I will not be returning to church when the new year starts. That was my plan for a while, but recent events have made it clear to me that is what I need to do.
A group of Mormon Feminists created a Wear Pants to Church Day. I've stated my opinion on that here on the Exponent. Recently, responses to this event have gotten even stranger than the ones I listed in my Exponent post. Organizers have received death threats. Women involved have gotten messages from people they don't know calling them sinners and all kinds of horrible names. The event page has been taken down, either because people were protesting it so much that Facebook took it down or because of the death threats received. People are being threatened with violence for suggesting that women have the option to wear pants to church. Pants = Death. This is not okay. This is wrong on a fundamental level. And these are members of the LDS church threatening to kill other members over pants, over gender equality.
I realize that this is a fringe group of members. I realize that there are many members who are wonderful people, including my friends and family. But if this craziness is what the church attracts, I just can't stay. If something so simple as questioning a cultural practice (not a church doctrine) creates this kind of reaction among members, there is little hope for changing gender inequality in the LDS church any time soon. It is so entrenched that people go insane defending a cultural expectation. So while I love my Mormon family and friends and know they do not support the behavior exhibited by other members, I don't feel I can stay in an organization that breeds this kind of mentality among some of its members. So I will not be returning to church after I wear pants this Sunday to show solidarity.
:(
ReplyDeleteYou may be disappointed to learn that all organizations that include humans breed this kind of mentality because organizations involving humans always seem to involve humans.
ReplyDeleteIt makes you wonder if the organizations are really the problem at all. Either way, I hope you feel super-equal this Sunday.
Oh, I won't feel equal. That's why I'm leaving. Thanks for the thought though. Yes, all organizations are flawed. Some are just more flawed than others. And not all claim to be God's one true church. I believe if an organization and it's members make a claim like that, they should be held to a higher standard of behavior; death threats should not be coming from God's one true church. And the fact that all organizations are flawed doesn't mean I have to sit by and say, "Oh well, guess I have to put up with being treated badly because all organizations are flawed." If you want to be part of the problem and feel okay about it by saying everything is flawed, go ahead. I'm choosing to work with groups that have some chance of doing good in the world and recognizing their own flaws. I hope you enjoy your apathy on Sunday.
DeleteI know that they don't represent all Mormons, but I am absolutely appalled at some of the people who posted negative comments on the event page. The calls to repentance, the "then why don't you leave?"s, the disregard for any dissenting opinion, the complete lack of compassion...I'm disgusted. Too many value conformity and comfort over critical thinking and sympathy.
ReplyDeleteThat is truly disturbing, but not at all surprising. I haven't attended church in months and no longer consider myself a Mormon--I swear, it has been a HUGE weight off my shoulders. I hope it is for you, too. Also, I just came across this website I think will lift your spirits maybe a little http://whenincomments.tumblr.com.
ReplyDelete