Mormon-evangelical differences, according to the Boston Globe

I just saw this article in the Boston Globe, which I thought was unusually well-done for that newspaper. The basic point is that, while Mormons are generally conservative, they have key differences with evangelicals and conservative Catholics. Mormons are less likely to oppose abortion in all instances, they are more likely to support stem cell research, they are more likely to support the teaching of evolution in schools and they don’t get as riled up about the prayer in public schools issue. In general, given the Globe is a liberal newspaper, the article is complimentary (“those Mormons are not as crazy as those Neanderthal evangelicals” is the general tone).

The article even points out that Mormons are much less likely to get politically-tinged sermons at church.

In general, an article well worth reading.

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How to respond to natural disasters

Later on in this post I will quote extensively from an e-mail I receive supposedly from a Denver emergency manager. As you may know, Colorado and the central/northern plains had two blizzards in a row in December, and snow was so high it covered roads, stranded people and in general caused havoc.

The e-mail makes a very important point: since when is it the government’s job to rescue people who don’t prepare for natural disasters?

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Confessions of a book-club widower

My wife frequently reminds me that her job as a mother is much harder than my 9-to-5 job at the office.

My job has a beginning and an end, while her job requires her to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In a previous job, I managed a materials stockroom that required me to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After working several 16-hour shifts and being called in to work at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning, I started looking for a new job. My wife does not have that luxury.

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