Infinite Monkeys

I would have read your linked story, if Townhall.com weren't still amazingly broken. Gah!

Found the post. You're right, James, HH needs to lighten up.

Given the fact that I made my own temple garment crack a few comments ago, I think you can predict my response: I like little jokes like that. You can tell the difference between good-natured teasing and bigotry, and Noonan's comment was very much the former. Unless you already think that a temple garment is some sort of sign of moral or mental deficiency, you're not going to consider the line an insult. Perhaps Hugh doesn't want to be reminded?

Which brings me to my next point: religious beliefs and practices like wearing a temple garment are fair game. If a Democrat (for example) Scientologist were running for office, you can bet that HH and the rest of the Republican establishment would talk about what Scientologists believe and practice. Mormonism is the same kind of sci-fi mystery religion as Scientology, and what they believe and practice is as fair-game as what George W. Bush believes and practices.

If your religion means anything to you, it will inform and shape your actions. It should. Trying to pretend otherwise is naive.

Indeed. I thought Peggy's throw-away line about underwear and temple garments was chuckle-worthy and a cute turn of a phrase. Nothing more. Characterizing it as bigotry is over-the-top and, I think, damages Hugh's credibility.

Talking about religious beliefs and calling them "Sci-Fi Mystery Religion" are two different things. Your comments prove Hewitt's point - that Mormons have long been fair game where Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and most others are accorded a little respect. Is it legal to ridicule someone's faith? Sure. It's easy, too. But is it civil? No.

Actually, Catholics and Protestants are and have been fair game. Cf. the routine references to how we live in a "theocracy" because Bush is not shy about his faith. Jews and Muslims have historically been given a bit more lee-way, although of course the Muslim beliefs have received quite a bit of recent scrutiny for obvious reasons. Again, cf. the kerfuffle about the legislator who wanted to place his hand on the Koran rather than the bible when he was sworn in.

Religion is fair game, period. It deals with fundamental beliefs about metaphysics, ethics, and epistemology. It shapes both surface-level practices and the prism through which one views reality. You can bet that an Athiest takes into account a person's religious beliefs when they are deciding who to vote for, and they should.

Now, Noonan did not refer to them as a sci-fi mystery religion, I did. And without hesitation. Mormonism and Scientology are absolutely in the same ballpark in this regard, with the important distinction that Mormons aren't nearly as aggressive as Scientologists about suing anyone who dares to reveal the contents of their doctrine or practice.

I stopped listening to Hugh several months ago. His show had become a conversation with himself. If any one needs to watch what they say, it is Hugh not Peggy.

By the way, if you don't like the "sci-fi" part of my description, you may want to take a gander at this.

I stopped listening to Hugh several months ago. His show had become a conversation with himself.

Yeah, it's a shame he doesn't have very many good regular guests.