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rileypeper's review
3.0
I love books that challenge the commonly accepted narrative. Whether that be a political, religious, or other narrative. I enjoy challenging my beliefs in uncover deeper truths.
I believe this book has accomplished two things for me. One, it has further opened my mind to possibilities that I would have balked at even 2 or 3 years ago. While there are many things that Baire and I do not see eye to eye on still, I have come to the conclusion that her experience has taught her one thing and mine has taught me other things. I am able to learn from her life experiences in order to pry my closed mind open.
Blaire is one of many many people who have taught me that there is a deeper truth to our Mormon Theology than I ever thought possible. Our theology is queer, and that is something we should embrace.
I believe this book has accomplished two things for me. One, it has further opened my mind to possibilities that I would have balked at even 2 or 3 years ago. While there are many things that Baire and I do not see eye to eye on still, I have come to the conclusion that her experience has taught her one thing and mine has taught me other things. I am able to learn from her life experiences in order to pry my closed mind open.
Blaire is one of many many people who have taught me that there is a deeper truth to our Mormon Theology than I ever thought possible. Our theology is queer, and that is something we should embrace.
kpbake427's review
5.0
I loved the authors perspective. It's beautiful and unique especially compared to our traditional Sunday narratives. It was such an expansive and inclusive view of our doctrines. There were moments when even with disclaimers I thought that is definitely not what the people who wrote that document meant, but then I realized the author was reading the gospel through queer theory lense. More of this.
brigitte's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Again and again I’ll read it and apply it. And remind all that God is love and if we’re not embodying that love we’re not following God.
smercer2's review
5.0
Everyone should read this book.
"Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God and each other. All other commandments hinge on this commandment." Ostler clearly lays out a queer reading of Mormon theology that reaffirms that the Gospel is for everyone. The Church can work with current revelation to be a more equitable organization if we choose to follow the greatest commandment. It's fairly short, about seven chapters, but well worth the time.
"Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God and each other. All other commandments hinge on this commandment." Ostler clearly lays out a queer reading of Mormon theology that reaffirms that the Gospel is for everyone. The Church can work with current revelation to be a more equitable organization if we choose to follow the greatest commandment. It's fairly short, about seven chapters, but well worth the time.
mirandanoble's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Overall, I loved this book. The first few chapters felt like I was reading my own thoughts magically put to paper. Ostler so eloquently presents the gospel that I know and love. Chapters 1-3 brought new perspective to the ideas I had come to on my own. Instead of seeing my sexuality as something separate from my faith journey, reading these chapters showed me that my sexuality has guided me to a more inclusive and loving idea of beliefs. Chapters 4 and 5 were interesting too. Rather repetitive (which I elaborate on below) but full of worthy information. Ostler's suggestion of adoption as a way of creating families could use some more nuance, but you can't cover everything in depth and still call it an "Introduction," so I just encourage anyone who reads this section to do more research on adoption and the ethics of it. Chapter 6, the chapter about Polygamy, brought a new, hopeful, compassionate, and empathetic understanding of polygamy without erasing or discounting the harmful ways it has been and is practiced. The last chapter, I will be sending to my mother who asks me questions frequently about how she, as a Young Women's leader, can be more inclusive. The tips are simple and make a big impact.
My only critique is the shifting audiences. Some chapters felt meant for me, a queer woman finding her place in the Mormon faith. Other chapters felt like they were for people who had little to no knowledge on the subject. I just felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again for the middle few chapters. This can be effective for an audience who is unfamiliar with these concepts (which I think is Ostler's intended audience), but it got boring as someone intimately familiar with many of these ideas. I understand clarifying terminology (that is not my critique and I think the way Oster defined the word "queer" is wonderful), but then again, some of the labels/terminology other than the word "queer" were not defined or explained--thus shifting the intended audience back to people who already are familiar with queer terms. All this said, the book is short and the beauties far outweigh the slight confusion of who this book is for.
My only critique is the shifting audiences. Some chapters felt meant for me, a queer woman finding her place in the Mormon faith. Other chapters felt like they were for people who had little to no knowledge on the subject. I just felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again for the middle few chapters. This can be effective for an audience who is unfamiliar with these concepts (which I think is Ostler's intended audience), but it got boring as someone intimately familiar with many of these ideas. I understand clarifying terminology (that is not my critique and I think the way Oster defined the word "queer" is wonderful), but then again, some of the labels/terminology other than the word "queer" were not defined or explained--thus shifting the intended audience back to people who already are familiar with queer terms. All this said, the book is short and the beauties far outweigh the slight confusion of who this book is for.