“It's Not About The Sex” My Ass
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Review from an iBooks reader

8/26/2013

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“Captivating!”
(We like the sound of that.)

Please keep those reviews coming! As we have said, we have no advertising budget. When you tell friends about the book, share on Facebook our home page and reviews, and post your own reviews online, you truly help us out.

To date, there are 31 reviews on Amazon.com. We just discovered this flattering review on the iTunes website from “EMcRory,” an iBooks reader. (To read it on the iTunes site, click here.)
✭✭✭✭✭ Captivating!
by EMcRory
I bought this book while at Heathrow airport on my way back to Vancouver BC. I read the entire book on the flight, which required me to stay up all night to do so. That gives you an idea of how fun this was to read. I think I found it interesting because I went to a dental school where 30 percent of the students were Mormon. I had heard rumors about things Mormons believe but didn't really believe them at the time. This book confirmed my suspicions! You can't believe the craziness until you are a Mormon yourself or until you read this book. Totally fascinating! I was also thrilled that the author came out a better person in the end. Good for her for following her instincts!
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Association for Mormon Letters: “This book is absolutely relevant to our audience.”

8/24/2013

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Mormon studies scholar Richard Packham

Association for Mormon Letters
review by scholar Richard Packham:
“Of the dozens of recent books authored by those who escaped from polygamous groups, this one is unique and worth a read.”

Leading Mormon studies scholar Richard Packham has reviewed “It’s Not About the Sex” My Ass for the Association for Mormon Letters.

Packham opens by saying, “Several times while reading this book I burst out laughing. My wife said, ‘Isn’t that the book about polygamy? Polygamy isn’t funny!’ I had to assure her that yes, this was the book about polygamy, and that it was darned funny.”

He closes with “Of the dozens of recent books authored by those who escaped from polygamous groups, this one is unique and worth a read.”

(The stuff he wrote in between the open and close is good, too.)

Active Mormon participants trust the Association for Mormon Letters site, so we can appreciate the dilemma in which the book’s title placed Jeff Needle, the association’s reviews moderator. He diffused the dilemma with aplomb: “My apologies to any who are offended by the title. I’ve substituted asterisks to help those who are uncomfortable with rough language. This book is absolutely relevant to our audience. My thanks to Richard Packham for taking on this project.”

We think this line bears repeating: “This book is absolutely relevant to our audience.”

We highly recommend you read Richard Packham’s entire review of “It’s Not About the Sex” My Ass by clicking here now. (Mr. Packham was kind enough also to publish his review on Amazon.com—see our prior post.)
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New 5-star review on Amazon

8/22/2013

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Richard Packham:
5 Stars for “It’s Not About the Sex” My Ass

✭✭✭✭✭ A Hilarious Account of
Life in Mormon Polygamy

August 22, 2013
By Richard Packham

Several times while reading this book I burst out laughing. My wife said, "Isn't that the book about polygamy? Polygamy isn't funny!"

I had to assure her that yes, this was the book about polygamy, and that it was damned funny ... (read the rest of Packham’s review on Amazon by clicking here now)
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Richard Packham
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A bogus version of the already-bogus

8/20/2013

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Another reason not to invite
Mormon missionaries into your home

Need a reason not to invite in the Mormon missionaries? Besides, that is, that the religion is hogwash? Here you go. In Las Vegas, a pair of young male thieves decked themselves out as Mormon missionaries—white shirts, ties, backpacks, the works—and went door to door. Once a trusting but unlucky homeowner invited them in, they pulled a gun on him, beat him, and robbed him.

We in no way wish to poke fun at the victim. What he experienced was surely horrible.

But we have no reservations about poking fun at Mormon missionaries. After all, it’s not often that you see a bogus version of something that’s bogus to begin with. Read the Salt Lake Tribune story by clicking here.
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Security footage of bogus Mormon missionaries who turned out to be thieves
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Are non believers smarter?

8/14/2013

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U of Rochester Study:
Believers may be less intelligent

A new study from the University of Rochester suggests that religious people are “less intelligent” than atheists.

We are cautious about too readily swallowing whatever “the latest study reveals.” Even or perhaps especially when it’s something we’d love to think is true. This study is loaded with caveats. That’s appropriate and responsible of the author, for this is an observational and not a controlled study. A big caveat is that the study doesn’t establish causation. For instance, perhaps smarts lead to rejection of religion; but then, perhaps instead they lead to life circumstances that don’t require the reassurance religions offers; or perhaps rejection of religion induces people to think more; or maybe what the good folks in Rochester have stumbled upon is a correlation with no causation, that is, a coincidence.

Still, the study hits home. It brings to mind something that a friend said after reading an early manuscript of “It’s Not About the Sex” My Ass. “I don’t want to be rude,” he said, “but it’s incredible to me that anyone could have been so, well, so stupid. I know you, and you’re not stupid.” Joanne leveled her gaze upon him and said, “I was then.”

True enough. If you met Jo now, you too might marvel that this woman, so composed, both feet firmly on the ground, could ever have belonged to a cult. I didn’t know her then, but I can assure you that today she is uncommonly, refreshingly intelligent. And an atheist.

—Steve Cuno
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Dodging the question with aplomb

8/7/2013

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Mormon Apostle Holland’s
Approach to Difficult Questions:
Question the Questioner

In a classic cult-like maneuver, mainstream Mormon Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland dodged questions of fact from Tom Phillips, a close associate and former stake president in the U.K.

Phillips’ questions included the quite reasonable, “... Demonstrate to me that the Book of Mormon is true by answering and refuting the ‘evidences’ against its truthfulness ...” which Phillips listed in some detail.

Ignoring Phillips’ questions, Holland replied, “... Have you ever had a spiritual experience in your entire life? Are you having any in recent days, or weeks, or months? How does your family feel about your views? Are those views helping them? Are people happier, prospering more, doing better following your lead? I love you and pray God you will be open to some spiritual indication of what is at stake here ...”
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Mormon “Apostle” Jeffrey R. Holland
In critical thinking circles, Holland’s reply is known as an ad hominem attack, a fallacious tactic used to divert focus from the question to the questioner; and also as a non sequitur, an equally fallacious tactic used to divert focus to a discussion that doesn’t follow from the premise.

You can read Holland’s remarks and Phillips’ lengthy reply by clicking here and scrolling about three quarters of the way down the page to “Response to Elder Holland's reply.”
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