Saturday, September 23, 2006

Because Bloggernacling Minds Want to Know

Venturing away from the usual Rhapsidiom habit of a look at film...

Christopher Bigelow, coauthor of Mormonism for Dummies, has

compiled the best news of Zion (the Mormon kindgom on earth) and its Latter-day saints.

Mormons, lapsed Mormons, in-laws of Mormons, and neighbors of Mormons will enjoy these cutting-edge news reports, opinion pieces, and advice columns about this all-encompassing religion with its odd beverage rules and worldwide sales force.

Staffed by a team of crack reporters, The Mormon Tabernacle Enquirer reports the stories that are too offbeat, dangerous, and – worst – inappropriate for the mainstream news outlets, such as "SpongeBob Receives Mission Call," "BYU Offers Scrapbooking Degree," "Poll Reveals Majority of Men 'Highly Satisfied' with Patriarchy," and "Gay Polygamists Make Bid for Legitimacy."

These words, of course, are not my own. But I'm glad to see some new satire out there. And promising, at that. But given the reaction to similar previous works, maybe we just aren't ready. Said book planned for a Novemeber release.

Bigelow monitors his own. And see the official site.

Further, A Motley Vision's William Morris interviews Bigelow on his forthcoming publishing and retailing house, Zarahemla Books:

My chosen bowl of porridge is to publish entertaining books that reflect a recognizably faithful Mormon perspective but depict flawed characters caught in real messes, dilemmas that come from within as well as outside the characters. I’m not interested in celebrating sin, but I like stories that responsibly, organically include earthy, realistic details, including sexuality and a sprinkling of authentic language. I like stories that explore our unresolved issues and cultural foibles without an agenda to undermine faith. I hope I can find enough readers like me to make Zarahemla Books work.

Not sure what to make of his "sprinklings," but I'll take that merit on the material itself, when it comes out, and if I read any of it.

They dish it, I report it.

posted by Rhapsidiomite @ 11:01 AM
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