I am now fascinated with Joanna Brooks

[Deleted]

She's a feminist liberal LGBT supporting Mormon. Who's married to a Buddhist Jewish man.

My ILs are Mormon, for those who don't know, though not the liberal kind at all.

I'm utterly fascinated and will be reading her book. I personally found reconciling my feminist/liberal and scientific ways too difficult as a teen and thus am non-theistic. So any time I can get my hands on people who have reconciled more fundamental religions with their beliefs, and are considered "loyal, active" members in those religions, I'm fascinated.

Fascinated!! I'm kind of excited to read her book -- maybe I'll have more to talk about with my female ILs (lol, probably not).

[silverhammer]

I really don't like this woman. As an ex-mormon, I think she's doing a disservice by representing the mormon church as inclusive of people like her. I can bet you anything in her home congregation she is not seen as one of the "loyal or active" members. And probably judged to hell for it. Mormonism isn't, at it's core, a religion that you can modernize. It's sexist and exclusive and always will be. I know from a lifetime in that church that if she's married to a non-member, but continues to go to church, she's seen as an outcast and someone who needs pity because she's not living up to her full potential by marrying a priesthood holding, worthy man.

Sorry, mormonism is my hot button issue! haha

[cahabalily]

I should wish list her book!

I'm an uber liberal Christian earning a PhD in a hard science. I've been called lots of things and that doesn't bother me, but it has been difficult reconciling my knowledge and beliefs. My opinions and beliefs are still somewhat fluid, and while my faith will remain steadfast, I've learned that I will never understand everything and I'm okay with that.

Sorry to hijack your post, and thanks for the book recommendation.

[Deleted]

Silver, I am sure many feel that way. I have found supporters, too, and am still intensely curious about how she does it. I have no doubt I will not agree with her though. I agree with you about the inherent sexism in the religion. It's the thing I have the hardest time with on the rare occasions we sit through sacrament.

Cahabalily that makes sense to me! I know a lot of religious scientists who seem okay with the two being sort of separate. One says he believes god created the criteria for the big bang and knew what would happen from it (ie, evolution). It's all very interesting to me even though I don't believe it myself.

[pugz]

I am interested in this book too, amazon reviews are mixed.

[silverhammer]

Yeah I think my main issue is her trying to portray the church as something it's not. Her experience with it is definitely not representative of the majority.

[Deleted]

But i do agree it's a young religion and if people are moving away from all the "bad", something great can come from that. my biggest issue with religion in general is its difficulty evolving with social change. If mormonism can do that, it should be given the chance. She said on John Stewart that it's a young religion compared to the others.