I saw this post over at BlogHer. It’s about Mormons, and hello, I am one. So is the author of the Vampire “Twilight” series. Everyone over their shock? Okay, good.
This whole mess is exactly what I’m trying to clarify with my posts on religion. I don’t ask you to agree with me on my choice of religion. However, I do ask that whenever you decide to talk about my religion or make fun of it (srlsy) you get your darn facts straight. Make fun of me all you want as long as it’s the truth! But when someone only chooses to remember what he or she wants to remember or listen to what he or she wants to listen to about my religion things get messy. It’s fun to twist facts, it’s fun to recite stereotypes or urban legends. I know! Because I’ve done it! But this is how ignorance is born. You could find so much BS about my choice of religion out there on the internet and from people who feel they have been spurned you’d think we’re a bunch of hard core crazies (okay, some of us are hard core crazies) But in reality? We’re just a bunch of people trying to make it along in this world like everyone else.
My comment on the BlogHer site says this:
I’m sorry. But as a Mormon and as someone who has read the books there is no underlying racism because of her (our) religion. Or racism period. Meh.
Pardon me for not sounding coherent but if Ms. Valdes-Rodriguez had really done her research she would have learned that the Lamanites (the dark skinned ones) came out ahead and the Nephites (the light skinned ones) became violent and the problem people. Also, her sources for her quote from President Brigham Young was not from a reliable source. It was from an anti-Mormon source.
I’ll bet you I could find some post or wiki or video somehwere that says that we (Mormons) kill puppies naked in our temples (which we don’t, but it sounds a lot more excting right?) Not only was her commentary full of mistakes from the books, her reasearch into a horribly misunderstood religion was even worse.
There is or was racism and sexism in almost every religion at some point in time. Just because Mormons are easier to point fingers at doesn’t mean she should. What if Ms. Meyer was Jewish? Would people get after her about the unkosher diet of a Vampire?
My comment on Ms. Valdes-Rodriguez’s site said this: (she has enabled comment moderation and I don’t know if she’ll accept my comment or not)
I would also ask you kindly to look into other religions and other acts of Genocide and notice that it’s rampant in all religions and cultures. Not just the one you are choosing to examine and pick apart. Not that that makes it right, but it doesn’t unfairly point a finger at any one religion.
If you look into a religion only choosing to see what you want to see, of course the outcome is going to be what you originally wanted it to be in the first place.
Maybe you will notice the plea that is also in the front of the Book of Mormon that asks the reader to ponder it prayerfully.
Not spitefully.
I could be offended and find fault by a children’s book if that’s the attitude I took into reading it.
Phew. I’ll get off my soapbox now. It’s a teenage FICTION novel. Does it really matter what church the author chooses to go to every Sunday? Really? REALLY?
Meh.
PMS.
Late night.
xoxo if you’re still here in the morning.
making unbreakable - formerly moosh in indy. 
I am now going to have to go read this because I am curious and repelled at the same time. (Takes fork. Stabs eyes.)
You’re a good egg, Casey. You do the Mormons proud.
Loralees last blog post..Deleting my Google Reader: The good, the bad, and the (possibly) ugly.
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I had a retarded conversation with a coworkers boyfriend a few days ago – trying to explain Seventh-Day Adventism to him and he was saying all kinds of crazy crap. David Koresh did us no favors.
Reeses last blog post..Dinner Plans 1, Husband 2, My Own Laziness 2
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Mormons are so crazy. As a native american I am deeply offended by the way each and every single Mormon has treated my people.
Wait. I’m sorry. Not the Mormons. Asshats. I am deeply offended by the way asshats have treated my people, and other people. Like the Mormons.
As a Mohawk who dated a Mormon in high school (and played with the missionaries as a smarter-than-thou 16-year old who easily took offense at everything) I would like to say that the accusation of racism, structural racism, in Mormonism, is just utter BS. It is, for instance, the kind of thing a smart-ass 16 year old would say.
Even supposing it were true that the literal reading of the Book of Mormon and the teachings of the church were originally biased against natives, the HISTORY of the church and its members is no more racially suspect than the other faiths that took root in the U.S.
In fact, in the history of native-colonial relations the Mormons more than any other group supported the western tribes’ efforts to stay free from colonial rule and encroachment. It was the Mormons who tried to help level the playing field, supplying many tribes with firearms in a programmatic attempt to both preserve their own faith from antagonists in the American populace, and to help the tribes preserve their own identities, cultures and lands in the Pacific Northwest.
Contemporary relations between Mormons and natives has been no better nor worse than with any other white religious group.
My in-laws, if they are intolerant of anyone, are suspicious of Muslims. But that’s a problem with them, not a problem with the faith. The faith is quite tolerant.
Backpacking Dads last blog post..This moment, like so many others, brought to you by parenthood.
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Ok, I’m back from the post and the forks are indeed stuck in my eye.
It’s pretty uncomfortable to have forks stuck in your eye so it made me a little bitchy over there, but seriously?
The original post this was about is just lame.
I can see how people twist and turn Mormonism. It is religion with a very dramatic history.(For those reading? I am very inactive Mormon. Which means that I do NOT go to church and run around sinning and doing very naughty things that are not ok with LDS standards.)
It’s understandable that facts get twisted up in so much dramatic history. It happens. But in this case I felt like she was starting with a bias and then writing from there in an effort to sensationalize. If she had used any sources that Mormons deem credible as well, I would have had more tolerance for it.
As it is it just looks like biased writing that I can’t take seriously. (That fact may also have to do with the fact that it is intertwining a religion with a young adult novel about a 90-year-old vampire who glistens in the sun with breathtaking beauty who opts to hang out perpetually with teenagers, who knows?)
Rant over. I love you, woman.
Loralees last blog post..Deleting my Google Reader: The good, the bad, and the (possibly) ugly.
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You go, Casey!
I applaud the way you handled it. Laralee’s right – you do the Mormon’s proud. Great conviction. And, we’re not going anywhere. 😉
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Before the release of Breaking Dawn, a reporter with the Houston Chronicle called and interviewed my daughter and I about our “take” on the books and their success. He then tried to lead the conversation towards answering “How Does Twilight Relate to the Book of Mormon?.” Hey, dude, I may be a convert to the Mormon church, but even I am not that dumb! I didn’t take any of the bait, instead insisting that since the day I was baptized, I’ve been careful to keep the culture of the church separate from the doctrine of the church. I was glad to see that when the article was published, there was no mention whatsoever of the church.
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Casey, you make me proud to be your friend. You took a great deal of time to answer all of my inane questions (some more stupid than others) and you did it with dignity and grace.
You took the time to educate me about your religious beliefs and you did it in a way that sparked curiosity and respect and a deep admiration for not only you, but the Mormon religion as a whole.
You inspire me with your faith and your passion for it. There should be more people in this world like you.
I love you from the bottom of my heart. I’m so damn proud of you.
You go, girl.
Redneck Mommys last blog post..Not Just a Boob
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After recently being attacked by my Christian aunt about my religion (same as yours by the way LOL) I adore you all the more Casey. Most of the stuff I was attacked with was false information that made me go, “Awhat?” before even being able to properly react.
You rock sistah-friend! And I totally agree . . . make fun of us for the jello, strange baby names and large families or something. Or make fun of us saying “Flip!” That one’s hilarious!
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Nicely said, and needed to be said. I didn’t read the post once I saw it contained spoilers, because I am not done with the book, yet. From your post though, it seems she was trying to be psuedo-intellectual and look for themes that were not there in the books. I read the first two books, and notice religious imagery. I didn’t see it.
Good that you called her on it.
T.
T@SendChocolates last blog post..I Knew Google Was Messing With My Head!
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I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’m related to the “queen” of anti-mormonism or what, but dang, I get SO sick of people bashing a religion they “think” they know so much about… because they learned all their information from people like my “queen” of a relative!
Casey, you rock! I’m so glad to have you as a defender of the faith!
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You. Go. Girl. Thanks for being aware. For taking a stand and for speaking out. We need more Mormons like you.
And on a personal note, Stephenie is my cousin – first cousin. Like our dads are brothers. We grew up together. I’ve chatted with her on a number of occasions since the release of Twilight. And I can GUARANTEE that her books were no way intended to be racist. In the least. She just wrote some really good books. Period.
So thank you again. You rock.
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Good job, Casey! I agree with you – the blogger didn’t have a leg to stand on when it came to the racism thing. I did sometimes feel like Meyer was relying on stereotypes when it came to the Quileutes (and why did the “Reservation” kids have a separate school?) but I never actually felt like Meyer is racist, and I certainly wouldn’t assert that the Twilight series is racist.
I did, however, feel that Meyer just went WAY TOO FAR in creating one of the most pathetic female characters ever (how disappointing that Bella was not empowered as a woman until the final chapters of the final book, and actually never fully grasped her own worth), but even that I’d say could have much less to do with Meyer’s religion’s supposed sexism and more to do with the novels that she admitted were her inspiration: like Wuthering Heights (which I haven’t read, but I hear it was written well before any bras were ever burned 😉
Yours is a very fair response to a very unfair claim.
Debbies last blog post..We’ll always have New York, we just didn’t have it this summer…
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Casey, thank you for posting this. Admittedly, un-thank you for keeping me up WAAY to late reading (and mostly despising) every single comment over on A V-Rs post. I can’t understand how her “be more accepting!” tirade with deep anti-Mormon sentiment is not striking more of her commenters as hypocritical at best and down-right bigoted ignorance, if we’re calling a spade a spade.
Gaaah, sometimes People suck. They agree with anything they hear that has “facts” in order to appear “smart”. Phwonk, Twenk, Phwink…that’s me throwing things at my wall.
xox
heidikinss last blog post..And it finally ends
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Good for you, honey! Way to stand up for your peeps! We have way to many problems in the world to care if what’s on our neighbor’s bedside table is the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Koran, the Torah, Twilight, or whatever sort of “bedtime reading” you choose. For the record, my church condemned Harry Potter (as well as all things Disney). Crazy Southern Baptists. That’s when I went the non-denom route.
Camels & Chocolates last blog post..Olympic Fever
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i’m so glad you wrote these things.
it is a heinous, spiteful, revolting post. horrendously biased, limiting and slathered with an obvious agenda!
rock on, girl
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You, my dear, are fantastic. And, I have post surgery insomnia, so I’m off to read that post and all the comments.
Or, I could read the copy of Twilight sitting next to me in bed, but that would require the light be turned on.
Rhis last blog post..this post may or may not be full of lies
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To answer the question you posed, no, an author’s religion does not matter when discussing a book in general. However, if their religion is an influence on the narrative, then I believe a discussion is warranted or reasonable.
Since I have not read the books in question, I cannot say anything about them specifically. However, just to illustrate my point, consider the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis: there are clear elements of the story that are pulled from his religion (Church of England, a sect of Christianity). Therefore in that case, discussing the author’s religion when discussing his books would be appropriate.
However, as I said previously, I have not read the books and therefore cannot comment.
I would also like to respectfully disagree with your argument to the author. Just because she brings up racism on the part of one faith does not necessitate the discussion for others. To apply that logic, it would mean that every discussion about the holocaust would have to include apartheid. Sometimes, a subject can stand on its own. (Again, my knowledge of Mormon/LDS history as it relates to racism is limited, so I cannot speak specifically on the subject.)
Hope I didn’t offend.
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You rock. Very well written comments – you said what you needed to without name-calling and stuck to facts. Me thinks your lawyer-to-be hubby is rubbing off on you!
pgoodnesss last blog post..Getting Things Done Redux
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As a Mormon ,or Mo as my friends like to call me, I am not deeply offended by that bloggers post, just saddened. There is a passage in the Book of Mormon that states by their fruits ye shall know them. Were the Mormons racists we would not be pumping millions of dollars into foreign countries to help people get an education if they want one. Yes Stephanie’s religion probably plays a big part in her writing. As a mormon our religion tends to seep into everything we do… it is who we are. I would hope that anybody who believes in something that much would let that belief do the same.Ohh and Casey ROCKs the Casbah!
Jamison Hemmerts last blog post..The Month of July
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As always, you present your side calmly (although I can imagine you may be seething inside at times) and I learn something new from you every time. I am amazed, yet again, what people will blame on religion. I do think our religious beliefs are behind every thought and every action we take, just because they are a part of our overall beings. But to try to blame something like racism on a person’s religion, and to do is so spectacularly badly, just makes the writer look stupid (yes I did just say stupid and I meant it, dammit!) Good Job!
Mary Beths last blog post..OLYMPIC ATHLETES
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Casey, I haven’t read the post in question (yet) but I just wanted to tell you that I think you’ve handled the situation with a lot of grace. I can tell how loyal you are to your faith, and that is something to be very proud of. It will inspire others to find their own way to faith, too.
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That author’s just jealous that her book doesn’t sell as well. People always attack the successes out there.
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I think those boys that hoof it all over the place should sell cookies. Or bring complimentary cookies. I’m more pliable when I’m eating cookies.
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I was about to state that C S Lewis was actually Roman Catholic, when I thought it would be prudent to check first, and according to Wiki, he was CofE… weired. I grew up in a Catholic family, and his writings often waft around in catholic families/churchs… someone got their wires crossed somewhere?
I HONESTLY don’t understand why people get so het up about people’s religion choices – or the choice to NOT participate in an organised religion (that would be me).
Take sport for example. Everyone excepts that physical exercise is benificial, some people excell and dedicate their life to it and go professional, some coach, some belong to a club, some wish they got off the couch more and some just jog up and down the stairs and do yoga in their front room to a dvd (that would be me!).
Some people like soccer, some adore swimming, some try out horse riding then switch to baseball, some like to do several etc etc.
People don’t get het up about it… (well, there is hooliganisim of course!)
Why can’t spirituality been seen as that? Something essential to living, that you should practice and exercise and there are lots of options on how to do that.
Ho hum, I’ve majorily gone off at a tangent, sorry about that… but I’ve had these thoughts in my head for ages… Should make ’em into a blog post really I guess!
mamacrows last blog post..The boys are back in town!
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On a chat site in Cincinnati, a recent discussion concerning your church came up. It was all I could do not to throw my computer out the window for all the misinformation and outright lies about LDS (the discussion began with a post about “Under the Banner of Heaven” so you can imagine. Bleh)
Ignorance is everywhere and apparently it *IS* blissful – the asshats I’m dealing with seem pretty happy in their condemnation and judgment. Oy.
Luckily, there are plenty of people who walk around the world, faithful to their beliefs and not even a smidge threatened by someone else’s. I’ve forwarded your post here to some of them so they can benefit from it too.
Great post.
Amy in Ohios last blog post..The New Men in My Life
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From someone who doesn’t have a religion, I say “YAY!” It drives me KUH-RAZY when people rant against religions that they have no *real* knowledge of. Can’t we all just get along for crying out loud?!
You Rock, Miss Casey!
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You know what I love about you (and your writing): your ability to be so well-spoken and well-versed on things that are important to you. So many people have inorganically formed beliefs and they don’t really know why they think they way they do (and they definitely couldn’t tell you if you asked). You are a beautiful example of someone living for herself and her family and her faith, without apology and without judging others for living differently. Thanks.
She Likes Purples last blog post..Early Lessons In Parenting A Teenager
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When people are looking for bad they’ll find it. (Even if it isn’t there..)
The lady is very ignorant. Mormons aren’t racist.
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Not only do you make all of us proud, you would make Elder Ballard proud, too! He spoke in my ward about making our Mormon voice heard, correcting the misconceptions that are flourishing on the internetz. Atta girl!
Barb @ getupandplays last blog post..Staycation
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You ARE a good egg, Casey (to echo that first commenter). Thanks for standing up for us. I haven’t read the last book yet, so I couldn’t allow myself to read the entire article, but I will soon. Thanks for being a dandy.
Camilles last blog post..And I Wonder Why I Can’t Run a Marathon…
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“If you look into a religion only choosing to see what you want to see, of course the outcome is going to be what you originally wanted it to be in the first place.”
That goes along with my favorite quote “If you always do waht you always did, you always get what you always got.”
Open up world! There are beautiful people everywhere, no materr their religion, color or even the frizziness of their hair!
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You go on with your bad self! It seems like every time I talk about you lately, it’s to say how proud I am of you!
Momo Falis last blog post..Olympics Cliffs Notes
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you stand up for what you believe in. and you do it with nothing but grace. i applaud you, Casey. 😉
alis last blog post..the power of the dream and Ali storms the floor…
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Oh my. It’s not even worth trying to point out corrections on the original blog post. For instance, her claim that Meyer is racist because that one vampire dude has olive skin and he’s bad and well, he’s dark when all vampires are supposed to be pale. I’ve got olive skin and I’m pale. I’m not a vampire but I’m just sayin’ what a craptastic argument.
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i just finished the second book. and i had no idea the author was mormon. and i didn’t think any of anything in the book was racist. as you said, it’s teenage FICTION.
i don’t think of you, or anyone else, as being THIS religion or THAT religion. who DOES that?
these people come across as angry, uneducated people trying to stir the pot. and they’ll find anger and racism in anything.
good job.
Yolandas last blog post..time
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I haven’t read the books so can’t weigh in there, but will say I applaud anyone who stands up for their (or another) religion or faith and does so in the same manner as you.
Melanie @ Mel, A Dras last blog post..Sunday News That Didn’t Make the News
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You stand up for your beliefs in such a classy way. Way to go, Casey.
OHmommys last blog post.."Twas the night before our European vacation.
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I applaud you.
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Well said Casey. It’s nice to see someone stand up for something that they believe in, in such a classy way.
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You are so well written and clear headed Casey. I think you handled that really well. I’ve had many friends who are Mormons and some really are crazy :-), but not all. I catch a lot of flack for being a Southern Baptist. I’m not crazy or a bible beater or any of those stereotypes, but it does get frustrating to be wrongly pigeon holed. I’m glad you’re out here writing and teaching, not only with your facts, but your every day words and actions. You are living by being the example and that’s what it’s really about.
Smooches
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Awesome.
Class and balls, lady. Class and balls.
maggie, dammits last blog post..the winds of change
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Everybody’s religion gets picked on. I don’t care what people think of my religion, it’s mine, not yours. It’s for me, not for you. Of course, if it’s necessary to defend, I do, I correct the misunderstanding. No doubt they got the information from a friend who got it from a friend and it’s all wrong. They speak in ignorance so I don’t expect much.
Naturals last blog post..Are You Feeling Guilty Over Something?
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A follow up comment on Ms. Valdes-Rodriguez’s blog. Not sure if she’ll accept it or not.
I’m sorry, but were the characters in Tolkein’s novels described as they were because Mr. Tolkein “supposedly” grew up in a racist culture? I must have missed that.
How about the fact that Ms. Meyer doesn’t include lewd descriptions of sex, vulgar language, four letter words, or the fact that they wait until marriage to sleep together? That you can “blame” on her (our) religion.
Bella chose the vampire because it’s a vampire love story. Bella chose the vampire because she fell in love with the vampire. It has nothing to do with the vampire being prettier.
Have you noticed that the werewolves all have different color of fur? From light sandy brown to light gray? The boss wolf is black, what does that mean?
I’m sorry if I sound so snippy, but you’re wasting an awful lot of time on a fruitless endeavor with the attitude you have about it.
moosh in indy.s last blog post..Hot: Day 12-Temper.
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You know, Casey, anyone can read anything into anything if it’s deep enough in their heart. I think the only person who could find racism in a children’s mythology book is probably a racist, and isn’t it easier to pick on the under-dog, “weirdo” religion, and blame THAT, then admit that maybe you aren’t quite at peace with the whole race issue?
I really wouldn’t waste any more breath on that woman or her ridiculous projections.
Mr Ladys last blog post..My Car Has Crabs
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I will never understand the need to pick on the Mormon religion. Okay, the sects in Texas with 17 underage wives, that I get, but honestly, my best friend in high school was a Mormon, I attended church events with her all the time and honestly, I’ve never met a group of people that genuinely nice. I never encountered and unkind mormon despite the fact that I was a devout Catholic and made no bones about it.
My Mormon friend even flew from Utah to California to come to my Sunday evening half-Jewish wedding.
I really love when evangelical, non-denominational Christians rag on Mormons. Because, yea, that’s TOTALLY what Jesus would do.
Overflowing Brains last blog post..More important news
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I think it was clear by the way Meyer wrote Jacob’s character that she was quite fond of him, as was Bella and endless readers of the series, regardless of the color of his skin. I think it’s unreal the arguments people will dig up, with no sound basis whatsoever. Good for you for speaking up and speaking out.
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Preach it, pretty lady!
metalias last blog post..This is PRECISELY Why I Didn’t Read Harry Potter
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Ha! Racist! That’s one I would’ve never expected!
Can I just mention that the scripture (that she apparently RESEARCHED) is wrong. It’s in the Book of Mormon 2 NEPHI 5:21 AND it doesn’t say BLACK but blackness. AND Jacob was a NEPHITE. There was no main Jacob as a Lamanite nor was there a Jacob as a Lamanite PERIOD. AND the quote from Brigham Young was a false one made by anti-mormons. Wrong, wrong, wrong just like the rest of her writing on this topic. Boy, I think she made more mistakes than Stephenie Meyer’s books had in editing problems.
Ugh! I just love it when people have nothing better to do with there time than to put down, falsify, or speak negatively about things they don’t understand or don’t like. Especially when it comes to big things like this. Isn’t this Alisa (?) the one who is a racist? Racist against Mormons.
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I have not read all the replies to your post and maybe someone has mentioned this already…I just finished taking a children’s lit course and one of the critics we read several times believed that Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express is really about a Nazi Youth Rally. For real.
As one commenter noted- you can find any message you want.
The Polar Express= Nazi Youth Rally? I don’t think so.
Stephanie Meyer= Racist? Um…no.
You keep up the good fight Casey!
Mims last blog post..An Adventure
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It’s really a good thing that we have you to stick up for us! Because some of us (me) have a hard time keeping our mouths closed before we loose it. It’s also a good thing that the other author (really bored or crazy) lady is not allowing any more comments (or at least not mine). What I typed wasn’t very nice. Thanks for putting our thoughts so eloquantly, so the crazies like me don’t have to be heard!
Erikas last blog post..Thanks Gretchen
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