tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219905081700134231.post1780563685383032442..comments2023-04-28T01:31:16.936-07:00Comments on Syntax and Syllables: Returned Missionary ...Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636698545363320814noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219905081700134231.post-27213264885243742122011-05-22T07:24:56.272-07:002011-05-22T07:24:56.272-07:00*the* smackdown. Damn autocorrect.*the* smackdown. Damn autocorrect.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540183943239138432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219905081700134231.post-46288943282322079582011-05-22T07:23:19.410-07:002011-05-22T07:23:19.410-07:00I told Di that I think that Mormons (especially Ut...I told Di that I think that Mormons (especially Utah ones) should have their own version of rumspringa so they get some exposure to new things.<br /><br />Maybe I'm a little bitter but I really don't like guy pre-missionaries. I found they were real jerks and full of themselves before they left and I always enjoyed Tue smackdown they got when they finally got to their missions. Maybe that's just because the guy I was dating did.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, here's the article my brother wrote:<br /><br />http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-04-07/news/29408460_1_mormon-scripture-broadway-musicals-cockney-flower-girlMirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540183943239138432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219905081700134231.post-64937859822439536212011-05-21T19:43:31.562-07:002011-05-21T19:43:31.562-07:00I like what Ru said, but also I think part of the ...I like what Ru said, but also I think part of the assumption (whether correct or not) is that Mormons are naive. And also that someone from small-town Idaho is probably more naive than a white, middle-class Protestant from Pittsburgh.<br /><br />I personally see a lot of value in the mission aside from whatever religious value people gain. I think that taking (most) people outside their comfort zones is a good thing. I think exposure to people who look and/or think differently than you do is helpful and almost all missionaries come back with a little more respect for other places.Dihttp://lifeofdi.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219905081700134231.post-40873452006204769302011-05-21T12:10:26.213-07:002011-05-21T12:10:26.213-07:00Very interesting write up. Thanks. I enjoyed readi...Very interesting write up. Thanks. I enjoyed reading it.jdusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00078679688319578963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219905081700134231.post-4996494602882911532011-05-21T10:43:45.334-07:002011-05-21T10:43:45.334-07:00(As a preface, I totally want to go see The Book o...(As a preface, I totally want to go see The Book of Mormon musical, so maybe I'm already a biased-pants.)<br /><br />I like Matt Stone and Trey Parker - I think they're super clever people. But on some level, I don't think they're comfortable reaching conclusions with their jokes. Everything is an endless satire. For example, if The Book of Mormon musical is supposed to be about how the missionaries don't accomplish anything, why is the final song a reprise of the missionaries' first song -- all the villagers lives have become better and they are now proselyting themselves? (I've listened to the soundtrack already - and while it sounds like one of the two missionaries had his faith severely shaken, both of them remain committed to helping others.) Is the joke that only these two missionaries had a relevant experience? If so, no one is going to get that joke. I think it's probably more like how Maureen Dowd interpreted in her review: <br /><br />"In the end, the message is not against Mormonism but literalism: that whatever our different myths, metaphors and rituals, the real purpose of religion is to give us a higher purpose and a sense of compassion in the universe."<br /><br />Or, on the flip side, David Brooks: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/51689131-82/mormon-book-rigorous-musical.html.csp<br /><br />(Too long to quote, but basically said that all the jokes aside, there's something 'off' about a message saying 'This doesn't make a difference' when it obviously did.)<br /><br />When your primary focus is telling jokes (and I'm not saying it's a bad focus) it can be hard to come to a final, serious conclusion - so while South Park even usually ends with a "serious" monologue, even that is usually a joke too.<br /><br />So I think we just can't take MS and TP's thoughts on religion too seriously - for all their pontificating, I'm not sure they even want us to.<br /><br />And as a random sidenote, this is one of my favorite quotes:<br /><br />"On a September 2006 airing of the ABC news program Nightline, Parker articulated his position on religion. He stated that he believes there is knowledge that humanity may not yet possess, and cautioned that it would take a long time to explain exactly what he meant by his belief in God. Parker further remarked, "Basically ... out of all the ridiculous religion stories which are greatly, wonderfully ridiculous — the silliest one I've ever heard is, 'Yeah ... there's this big giant universe and it's expanding, it's all gonna collapse on itself and we're all just here just 'cause ... just 'cause'. That, to me, is the most ridiculous explanation ever." <br /> <br /><br />(This may be the worst comment ever ... so random. Haha, sorry.)Ruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04217026218961932530noreply@blogger.com