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I'm a big fan of the show, and, of course, of that specific episode, but I'd never heard Trey Parker's and Matt Stone's commentary on it till just now (heck, didn't even know it existed till someone linked to it on RfM today). No real bombshells; just an entertaining listen for those fans of the show with an interest in Mormonism. Check it out if you haven't:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LshjLS8VIiE








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I think that episode gave me a nudge when I needed it. I love SP, have been watching it since its first handfull of episodes. When all about the Mormons came out I was gearing up for the year-long shunning process and it gave me a bit of Humor that SalamanderSocety began to lack.

He obviously doesn't know what he's talking about, since he pronounces Lamanites "Lahmahnites"

Another funny quote:

(About their writer) "He was a Canadian Mormon. How's that for a double whammy?"

I listened to the commentary a while ago and thought it was very interesting. I think more than anything that episode and the position of the writers captures how most people react to Mormonism when explained. It simply does not make sense unless you already believe it. The puzzle the show deals with is how can so many rational and otherwise put together believe such irrational things.

John Larsen wrote:I listened to the commentary a while ago and thought it was very interesting. I think more than anything that episode and the position of the writers captures how most people react to Mormonism when explained. It simply does not make sense unless you already believe it. The puzzle the show deals with is how can so many rational and otherwise put together believe such irrational things.

Even in my new found over-skepticism, I have to believe there are still ridiculous things that I believe in.

Scottie wrote:

John Larsen wrote:I listened to the commentary a while ago and thought it was very interesting. I think more than anything that episode and the position of the writers captures how most people react to Mormonism when explained. It simply does not make sense unless you already believe it. The puzzle the show deals with is how can so many rational and otherwise put together believe such irrational things.

Even in my new found over-skepticism, I have to believe there are still ridiculous things that I believe in.

Likely. But as a Mormon I knew I believed ridiculous things that could not be rationally defended outside of "faith". Today, I don't know of anything that I believe that is ridiculous and open discovery, but if I discovered something--I would change my beliefs.

That is the key difference between skeptics and believers.

John Larsen wrote:Likely. But as a Mormon I knew I believed ridiculous things that could not be rationally defended outside of "faith". Today, I don't know of anything that I believe that is ridiculous and open discovery, I would change my beliefs.

That is the key difference between skeptics and believers.

This may be one more definition to add between chapel Mormons and internet Mormons. A chapel Mormon doesn't even realize his beliefs are ridiculous. An internet Mormon does, but rationalizes them.

As a chapel Mormon, I didn't even realize how ridiculous my beliefs were.

Honestly, I'm most surprised that they honed in on the "Martin Harris/Lost 116 pages" for the episode.

To most, that's a pretty obscure footnote in Mormon history, but for me, that's one of the key incidents that really calls the whole thing into question.