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

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It's okay because it's a made up "religion", like Scientology.

Hahahahaha name one religion that isn’t “made up.”

Read "Under the Banner of Heaven" and "Going Clear." L. Ron Hubbard just took a page out of the Jospeh Smith playbook. They are both transparently made up religions.

this probably sounds offensive, but whatever. Granted I only know three Mormons (and their families) but all three of them are super smart and accomplished. one of them is my neighbor. his PhD is in nuclear physics or something like that from UC Berkeley. And his wife has a master's degree in French literature. Genuinely nice people, very well put together, super sweet and well behaved kids. It just...like... damn, for folks who believe that Joseph Smith made the correct translation for the Book of Mormon off of hieroglyphics on a golden plate in upstate New York... ya'll sure are educated and have your sh*t together.

I really don't get it.

Former Mormon here. I see where you're coming from, but think of how many people believe in the literal virgin birth or any number of christian beliefs. In the US we are very entrenched in Judeo Christian monotheism so it's hard to see just how weird it is, but if you take a step back, it's weird.

The difference between christianity or judiasm and LDS is that there are historical documents that confirm that certain people existed at times that the bible says they did. The Romans took a census/censuses/censii.

However, absolutely nothing other than Joseph Smith being a real person can be confirmed of any of their beliefs. That's a big difference. And that doesn't scratch the surface of looking into Joseph Smith, the person.

What? So by difference, you mean they are exactly the same? There is historical evidence that the people involved in each religion existed. And no historical evidence of any of anything else, in particular the mystical elements of each religion.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Op, I think there is space to poke fun at any religion, but there are lines that should not be crossed. It IS possible to go too far.

I don't have a problem with poking fun at Catholicism or Judaism, or Mormomism...but I did not ferl comfortable eith BOM. I just can't get with the mantra of "F--- god" and some of the other references. I don't even believe in god! But, I can't get with a joyful singing of sime of the stuff in that show.

My favorite part was the chorus of mormon guys. But, to me, the storyline and tagline go too far.

Im always amazed at how many people don’t get satire and humor. If you are that literal just watch Two and a Half Men. The F- God stuff was mocking the romanticized idea of the poor but happy Africans and the Hakuna Matata - stories that Westerners seem to like so much. Meanwhile there is horrible poverty, poor health infrastructure, high infant mortality etc….. so the F - God song is turning that on its head and reminding us that there are a lot of problems and has people responding in the way any rational persons would. Please don’t make me walk you through the whole show.

You don't need to walk me through the whole show! I'm quite capable of having my own legitimate reaction to the show, having seen it at the K Center. Some people are cool with profanity or different things in their "entertainment." For me, I just can't find that "entertaining." I also don't like horror movies or very violent action movies. It's not what I want in my life during my time on Earth. It just felt too offensive to religion in general to be cheering with that phrase. And I don't find infant sex/rape/beastiality in good taste.

I really like the poking fun at Mormonism and the singing/tapdancing chorus. But, I would not go to it again, and I feel like I wasted my money on it. Too crass for me.

I’m glad that you are more offended by off color language than the way in which the western world dismisses the developing world. This is a show that requires you to think and that is what you don’t want to do. It’s not just kicking religion it is showing how religion and missionaries are harmful to individuals in that religion and to the people they “save”. As I said - go watch Two and a Half Men.

[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.

I really enjoyed it but I was left with an uncomfortable feeling about it. Not only does it make fun (gentle fun, but fun) of Mormons, you should see how it treats rural Ugandans. Would love to hear from Mormons and Ugandans about how they feel about the show.

[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.

They also make fun of Ugandans, which is something people seem to miss.

[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.

I really enjoyed it but I was left with an uncomfortable feeling about it. Not only does it make fun (gentle fun, but fun) of Mormons, you should see how it treats rural Ugandans. Would love to hear from Mormons and Ugandans about how they feel about the show.

This article addresses how Africans are treated in the musical: https://aidleap.org/2014/01/20/is-the-book-of-mormon-the-musical-racist/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every ethnic or religious themed comedy is taking pot shots at target audience, and they are usually written by members of the target group. The point of comedy is often to make us lighten up about ourselves. It turns a corner when it is written by someone else and fails to also support the community and is only a trash job.

Except Islam.

Do NOT mock Islam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I really enjoyed it but I was left with an uncomfortable feeling about it. Not only does it make fun (gentle fun, but fun) of Mormons, you should see how it treats rural Ugandans. Would love to hear from Mormons and Ugandans about how they feel about the show.

This article addresses how Africans are treated in the musical: https://aidleap.org/2014/01/20/is-the-book-of-mormon-the-musical-racist/

It is not the responsibility of the artist to make art that simple people can understand. Their job is to make the art. Also see Dave Chapelle The Closer.

[Anonymous]

The “Book of Mormon” is a hate-play.

If you are intellectually honest, you have to agree.

[Anonymous]

Genuinely baffled by this thread. Comedians mock religions all the time - remember Dana Carvey as the church lady on SNL? Mike Myers coffee talk? Blatantly making fun of Jewish stereotypes.

The Mindy Project had Stephen Colbert, a recurring character that blatantly mocked Catholicism. And he is a well-known practicing catholic.

To answer your question, why is that OK? Because our culture broadly recognizes that it’s fine. Catch up.

[Anonymous]

Mormonism deserves to be mocked, as does any religion that subjugates women and has a long history of truly disgusting racial discrimination, among other things.

The Catholic church literally covers up the horrific abuse of children. You're worried about offending them? Screw them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mormonism deserves to be mocked, as does any religion that subjugates women and has a long history of truly disgusting racial discrimination, among other things.

The Catholic church literally covers up the horrific abuse of children. You're worried about offending them? Screw them.

1000 percent.

[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.

Please read the 1st amendment of our constitution about the freedom of speech. Go see the show before you judge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You raise a decent point.

Like many things, I highly doubt that play would have been made in today's environment.

Sister Act though, I think is a bit different. It makes light of Catholicism for sure, but the entire premise of the movie is not to mock it. For Book of Mormon, it is.

First of all it's a musical. Second of all go live in North Korea or Russia if you are against freedom of speech. Or maybe you are comfortable in Trump's America?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The “Book of Mormon” is a hate-play.

If you are intellectually honest, you have to agree.

Musical! Don't watch it if it offends you!

[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.

Spamalot