Is Book of Mormon mocking Mormons and if so, why is that ok?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Mormon. My favorite thing about the musical was that there was an advertisement for the Mormon church in the playbill.


It’s a totally offensive play but it’s okay because Mormons are not oppressors. Being offensive isn’t okay when you’re punching down, so to speak. So I think it’s okay to make fun of Catholics, Mormons, etc, but its not okay to make fun of, say, Jews (unless you’re Jewish) because Jewish people have suffered severe oppression and still experience prejudice (unless you’re talking about the state of Israel).

Plus Mormonism is a religion, not an ethnic group or ethno-religion. When you’re making fun of it you’re making fun of something people choose, not an immutable characteristic.

I thought it was both funny and uncomfortably offensive. But far worse were the stereotypes of Africans (sorry I forget the country they’re from).

Sorry, I meant mocking is okay when you’re pinching up. Like, Mormons aren’t so oppressed that if a big production comes out mocking them, it would galvanize people to violence, like it would if the subject were Muslims or Jews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think one if not both of them creators of South Park are former Mormons.

They are equal opportunity offenders, if you’ve never watched South Park.

Book of Mormon is absolutely skewering Mormons, but it’s hilarious.

The LDS church actually takes out an ad in the playbill talking about the church, so I’m sure they actually get members who are more curious about the church via that marketing method.

They also have no problem proselytizing and growing their membership all over the world. Also by “baptizing their dead” (that’s why they’re all biginto ancestry.com, so they can find more dead ancestors to baptize). Also, by having 1 million children.

Read atheist.org for some interesting thoughts on all religions.

They’re not. They just grew up around Mormons.

[Anonymous]

One last thought from this Mormon: the mocking is okay not just because it wouldn’t lead to violence or further oppression (though I think that’s the big reason). Another reason is that at the end, the message is “hey, whatever works for you!” I think the creators could have ended with the message that Mormons are insane people doing bad things. But instead it makes us look misguided but well-intentioned, and our beliefs kooky but valid. At the end we come across as a net good.

(And I actually think that’s a debatable point, so in a way the creators were being generous)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s “okay” because Mormons are predominately white and conservative and therefore deemed acceptable targets by the pc police. As much as people want to try to claim that the South Park creators are “equal opportunist” I think you realize that if they had created a 2 hour musical purely aimed at mocking the religious beliefs of Jews or Muslims it would have been received very differently by mainstream public opinion.

Do you see Mormon churches being shot up ?

Do you see yellow stars as an non issue?

You are a racist anti Semitic sub human

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One last thought from this Mormon: the mocking is okay not just because it wouldn’t lead to violence or further oppression (though I think that’s the big reason). Another reason is that at the end, the message is “hey, whatever works for you!” I think the creators could have ended with the message that Mormons are insane people doing bad things. But instead it makes us look misguided but well-intentioned, and our beliefs kooky but valid. At the end we come across as a net good.

(And I actually think that’s a debatable point, so in a way the creators were being generous)

Umm okay- that’s great that you think people aren’t prejudiced against Mormons…I guess ignorance is bliss? Honestly I think the reason the mocking is deemed socially acceptable is because most people view Mormonism as more of a cult than a legitimate religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One last thought from this Mormon: the mocking is okay not just because it wouldn’t lead to violence or further oppression (though I think that’s the big reason). Another reason is that at the end, the message is “hey, whatever works for you!” I think the creators could have ended with the message that Mormons are insane people doing bad things. But instead it makes us look misguided but well-intentioned, and our beliefs kooky but valid. At the end we come across as a net good.

(And I actually think that’s a debatable point, so in a way the creators were being generous)

Umm okay- that’s great that you think people aren’t prejudiced against Mormons…I guess ignorance is bliss? Honestly I think the reason the mocking is deemed socially acceptable is because most people view Mormonism as more of a cult than a legitimate religion.

I am Mormon so I’m aware of the prejudice! I don’t like it but I have never feared for my safety. Prejudice is not the same thing as violent oppression. And I can’t be sure of this but I highly doubt that musical made anybody more prejudiced against Mormons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sister Act?

Fiddler on the Roof

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s “okay” because Mormons are predominately white and conservative and therefore deemed acceptable targets by the pc police. As much as people want to try to claim that the South Park creators are “equal opportunist” I think you realize that if they had created a 2 hour musical purely aimed at mocking the religious beliefs of Jews or Muslims it would have been received very differently by mainstream public opinion.

Do you see Mormon churches being shot up ?

Do you see yellow stars as an non issue?

You are a racist anti Semitic sub human

So it’s now anti Semetic to believe that all faiths- not just those that have been most subject to persecution should be treated with a basic level of respect? No one is saying that it’s okay to make a musical denigrating Jews, but your argument is that because Mormon churches haven’t been recent targets of violence they are fair game to mock?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s “okay” because Mormons are predominately white and conservative and therefore deemed acceptable targets by the pc police. As much as people want to try to claim that the South Park creators are “equal opportunist” I think you realize that if they had created a 2 hour musical purely aimed at mocking the religious beliefs of Jews or Muslims it would have been received very differently by mainstream public opinion.

Do you see Mormon churches being shot up ?

Do you see yellow stars as an non issue?

You are a racist anti Semitic sub human

So it’s now anti Semetic to believe that all faiths- not just those that have been most subject to persecution should be treated with a basic level of respect? No one is saying that it’s okay to make a musical denigrating Jews, but your argument is that because Mormon churches haven’t been recent targets of violence they are fair game to mock?

I think it’s legitimate to say “hey you really shouldn’t mock somebody else’s religion, it’s disrespectful.” I did think some parts of the musical went too far, and of course some Mormons thought it was totally sacrilegious and mocking sacred things (not that those are the ones who actually went to see the musical).

But it’s “okay” in the moral sense to be disrespectful and rude. That’s what a lot of entertainment is. It doesn’t have to be okay to you, but we generally don’t say it’s unethical to mock people for entertainment if those people are powerful enough to withstand it. Some examples include men, politicians, New Englanders, people who have bullied others, crusaders (I’m thinking month python here), and other groups. It’s a totally different story when that mocking could legitimately lead to violence, deportation, workplace bias, loss of rights, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep hearing how funny Book of Mormons is. I’m not a Mormon and am not particularly a fan of Mormonism, but I do wonder why it’s ok to have a musical that mocks a religion. Swap out Mormonism for Judaism or Catholicism and tell me if it works. Or am I misunderstanding what the show is about? I’m curious to hear from people who have seen it.

Have you ever heard of Monty Python.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s “okay” because Mormons are predominately white and conservative and therefore deemed acceptable targets by the pc police. As much as people want to try to claim that the South Park creators are “equal opportunist” I think you realize that if they had created a 2 hour musical purely aimed at mocking the religious beliefs of Jews or Muslims it would have been received very differently by mainstream public opinion.

Do you see Mormon churches being shot up ?

Do you see yellow stars as an non issue?

You are a racist anti Semitic sub human

So it’s now anti Semetic to believe that all faiths- not just those that have been most subject to persecution should be treated with a basic level of respect? No one is saying that it’s okay to make a musical denigrating Jews, but your argument is that because Mormon churches haven’t been recent targets of violence they are fair game to mock?

I think it’s legitimate to say “hey you really shouldn’t mock somebody else’s religion, it’s disrespectful.” I did think some parts of the musical went too far, and of course some Mormons thought it was totally sacrilegious and mocking sacred things (not that those are the ones who actually went to see the musical).

But it’s “okay” in the moral sense to be disrespectful and rude. That’s what a lot of entertainment is. It doesn’t have to be okay to you, but we generally don’t say it’s unethical to mock people for entertainment if those people are powerful enough to withstand it. Some examples include men, politicians, New Englanders, people who have bullied others, crusaders (I’m thinking month python here), and other groups. It’s a totally different story when that mocking could legitimately lead to violence, deportation, workplace bias, loss of rights, etc.

I take your point, but whoever said the PP was a racist subhuman makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

^ whoops I missed that. Yeah that’s…definitely a terrible thing to say. Subhuman is what Hitler called the Jews…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Mormon. My favorite thing about the musical was that there was an advertisement for the Mormon church in the playbill.


It’s a totally offensive play but it’s okay because Mormons are not oppressors. Being offensive isn’t okay when you’re punching down, so to speak. So I think it’s okay to make fun of Catholics, Mormons, etc, but its not okay to make fun of, say, Jews (unless you’re Jewish) because Jewish people have suffered severe oppression and still experience prejudice (unless you’re talking about the state of Israel).

Plus Mormonism is a religion, not an ethnic group or ethno-religion. When you’re making fun of it you’re making fun of something people choose, not an immutable characteristic.

I thought it was both funny and uncomfortably offensive. But far worse were the stereotypes of Africans (sorry I forget the country they’re from).

I love this too! The ad said "You've seen the play...now read the book!" And you could get a free Book of Mormon through the ad. I love the Mormon Church's sense of humor in this: this was exactly the right angle to take by them, I think.

[Anonymous]

Is it okay to mock anyone ever? If not, basically all of our comedy goes away and that's no way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep hearing how funny Book of Mormons is. I’m not a Mormon and am not particularly a fan of Mormonism, but I do wonder why it’s ok to have a musical that mocks a religion. Swap out Mormonism for Judaism or Catholicism and tell me if it works. Or am I misunderstanding what the show is about? I’m curious to hear from people who have seen it.

Have you ever heard of Monty Python.

He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!