Jana Remy
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Jana Remy

  • Writing
    • Disability
    • Making History
    • Digital Humanities
      • dayofDH
    • Canoeing
    • Creative Nonfiction & Essays
    • Feminism
    • Bibliographies
      • Pacific Worlds Bibliography
    • Social Media
      • Mentions/Links
  • Scholarship
    • Awards/Fellowships
    • Conferences & Invited Talks
    • Collaboration
    • Workshops
    • Conference Planning
    • Technical Skills
  • Teaching
    • Blogposts About Teaching
bookswomen

criticism

written by Jana November 21, 2006

Yesterday I found myself in two different settings where the LDS Church was criticized.

The first was a graduate seminar. We were discussing Laurel Ulrich’s A Midwife’s Tale. Both the professor and several class members questioned Ulrich’s objectivity as a historian because of her Mormonism. There were critical comments about polygamy, patriarchy, and Mormon racism. Because of recent changes in my own religious identity, I found it difficult to speak up and defend the LDS Church. However, I did describe my unabashed admiration for Laurel and her work, but I didn’t address the critique of Mormonism.

Late yesterday evening I was at my AROOM book group when several of the women were bashing LDS patriarchy. For whatever reason, this really hurt my feelings. I wanted to tell those who were speaking to stop. But I didn’t. In hindsight I feel like I should have said something, but I’m not even sure what that something is/was.

Oddly, now that I’m out of the Mo church I find myself reluctant to criticize it. Not that I don’t see its faults, but I’m so happy to finally be able to let go of the anger I felt as a Mormon, that it’s hard for me to find myself in the midst of the criticism and not feel dragged down by it–as if it is disrupting my current joy.

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4 comments

Caroline November 21, 2006 - 4:40 pm

very interesting, jana. may i ask what comments in particular about patriarchy were offensive?

I can see how it might get tiresome to hear others’ struggles with LDS issues now that you’ve moved beyond that. It seems like a very healthy place for you to be – content with your own faith and no longer banging your head against the wall of institutionalized religion.

Reply
jana November 21, 2006 - 6:53 pm

Caroline:
It was nothing specific that was said, necessarily. I’m just weary of the overall criticism and I’m so happy that the patriarchal issues don’t affect me anymore (because I’ve removed myself from the community). Though I am happy for you that you can now express yourself to the Bishop. You go girl!

Reply
jana November 21, 2006 - 7:18 pm

I should add, too, that I don’t want you (caroline) or others to feel that you need to censor yourself around me. Discussing how I felt last night is just a way for me to work this out in my mind–to ruminate on why it bothered me. In the future I hope that each of you will speak your truth(s) with me, even if it’s something that makes me uncomfortable.

Reply
Dora November 22, 2006 - 12:40 pm

I was wondering about this just the other day. I was hoping that you and John would have more peace because you wouldn’t be fighting against an institution. However, I was also thinking how disorienting it might feel to suddenly be free of what was weighing you down …

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About Me

About Me

Hi there friend, and welcome to my blog. I started writing on the internet two decades ago. Since then I've started and finished a PhD program, left the Mormon church and became a Quaker, got divorced, remarried, found full-time work in academia, took up rock climbing and outrigger canoeing, and traveled across the globe (China! Belgium! Italy! Chicago! Montana! Portland! Gettysburg! and oh-so-many points in-between). This blog is eclectic and random--it has poetry and cooking and books. And cats. And flowers. And the ocean (my ocean). But in that sense it's a good reflection of me and my wide-ranging, far-reaching, magpie curiosity.

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