Who’s the Ex-Mormon of the Year? January 25, 2010

Who’s the Ex-Mormon of the Year?

By Guest Contributor
January 25, 2010

PZ‘s not winning this poll, but it’s ok, because all the nominees are worthy!

… the Mormon Alumni Association is here to remedy the situation with a brand-new yearly award for the X-Mormon who has made the biggest impact!!!

The list of former Mormons (Formons?) includes Mr. Deity, Dustin Lance Black (screenwriter of Milk), and Heather Armstrong (Dooce).

Go vote and support the people who have broken the chains of their faith.

(via Main Street Plaza — Thanks to Carol for the link!)

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  • X-Mormons? Sounds like a terrible group of devout mutant superheroes with terrible invented names.

  • Edmond

    Yeah, I don’t know if I like “X-Mormons” better for its superhero connotations, or “Formons” better for its portmanteau strengths. Both are good. BUT, I vote for Dustin Lance Black. I don’t believe in re-incarnation of people or “souls”, but Black certainly “re-incarnated” the dreams and ideals of Harvey Milk, and if he’s an ex-Mormon then he’s an even more powerful advocate (at least among gays and atheists) for demonstrating how truth can prevail over dogma.

  • laci green gogog

  • Twin-Skies

  • Thanks to Hemant and all of the people who have cast their vote!

    We were expecting Dustin Lance Black to be the favorite (for the reasons cited by Edmond), but at the moment Mr. Deity is way in the lead.

    The idea behind “X-Mormon” is that lots of people identify with different terms (like ex-Mormon, post-Mormon, former Mormon, cultural Mormon, etc.), so the “X” is a variable that can stand for any of those things and more!

  • Reginald Selkirk

    Just remember that we’re all future Mormons, because they will probably baptise us after we die.

  • @Reginald Selkirk: lol, so true. Obama’s mother was (jokingly) nominated for this award because she’s already had a posthumous baptism.

  • Is there a validation process to ensure the nominees are genuinely exMormons? After all, I’ve encountered many sectarian Christians who claim to have been members of the Church at one time, but who never were.

    Is it a requirement that they will have had their name removed from the Church’s records before they may be nominated? What if they’re simply hostile apostates who still have a membership record for the time being?

    Is there a special category for those who falsely claimed to have been bishops? We had one of those last year also at S.P.A.M.

    Are former Mormons who convert to other religions eligible, or are they exempted from consideration because they’re not atheists?

    Is the selection based on the amount of hostility/belligerence manifested, the amount of guile or deviousness exhibited, creativity at fabricating falsehoods, or in sheer productivity?

    Really, the selection criteria needs to be more clearly defined before we can choose. Perhaps we’ll submit our nominee next year.

    Greg West
    Society for the Prevention of Anti-Mormonism

  • Gwenny

    Hello, I’m Gwenny . . and I’m a recovering Mormon . .and Catholic . .and Presbyterian . .and Born Again . . . NO ONE can say I didn’t TRY!

  • muggle

    Oh, pooh, I voted for Steve Benson and he only got 9 votes so far.

    However, Mr. Deity is killing and I was torn between the two so I can’t feel too badly. I finally went with Benson because of his ancestry: http://www.lds-mormon.com/benson1.shtml (To answer spamlds’ question.)

    “Few journalists have seen the inside of church power in the way that Benson has, via family ties. His grandfather, 94-year-old Ezra Taft Benson, is the president and prophet of the Mormon Church, a worldwide religious organization based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and officially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. At one time, the elder Benson was a national political figure and served two terms as secretary of agriculture under President Eisenhower.”

    Also, I’ve known of him longer and have been a fan of his cartoons too long to not give it to him. Mr. Deity’s funny and all that but Benson’s cartoons are even funnier and I have been enjoying them longer.

  • As it turns out, critically-acclaimed author Walter Kirn has been voted X-Mormon of the Year 2009.

    Thank you, Friendly Atheist, for helping to promote this year’s contest. Everyone here is certainly welcome to drop by and wish Mr. Kirn congratulations on winning this prestigious and coveted award.

    http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=1542