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Me Myself & Riggins

Tag Archives: Religion

#SundaySelfie

03 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

church, digital media, instagram, LDS, Made with Studio, Mormon, Mormons, Religion, Studio, Studio App, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, theology, Twitter

Studios "I'm a Mormon" pack

Studios “I’m a Mormon” pack

As an Atheist I always thought I’d be a kick-ass Religious Study-igst.  What does one do with a major in Religious Studies?  What does one do with a major in Theatre Arts, which I have?  Tomato … tomato as far as I can tell.  I could have been like Robert Langdon tracking down a secret society covering up the truth of the Holy Grail.  His fictional life seems so exciting.  Opportunity missed.  Any who … one of the things that does fascinate me about organised religion is watching how it grows.  While the world is changing fast many religious seem to struggle with how to engage with a younger group of members.  Something that is crucial if the religion is to grow or even survive.  I’ve got something to tell the People’s Pope … LDS are the queens/kings of social/digital engagement.  Mr. Pope (Sr. Pope?  What do you call him?  Poper Popiest Master Popemiester) better start looking for someone to head his digital team ASAP.  May I suggest me?  Oh that’s right … I choose Theatre Arts.

Individuals Studio creations.

Individuals Studio creations.

How do I know LDS is heading to the new media world for help in spreading their message?  I stumble upon them all the time.  Well not all the time, but lately often enough that even this little Atheist couldn’t help but take notice of their presence.  My new favorite photo app is Studio (follow me at @wendylnewell).  It’s a hoot.  You can take a picture and add overlays of words, shapes, pictures, etc.  It allows you to become a designer and then steal other people’s designs!  They call it a “remix” but if you have a public design I like I can copy it with a click of the button.  Oodles of fun.  In the apps “market” you will find “packs” of overlays you can download.  Some are free while some are 99 cents.  I tend to go to the market a lot to see if there are any new dog packs.  Yesterday I was perusing the market and saw the pack titled, “I’m a Mormon – 38 LDS Designs.”  Say what?  Of course I had to open that right up.  It is presented by mormon.org.  It’s unclear if this is a promotion by them or if they have some tie to the app.  I don’t care.  It’s freakin’ brilliant!  The overlay’s include sayings like “#SUNDAYSELFIE,” “He is Risen!,”

Instagram

Instagram

“Choose the Right,” and “I love to see the Temple.”  It looks like this launch was specifically timed to coincide with the LDS general conference weekend.  Yah I don’t know what that is either, but I assume it’s a conference of LDSers.

I had to do a little research and those smartie farties don’t stop there.  They are encouraging all their folks to use social media to spread the word.  This is for anytime but with an emphasis during the conference.  According to the article I read participants are urged to use the hashtag #ldsconf.  Apparently this has worked well in the past and last October (apparently a conference weekend) over 155,000 tweets were posted.  Now imagine being able to add a selfie with a drawing of the temple superimposed next to you.  I know!!!!!  As I said before … freakin’ brilliant.

Twitter

Twitter

LDS doesn’t stop there.  If you go to their site there is actually a couple of pages specifically on social media.  One is focused on how to share the gospel using the new media and the second includes hot tips (they don’t call it that I’m summarizing) including how to be a safe user.  Nice addition LDS!  They also have their own mobile apps.  You never have to be far away from your LDS Music because it’s right there on your iPhone.

According to what I read there was a special broadcast late last year to discuss how the missionaries will be using digital means to help find converts vs. the old school of knocking on doors.  What are comedians all over the US going to do with their Mormon door knocking jokes?  Soon they will be passe.

I’m not saying that other individuals don’t head to social media to spread their personal beliefs what I’m saying is that Mormons have taken it to a new level of organisation and thinking.  As a digital loving Atheist I salute you LDS.  You and whomever you hired to run your digital marketing group.  It’s not changing my mind about my beliefs, but I appreciate your ability to grow with the times and use what’s out there to your advantage.

P.S. the tag #SundaySelfie is brilliant.

 

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Equality and You

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

atheist, DOMA, Jodi Picoult, Joseph, love, Marriage Equality, No H8, Prop. 8, Religion, Respect

Yesterday I was lucky enough to convince my sweet friend Krissy to share a story of equality that hit her personally.  If you haven’t already read it you should definitely go do that right this second.  

Riggins doesn't have a No H8 t-shirt so he is wearing a beautiful yellow ascot in support.

Riggins doesn’t have a No H8 t-shirt so he is wearing a beautiful yellow ascot in support.

Today the Supreme Court was/is reviewing DOMA the federal law that defines “marriage” as something between one man and one woman.  I want to share my feelings on the subject but the entire thing makes me so furious.  I just don’t understand.  My logical brain cannot process someones need to give a shit about who another person marries.  A person they will, most likely, never meet in their entire life.  In fact, that is my counterargument to almost every single thing thrown at me about it.  WHY DO YOU CARE????  Let’s break it down one at a time.

1. Joseph (Seems like a nice solid name.  Let’s just pretend that Mr. “I think gays shouldn’t marry'”s name is Joseph):  Gay Marriage is against the Bible.

Wendy:  WHY DO YOU CARE?  If that is how you interpret your bible then you live that way.  What does it matter that someone else lives differently?  If we are going to use your logic anyone who doesn’t believe in your bible shouldn’t be married.  Why are you picking on the gays?  I have a number of gay friends who are religious and go to church regularly.  I’m an atheist.  So by your logic doesn’t it make more sense that I can’t marry vs. my God-fearing gay friend?

Here is the problem with the Bible as an excuse.  It is FULL of things that seem archaic now.  It is almost like it was written ions ago to scare people into living a certain way … the way someone or a group of someone’s prefer.  Doesn’t it?  Hmmmmm … kinda like a big ol’ graphic book of fables with fire and stoning, lust and hate, love and forgiveness.  Hmmmmm ….

Jodi Picoult did a lot of research before writing her book, Sing You Home.  In this scene one of her brilliant characters is questioning a pastor on the stand.  A pastor whose argument is that gay marriage is forbidden in the Bible.  Let’s see what her research into the Bible says …

image (7)

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Even with EXACT Biblical quote being used in defense it doesn’t matter.  The fictional Joseph won’t care.  It’s like hitting your head against a brick wall.  Do you know why?  It really doesn’t matter what the Bible says.  That is how Joseph was raised.  In college I took a class called “The Literature of the Bible.”  I remember debating people in class.  Those who went to Sunday school as children and demanding, “Show me.  SHOW ME IN THE BOOK I’M HOLDING UP WHERE IT SAYS THAT.”  They couldn’t and they often disputed what I was saying even though I could read a quote straight from the text-book (aka the Bible).  They have been told for years what that book says.  You can’t teach an old dog …

2. Joseph:  If Gay marriage is legal it will corrupt my children.

Wendy:  Stop it.  Stop pretending that you allow your children around anyone gay and/or anyone who is gay and is brave enough to live his/her life that way.  Now tell me EXACTLY how it will corrupt your children.   You do realize gay couples currently exist with or without “marriage” right?  You do realize that your children can be currently going to school (I know I know your kids are home schooled.  You got me on a technically.  I didn’t see that coming.) with children being raised by loving parents that just happen to be the same-sex.  For that matter your child may have friends being raised by their grandparents, or their aunts/uncles.  It’s highly possible your child already knows someone who is being raised by just one parent.  I don’t want to send your head spinning too fast but it is highly possible your child has a friend who is being raised by mixed race parents.  Gasp … it’s already happening.  I tell you what.  If you can’t find it in yourself to be a parent who is able and willing to calmly discuss with his/her children that love comes in all shapes and should always be protected and respected then I’ll be happy to do it for you.  Just let me know and I’ll give you my Skype name and we can jump on the computer and straighten this whole thing out.

3. Joseph:  It’s unnatural.

10693103-large

Source

Wendy:  Sigh … Joseph.  Please stop talking.  You are making me not like you and I’m trying really really hard not to be horrifically mean and start cursing violently at an imaginary person.  I want to like you.  You have such fabulous fashion style.  I mean that coat is to die for.  Honestly it’s not gay at all.  Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

4.  Joseph:  Two men kissing in public is icky.

Wendy:  You kissing anyone is icky.  Please don’t do it in front of me.

I have the right and the obligation as a human to live one person’s life.  Mine.  I’m lucky enough to be able to influence the minds and decisions of close friends and family.  Other than that … I got nothing.  There is no reason that I should believe that I have the right to tell you how to live.  What would possible allow me to think that I do?

Knowing that WHY DO YOU CARE?  Why do you care how someone else lives?  Why do you care who someone else loves?  Let’s just trample all over my beliefs as an atheist and assume that gays (and for other but equal damning reasons, myself and most of my friends) are pissing off God.  So what?  Imagine how happy you will be when you are standing next to the Almighty at the pearly gates with your arms crossed and your brow scrunched down in an “I told you so” look.  You can gloat all you want as the fabulous gays and I do a perfect pivot-turn and sashay ala Fosse style right on down to the depths of Hell.  If you believe in God.  Why don’t we agree to just let him be the final judge?

To bring it back around to niceness let me share one more Jodi Picoult quote that I love from The Storyteller (based on the evidence in this blog post it seems Ms. Jodi is my literature spiritual leader.  My Ayn Rand or L. Ron Hubbard.)

photo (10)

Most assume that the Supreme Court will do nothing about DOMA right now.  That this older group of Americans just don’t understand why it’s even an issue.  I do believe that Marriage Equality and Gay Rights is a generational problem.  Much like women’s right to vote and mixed race marriages.  One that we be “solved” soon.  I just wish it was my generation that could make that change.

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