FAQ
What’s your goal here?
Religion makes a lot of people happy. It also makes a lot of people miserable, and leaves many people vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. I’m here to figure out why the same system can be so beneficial to some but extremely harmful to many. I do not believe that all religions deserve respect, and I do not believe that harmful religious or cultural practises deserve to be immune from criticism. I’m not here to tell anybody else what to believe or do. This blog is mainly for my own purposes in navigating the treacherous waters of a post-Mormon life when most of my family is still happily entrenched in the LDS Church and extremely hostile to “apostates.”
Where are you?
Good question. Let’s just say I travel a lot, and I spoof my IP address because I like my privacy. However, I often find myself in San Francisco, Toronto, New York and London. If you live in any of those areas and would like to grab a pint sometime, do let me know.
Is your name really Molly?
No. But my temple name is Miriam. Since I’m divorced and don’t have a lord and master of my own, if one of you blokes out there wouldn’t mind shouting that on Resurrection Day to wake me up I’d be much obliged.
Why don’t you use your real name?
I have nothing to gain by using my real identity here. Anonymity allows me to be honest. I’ve been disowned because of my apostasy and real-life discussion about Mormonism will not help my wonderful, dysfuntional, orthodox, loving, judgmental, devout family to ever take me back. I hope in time I can bring our relationship to a point where I can be honest and they won’t demonstrate the typical LDS value of putting Church before Family.
Why do you hate Mormons?
I don’t hate Mormons. Most of them are decent enough, and many people I love dearly are Mormons. However, I take deep offence at the teachings, policies and practices of the managers and employees of the Corporation of the President and the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop who allege they are God’s One True ChurchTM.
Why do you care so much about gays? What are you, gay or something?
I am straight, probably a zero or one on the Kinsey Scale. My sexuality is unrelated to the fact that the civil rights battle of my generation is for the integration of sexual minorities as full citizens. I do not have to be gay to know that LGBTQ individuals are human beings exactly like me. A bit like how you don’t need to be a minority to be offended by racism, and you do not have to be female to fight sexism. Sorry to disappoint, but my orientation is not a choice, and I can’t stop being who I am deep down inside.
Do you have a comment policy?
Speak your mind. You are not required to mind your manners, but it’s probably a good idea. So far my readers tend to be intelligent and outspoken, and if you say something stupid and they take you to task for it, don’t expect me to rescue you. I have no problem with commenters who are disagreeable, so long as they are constructively disagreeable. However, I prefer spirited, civil debate. I rarely ban anybody. If you find yourself suddenly unable to comment, it’s probably because I found you a waste of my time for one of the following behaviours:
- Trolling repeatedly, disrupting conversation with inflammatory, off-topic, or emotional statements.
- Use of logical fallacies, particularly begging the question, straw men, and ad hominem attacks.
- Constantly making an arse of yourself at the expense of my patience and the productivity of the conversation
Why are you so sarcastic and patronising?
I don’t want my British citizenship to be revoked. And you’re pronouncing “patronising” incorrectly.
May 25, 2011 @ 03:41:38
Hey. I really like your site, particularly the post about rape apology and Joseph Smith. Good job.
I was Mormon my whole life until really recently. I went on a mission to Mexico, the whole shebang. I even made a (crappy) documentary about Book of Mormon evidences in which I conclude in the end that there’s no reason for any Christian to not believe in Mormonism.
That was before I looked into details about Joseph Smith’s polygamy, details about the translation process of the Book of Mormon (obviously Sidney Rigdon & Oliver Cowdery collab’d w/ J.S. on that one, with Rigdon at the helm of the project) and perhaps most damning of all, the wikipedia page of the Book of Abraham (do other Mormons just choose to turn a blind eye to that?).
So anyway, keep up the good work. I’d love to work on a documentary or book or something on this subject. I kinda think I might write a screenplay about a guy that leaves Mormonism. I’m studying screenwriting right now at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. All right, talk to you later.
Dane
May 25, 2011 @ 03:42:47
haha whoops, I thought that was like, an email-sending form. my bad
May 27, 2011 @ 20:22:43
Would you prefer that I make the comment private?
May 29, 2011 @ 19:43:49
lol yeah
Oct 03, 2011 @ 07:02:58
I just found your blog and I must say, bravo. I love to read intelligent people talk about things I also care about. I wish I would have found this site before today. I recently fell in love with a Mormon and in doing so it has turned my life upside down. She left me to go find a Mormon mate in Utah and even though it hurts, I still talk to her every day. I know she’s very smart, too smart to buy the lies based on the words of a rapist con-man, but she is inexplicably devoted to it. I hope someday she can completely open her eyes and if, or when, she does I will direct her to this site. Thank you for making this blog, and thank you for your cogent and well stated writings.
Oct 10, 2011 @ 18:26:41
I’m so sorry to hear about your relationship breaking down because of religion. I had to experience a lot of the same thing when most of my family chose the church over me. Hang in there.
Oct 03, 2011 @ 14:21:14
Found your site through Main Street Plaza. Just wanted to say, I really enjoy your writing style and humor. You’re definitely not pulling any punches. (P.S. You haven’t by any chance written a novel, have you? I’m looking for a few good ones to publish!)
Oct 10, 2011 @ 18:27:43
Thank you, Therese. That’s very flattering. If you’d like to discuss that further please e-mail me at mollymuses at gmail dot com.
Oct 20, 2011 @ 00:11:37
Hey, stumbled upon your blog while doing some research. How do you make Mormons stop harassing you and your family?they’re currently trying to recruit here in Yorkshire and will not stop ringing my bell even though i have told them repeatedly that i am NOT interested in the slightest.
Even my scary brooklyn/New York accent doesn’t put them off 
Nov 18, 2011 @ 18:45:51
Blimey I didn’t know they sent them that far north.
You can tell the Mormons to put you on the do not contact list. That is a very specific term for them. You could also file a complaint with the local council if you feel you are being harassed. Likely they’d be able to warn them away from your house using a law against trespassing.