Mormonism, as practiced by the LDS Church in the 1960s and 1970s, taught me valuable lessons about racism and feminism, even as a Never-Mormon. I loved my Mormon extended family, but I didn’t love or respect them any more or less than my Catholic, Lutheran, or born-again Christian relatives. However, my proximity to their practices and my curiosity about the origins of their faith significantly influenced my opinions about right and wrong during my teenage years. Growing up in Southern California, where my peers and educators valued civil equality and universal human rights, also shaped my perspective.

I admire the scholarship of Dr. Harris and appreciate the 15 years he spent uncovering the evidence he is now presenting.

I can think of no better argument for nontheism, or even anti-theism, than religion itself. The pattern repeats itself throughout recorded history: religion often resists challenges to its assumptions, silences and even kills its heretics, only to eventually accept the truth of their ideas and actions in later generations.

While I strive to accept others with different beliefs and perspectives, there are certain practices I cannot condone. One of these is sending missionaries to spread ideas that are clearly human constructs and can lead to self-loathing and a sense of unworthiness. How dare we approach people of color and teach them a theology that is inherently racist? And how dare we take little girls and teach them they are inferior?

Religions undoubtedly provide moments of joy and transcendence and promote acts of loving kindness. Still, these experiences and behaviors are inherently human and do not depend on the supernatural or a belief in gods and goddesses.

As I listen to Dr. Harris, I can’t help but think about all those precious people who, having been branded and abused by Mormon doctrine, lived with unnecessary trauma inflicted by a relatively tiny group of white men.