his inner humour to create a clueless god who lacks empathy, that not only is creating a random universe with enormous flaws but with hilarious side-kicks.  Larry, his left hand man appears to be smarter, more empathetic and much more logical than god himself.  Then there is the former flame, Lucy (a.k.a. Lucifer), who is charge of creating hell and ensuring that those who arrive are treated properly.  Let me tell you about Jesse, a delightful looking man who is god's right hand man, who has accepted the role of being Jesus, although he is constantly wanting to get out of his final demise.  It is on to season three and quite interesting, hilarious and demonstrates the absurdity of so many of the beliefs that people automatically accept without actually understanding the theoretical and logical broader consequences of these beliefs.

May I encourage you to watch.  Most entertaining and enlightening.

mr.diety blogspot

Brian Dalton About mr.diety and moral atheism

  
So far this is my favourite season 1, episode 8:

You Can Take the Woman Out of London but....

Yes I did it.  I watched the Royal Wedding.  After having danced and chatted with fellow graduates until midnight on Thursday at the end of year party, I woke up at 4 AM to head to a friend's house and watch the events unfold.  Here is why I watched:

After having lived in London every summer for 4 years and almost one year after that, 

I miss the vibrant, eclectic, pulsing city at least once per week.  

Changing of the Guard up the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

I was able to hear the names of the places I visited, the streets I walked, the ones spaces that came to dwell in my heart as historical connections to the past that healed my reckless existence.  

Greenwich Village looking out from the Old Navy College.

Art installation at Trafalgar Square using the roots of trees from a
South American rainforest to increase awareness of the destruction of these forests.

On the London Eye with Marcia and Art, looking out over
Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament.

Almost 30 years ago my Aunts and Uncles woke all us Pilling kids up at 3 AM Shuwap, BC time and we watched Diana and Charles wed.  They had a long stretch of foam mats, blankets, pillows that we cuddled under wondering why we were so lucky to be up partying at this hour.  I  also remember a delicious selection of treats, although I cannot remember what they were.

My Grandpa Doral Pilling in the shores of Shuswap Lake in the 1980's.

To see an inner bird's eye view of a magnificent gothic abbey.  Having been on three tours during my stay with various groups I remember the six crystal chandeliers are 6 feet high but are dwarfed in comparison to the actual height of the 102 foot nave.  I believe 3,000 people have been buried or memorialized inside the building.  A juxtaposition of a new relationship budding from the surrounding lives that have ended. 

From Google Images, goingtolondon website.

Having attended Evensong on several occasions at the abbey, I wanted to hear the boys and men's choir one more time.  Mmmmm....love their soprano to bass voices intermingling and resonating of the stone of the Norman interior.

Thank you CBC for this shot!

Thank you CBC for the live coverage.  Thank you to my father who let me move back in with him while he was living in London and while I was in my late 30's.  Thank you mum my who was our part-time roommate and the one who took me to so many West End shows I lost track of how many times I have seen Billy Elliot, Wicked, Oliver, and Sister Act.

Greg and I on the top of a double decker bus,
just south of his flat on Regent Street.

Wyona, Marcia and I in Camden Town Market, North London.

My time in London was brief but will stay with me for years to come.  

You can take a woman out of London, but you can't take the London out of the woman.

Honest Conversation

Many years ago when I was a practicing member of the LDS faith, a friend introduced me to a site called Mormon Stories Podcasts.  I dove in and found an incredible collection of stories, ideas, thoughts and perspectives that provide a breadth of understandings to those who are Mormon and those who are not.

Several years ago, the site was taken down by John Dehlin (a practicing Mormon), stopped his regular podcasts.  To those on the fringe of Mormonism, this was a blow as he was not afraid to talk to and about the intellectuals, the excommunicated, the LGBT groups, the edgy and those whose voices of questioning and dissent provided a much needed critique required to practice any religion, participate in any political group, or aspire to understand the tenets of any ideology.

Although as a single, well-educated, liberal, feminist, woman it was hard to end my participation in the larger organization as part of my self-identification came from the church, my continued unhappiness with many of its practices and religious ideas required my cessation.  Even though I have 'gone astray', I continue to peek in once a while to see if progress with regards to women's issues, the LGBT community, and other more liberal ideas has been made.  To my surprise three weeks ago, I was delighted to see John Dehlin back with an improved website and more conversations with a wide breadth of people.

While peeking around, I found this gem.  The much maligned subject of sex, masturbation, pornography and marriage.  Gathering professionals within and without the LDS church, Dehlin and cohorts present an interesting and honest talk about subjects that are so frequently ignored or pushed beyond the fringe of most religious groups.  Talking about sex does not lead to random sexual behaviours, it just means that the subject is no longer taboo and a maturity around the subject can grow.  Give it a listen.  It will make you feel healthy, wealthy and wise.  :)

I just found another gem, a woman I will adore for the rest of my existence, Carol Lynn Pearson.  

Need a New Calendar?

Several years ago while travelling through Rome my two friends and I spotted the most hilarious of calendars.  Catholic priests, completely dressed, but whose faces and body language suggested a layer of hotness.  We each bought one and years later they are still being used as specific dates are not attached to specific weekdays.  Smart calendar making!

Roman Priest Calendar
Not the best link but you can look for more in the inter-web.  ;)

Turns out there are new Mormon ones too.  Flanked in controversy, the creator Chad Hardy thought he would try to present a different, less stuffy image of Mormonism and asked male returned missionaries to pose shirtless.  This did not go down with the some general populace or the leaders.  He has begun to make a calendar of married women with baked goods.  Do we know where this is going?  Even less popular.  Either way, they look hilarious and quite tongue-in-cheek, which is why I don't mind them.  Not degrading or offensive, just sexy and a tad racy.  Give them a peek and order one if you have free space on a wall.

Men On A Mission and Hot Mormon Muffins Calendars

Adventure to The Forks

One of the first weekends I was here a friend from Calgary came into town for a wedding and we met up.  Since the people of Winnipeg are so 'friendly', several had mentioned visiting The Forks.  No prongs here but an eclectic concoction of locally owned restaurants, jewelry, knick knack and unique item stores.  A two level complex stuffed with things to browse, touch, smell and oogle over.

The best part for me was The Candy Train.  

My nephew is a train enthusiast and my level of joy increased as I saw an old train car (which he loves), filled with sugary treats (which he also loves).  My friend and I entered and discovered two walls layered with boxes and boxes of goodies.

The usual treats of my childhood were there: pop rocks, lik-m-aid (or fun dip if you are lame), and fizz.  Strangely my friend had not had any of these treats and I gathered samples to purchase for her first 1980's treat-a-thon.  (Alas, her age may have precluded her partaking in such 'me generation' treats.)

Prop 8 Update: Marriage for All

I am proud to live in a country where we do not withhold the basic rights of legal permanent relationship status from citizens based on same-sex relationships.  In Canada the legal status of cohabitation and marriage with all its benefits have been available for all people since 2005.  When our current Prime Minister took office in 2006 and wanted to re-open the gay marriage debate the country told him to move forward with other business.  On this issue, we had made our decision and it would not change.  What a wonderful way to demonstrate unconditional acceptance, appreciation of and care for all members of society, by offering the same choices that heterosexual couples have enjoyed for decades.  I am going to hug a fellow Canadian right now...sniff!

(Photo from boxturtlebulletin.com)

When California's Prop 8 appeared in the social, political, judicial and religious circles, I was appalled at the actions of individuals and organizations that wanted to repeal the freedom of choice that had already been given to the California LGBT community.  In such a progressive, freedom claiming nation, why was this portion of it regressing where so many nations had already succeeded?  In particular, those groups who professed current practices of marriage between one man and one woman, but historically and behind religious doors practiced otherwise, caused the arrow on my moral compass to spin uncontrollably.  Hypocrisy in action.  Having had a life long connection to one such group, I was ashamed, and for me it was the final piece of exit music required to move forward with my life sans connection.

In honour of those whose marriages were declared null and void the American justice system offers this ray of hope.  Thanks to a friend of mine, I can now share it with you:

Ruling Against Prop. 8

Let the sun shine...let the sun shine in...the sun shine in!   

Delish!

I just discovered the tasty goodness of Vanilla Shreddies with freshly cut strawberries on top.  Oh the tangy blend of two simple flavours, vanilla and strawberry, and the goodness of 100% whole wheat.

To my Canadian friends, enjoy the fruits of the season while they are in abundance.  To my American friends, I am sorry the crunchy, tasty, healthiness of Shreddies has not made it across the border.  Time for a little cross border cereal shopping, n'est pas?

(Pictures from Google Images.)

GARAGE SALE
On another note, Garage Sale Part 2 & 3 this weekend, July 24 & 25 at 1 Chisholm Cres. NW.  8 am - high noon.  Many teacher books, lots of kid's chapter books, hard cover story books, classroom decorations, assorted household items, LDS adult books, and LDS CD's all for your perusal.  As well, a rabbit or large rodent cage, bedding, food, carrying case, and leash all available for sale.  Come, we make a deal!

Three Questions

Three stolen questions from a podcast with guest Barbara Brown Taylor and show host Mary Hynes, that may demonstrate to you that the meta-cognition portion of your brain is alive and well.

What is keeping you alive today?
 
What has your body taught your soul?

What have you learned from the physical scars on your body?

May 16 & 20, 2010 Tapestry Podcast

Cleavage Anyone?

Thousands Sign Up to 

Flaunt Their Cleavage

From Torstar News Service


Tens of thousands of women have signed up online to flaunt their cleavage Monday in the face of an Iranian cleric’s comments.

Purdue University student Jen McCreight threw out the challenge last Monday on her blog, and by Thursday more than 33,000 women joined the cause from all over on two separate Facebook sites.

What provoked her was a comment from Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi, who was quoted on April 16 as saying, “Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes.”

Her challenge:

“On Monday, April 26th, I will wear the most cleavage-showing shirt I own. Yes, the one usually reserved for a night on the town. I encourage other female skeptics to join me and embrace the supposed supernatural power of their breasts ... With the power of our scandalous bodies combined, we should surely produce an earthquake.” 


Tonia: Don't you love a smart, critical feminist?!

WRI at BYU

My Aunt forwarded the latest news on the Mormon blogs.  Turns out Brigham Young University (BYU) is closing its Women's Research Institute (WRI).  Here is a posting my Aunt sent me from the Mormon Feminist Network.

Shutting Down BYU's Women's Research Institute

By: Guest - November 4, 2009

My name is Elisa. I am a senior at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, a famously conservative university owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons. 98% of the student body subscribes to the LDS faith, but we are nevertheless an extremely diverse group of students, ideologically speaking. Of the approximate 30,000 students at BYU, 48% are female, and 2,691 students are enrolled in the Women's Studies minor, almost 10 percent of the entire student population. At such a (let's face it) conservative school, the fact that we even have a Women's Studies minor is a pretty big deal, and the BYU Women's Research Institute has contributed enormously to the university community since its founding in 1978.  From 2006 to 2008 alone, the WRI funded 132 faculty research publications relating to women. Some of the brightest and most promising students at BYU are involved with this program.

However, on October 29th the BYU Administration issued a press release (that's what it's called, but in fact it's nowhere to be found on the BYU website or in the school newspaper) saying that the WRI is being shut down come January 2010. The Administration claims that they are "streamlining and strengthening" the program but what they're really doing is removing all funding WRI used to receive and consolidating it into one faculty research grant and a token amount of funding available for students. Most BYU students found out about this through blogs or other outside media sources rather than through the university itself, and to put it lightly, most of us are infuriated.

There's a reason why this is being kept hush-hush. All major universities have a Women's Studies Program, and shutting down ours is more than just a bad idea, it's a disaster waiting to happen. Money is not the issue: BYU receives generous donations from LDS alumni even in this economy. Additionally, 52% of the WRI budget came from outside, non-BYU sources. This is, in short, another attempt by an overtly conservative administration to shut down any feminist activities because a lack of education makes many people at this institution think feminism is a dirty word.

The Loss

My brother and I were talking this evening about the hand of death not reaching into our family very often.  Our grandparents lived full lives and have passed slowly over time.  I have seen several students die due to health issues, accidents or personal choice not to live.  All tragic and difficult to experience.  Not the same experience as a close family member.

In the past week, our extended family has been touched by the hand of death.  A woman we have grown to love over the past 16 years died of cancer related issues and our family now enters a time of mourning.  In the Sociology of Death and Dying course that I completed during university I learned about Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a woman whose life's work began listening to those who had lost loved ones.  Her listening ear lead her counselling career and eventually to a foundation.  She identified the stages of mourning that loved ones who remain experience after the loss:

1.  Denial and Isolation
2.  Anger
3.  Bargaining
4.  Depression
5.  Acceptance

It is up to the individual to proceed through all the stages so that the end result is not happiness about the loss, but a feeling of peace and calm.  Much, much more difficult than words on a screen.