The Book of Mormon musical

[kolipoki09]

As Mormon's we are constantly and strongly counciled to not partake of crude and unwholesome entertainment. The obscenity ridden productions like the Book of Mormon: The Musical definitely qualifies as unwholesome by the standards of the LDS Church, so active members would not attend such a production, IMO.

There is nothing judgmental about the statement, only a presentation of personal belief supported by the doctrine and policies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a criticism of the media for falsely presenting the opinion of the membership of the Church on the matter.

Actually, I know hundreds of South Park fans who are Mormons. In fact, we watched a South Park segment in my Media and Communications class...at BYU-Idaho. Speaking of crude, unwholesome entertainment, did anyone here ever see The Book of Mormon Movie?

[WalkerW]

Actually, I know hundreds of South Park fans who are Mormons. In fact, we watched a South Park segment in my Media and Communications class...at BYU-Idaho. Speaking of crude, unwholesome entertainment, did anyone here ever see The Book of Mormon Movie?

Dum dum dum dum dum!

[krose]

The Church made a very brief statement about the musical:

...

Compare this to the way muslims reacted when Parker and Stone made a cartoon about Muhammed in a bear costume.

How did they react? And to make the comparison accurate, are you referring to the "official" reaction of a person or group authorized by all of Islam to speak for the religion, or various Muslim believers acting on their own? Yeah, I guess it's more of an apples-to-rice comparison, isn't it? What's the point of the comparison, exactly?

Big Love... creators... assured the Church that the series wouldn

[musikman1]

I wonder if a comedy musical about death camps and the holocaust (but done well of course) how that would go with the Jewish community?

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Perhaps you missed "Springtime for Hitler?"

[Rivers]

I wonder if a comedy musical about death camps and the holocaust (but done well of course) how that would go with the Jewish community?

=============>

Perhaps you missed "Springtime for Hitler?"

In today's world, it seems to me that there is big difference between criticising a race and criticising a a religion.

Being racist is very taboo while poking fun at religious beliefs is becoming more acceptable. It is becoming acceptable to question specific religious beliefs. The media also loved Bill Maher's Religulous and that poked fun at pretty much every religion. But you don't see anything in the media criticising a race or ethnic group.

But one could make the argument that mormonism is being criticised as a culture in the play. But I'm not sure. I haven't seen the play.

[USU78]

I wonder if a comedy musical about death camps and the holocaust (but done well of course) how that would go with the Jewish community?

=============>

Perhaps you missed "Springtime for Hitler?"

Don't be stupid

Be a smarty

Come and join

The Nazi Party!

[LDS Guy 1986]

How did they react? And to make the comparison accurate, are you referring to the "official" reaction of a person or group authorized by all of Islam to speak for the religion, or various Muslim believers acting on their own? Yeah, I guess it's more of an apples-to-rice comparison, isn't it? What's the point of the comparison, exactly?

Well seeing that Islam isn't as structurally organized as the LDS Church, you can't make one official declaration like the LDS Church can. Each Imam would have to make a declaration to his followers about it so there wold be many official reactions to it, and there was many violent reactions to Muhammad appearing on South Park.

It is the same way in Judaism there is no singular leadership source, each congregation is somewhat independent of each other and rely on there rabbi's not a general authority style leadership like the LDS Church has.

So the real Apples V. Oranges here is your comaprison of the LDS leadership and the leadership of Islam they are structured very very differently.

[LDS Guy 1986]

Actually, I know hundreds of South Park fans who are Mormons.

I didn't say it was impossible, just unlikely. South Park is not a wholesome source of entertainment, but all struggle with different weaknesses (mine is getting rid of irreverent music) so I know that there are Mormons who watch South Park, it doesn't it is the best thing to do.

[44Foxtrot]

The Book of Mormon Musical has scored a section headline story the New York Times. The feature story is well done and includes both a stage photo and an audience photo from the production

The NYT article features quotes from John Dehlin and a number of other Mormons who attended the musical.

While a couple of the Mormons interviewed said that they cringed at times, in general they apparently liked the show.

[Gervin]

The New Yorker reviews it in this week's edition but be forewarned; they have no qualms with (numerous) verbatim quotes from the musical - many of which folks will find offensive. That said, the reviewer liked the musical ok but says it isn't great.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/theatre/2011/04/04/110404crth_theatre_lahr

[kev_stevens67]

My wife and I love to watch plays/musicals and we have our favorites, but I'm sure we will not be going to this one.

[krose]

Well seeing that Islam isn't as structurally organized as the LDS Church, you can't make one official declaration like the LDS Church can. Each Imam would have to make a declaration to his followers about it so there wold be many official reactions to it, and there was many violent reactions to Muhammad appearing on South Park.

It is the same way in Judaism there is no singular leadership source, each congregation is somewhat independent of each other and rely on there rabbi's not a general authority style leadership like the LDS Church has.

So the real Apples V. Oranges here is your comaprison of the LDS leadership and the leadership of Islam they are structured very very differently.

I guess you missed it, but that was my point. You can't legitimately compare an official PR statement to the reactions of a few radicals who speak for themselves.

[OUmd]

I am an active LDS member. I consider myself a critical thinker and I have always struggled with doubt and faith, but ultimately find strength in the gospel despite my internal struggles with the logical concept of spirituality. I enjoy South Park and my wife and I went to the show last week. Here are a few of my thoughts.

1. The show is not about The Book of Mormon. The show is about a missionary companionship (or even more loosely a show about a "forced" friendship). I was shocked how much the show made me reflect on my own mission and the relationships I had with my companionships.

2. The show was hilarious. Funny on the surface and even more funny for me as an LDS member and the many Mormon-culture references. The Mormon-culture references were where the producers did their "homework". It was not in the "doctrine" (which actually was not discussed that much).

3. The show was offensive. Harsh and strong language and imagery. My wife struggled with it. This is not new to Parker and Stone comedy. They use shock to get attention and make their point. You can either handle this, or you can't. This doesn't make many of the the things they say, untrue. Just harsh. If you are an LDS member that won't go to a R-rated movie than this would be the last thing you should go see. Add the fact that you will see two missionaries getting ready for bed and wearing garments to the standard R-rated movie material and I can empathize with any member of the church that would feel like they were in a living hell during the production.

4. The show was and was not anti-religion. The importance of community (through religion or through relationships) in dealing with THIS life's challenges was the message. If religion (in this story's case Mormonism or something else that is "created" at the end of the show) brings people together and makes their community stronger and "better" this is all that matters, despite how "crazy" the doctrines might be.

5. I loved it. I love it the same reason I can appreciate this message board. Anything that doesn't make me feel crazy (or feel like I am sinning) about having doubt or questions about spiritual things is a positive in my book. Believe it, or not, many members of the Church would find it offensive and blasphamous to discuss many of the items that are discussed on this board. Some people can not handle doubt, others can understand the role that doubt plays in building faith. I can accept that.

I recommend this show if you are an open-minded member of the church and have a little-bit of a twisted sense of humor. It might just make you feel a little better about being a Mormon.

5.

[cinepro]

For those like me who are curious but will never make it to NY to see it, the Mormon Expressions podcast has a review of the play that covers the plot in some detail:

http://mormonexpression.com/2011/03/29/124-the-book-of-mormon-musical/

[MatthewG]

I was initially nervous about this, after their movie Orgasmo which was horrible, I figured the worst. After seeing this interview it sounds like something I might actually see if I was ever in New York.

The Daily Show Episode where Matt and Trey discuss the musical here

It's a 7 minute clip with Matt n Trey discussing with Jon Stewart the process behind the musical.

I'm assuming most of you are too conservative to care to watch it, but I found it interesting.

[Calm]

I was initially nervous about this, after their movie Orgasmo which was horrible, I figured the worst. After seeing this interview it sounds like something I might actually see if I was ever in New York.

The Daily Show Episode where Matt and Trey discuss the musical here

It's a 7 minute clip with Matt n Trey discussing with Jon Stewart the process behind the musical.

I'm assuming most of you are too conservative to care to watch it, but I found it interesting.

Conservative in what way? Politics or vulgarity?

[Jeff K.]

A distinct perspective

When faith is mocked, who responds?

Pastor Terry Jones, Koran burning boor, is behaving foolishly, but most commentators miss a key element of his folly. He is a bad neighbor, but he also does not understand the times.

If a Christian pastor burns a book for religious reasons, universal condemnation will fall on his head. If an artist mocks the piety of the faithful, he can get paid to do it and many will come to his defense.

Pastor Jones should write a stage play in which he burns the Koran and mocks Islam and then apply for a government grant.

Presently, the piety of Mormon faithful is being mocked with song and dance blasphemy, but most reviewers assert that if they dare be offended they are not in on the joke. Many go out of their way to show that the stage show actually supports true piety, because play reviewers know all about true piety.

Evidently mocking a thing your neighbor loves is acceptable in the name of art, but horrific in the name of religion.

Religious people cannot attack religion, only artists can, but Terry Jones is too foolish to know this fact. He should have written a novel, however pretentious, poking fun at the faith and he might have won prizes and plaudits. As it is, he is just mocked.

Of course, Christian artists have the same duty that pastor Jones has. They should love their neighbor best they can. Generally, burning things he loves will not endear a man to his neighbor.

Of course, inflicting the powerful at the risk of one’s own safety is sometimes necessary. The prophet loves his neighbor so much he rebukes him, at great peril, for his wickedness. There is little or no calling for a prophet who rebukes the powerless.

In this way, though this way only, Pastor Jones has more right to burn the Koran, than the Mormon mockers have to put on their play. Pastor Jones takes the Koran seriously, seriously enough to risk his life to burn it. His actions are ineffective, jeopardize the lives of others, and will not open the hearts of his enemies, but he is not inflicting an easy target.

Mocking Mormonism on Broadway is rudeness that will cost the writers little or nothing. Mormons are not a dominant force, I am guessing, on the Great White Way and though the authors may not get invited to the next Mormon dish-to-pass, they will not miss the Jello. They are picking on those whose pain does not bother them and who are too charitable to respond with rage. On top of it all, they will mock things fellow citizens hold dear and expect the mocked to have a laugh or be labeled humorless.

As junior high reveals, jerks are often funny, but remain jerks none the less. It could be that the mockery is witty and the music sublime, but picking on those you dislike in a place and way where they cannot fight back is still cowardly.

Pastor Jones reveals the parts of the Islamic world that do wicked things in response to stupidity, but Jones already knew this was the case. Most of the Islamic community faces his uncharitable churlishness with weary, but peaceful opposition. They are used to American cluelessness.

The Broadway writers have revealed the Mormons who respond with patience and peaceful protest, and even weary humor, to yet another mocking of their beliefs.

We must oppose the violence and applaud the civility.

Government officials that condemn Jones’ actions are constitutional, but government officials should do nothing to restrain his behavior. A nation that can tolerate South Park can take a few religious equivalents and the best response to juvenile behavior is to be adult.

Funding any such assaults with tax payers money is, of course, wrong. The government should not buy Jones a Koran, and isn’t, and the government shouldn’t fund Mormon bashing, and isn’t.

Prophets, if they insist on channeling a muse or a god, must prophesy on their own dime knowing prophesy is non-profit.

Meanwhile, we do not have to go to vile plays that cause friends pain or go to pastor Jones’ church. This weekend I will go to a good play, attend a loving church, and try to better understand my Mormon neighbor and my Islamic friends.

John Mark Reynolds | Apr 8, 2011 9:25 AM

John Mark Reynolds is a Professor of philosophy for Biola, Reynolds blogs regularly at Scriptoriumdaily.com

[cinepro]

A distinct perspective

John Mark Reynolds is a Professor of philosophy for Biola, Reynolds blogs regularly at Scriptoriumdaily.com

It's not clear from the article, but did Professor Reynolds actually see "The Book of Mormon" musical? He also doesn't provide any actual examples of LDS who have seen the play and felt "mocked" or "picked on". Certainly, I've heard comments from LDS who saw it and were offended by the crudity, but they felt the philosophical message (and it's treatment of Mormon ideals) was actually quite uplifting. One person even likened it to the "The Single's Ward", a movie which had its own measure of mocking LDS culture and peculiarities (but kept to a PG level).

He is also a little disingenuous in comparing "The Book of Mormon" musical to the Koran burning. At the very least, he should acknowledge that the creators of the show have given Islam (and the Koran) the same treatment on their "South Park" show (and faced negative repercussions for having done so).

[LDSToronto]

MormonExpressions has a very detailed, scene-by-scene review of the play. Google it, and listen to the podcast. You may be surprised at what the play actually does.

H.