DiscussMormonism.com

Article by Idaho State University Professor Thomas C. Terry, who is an Episcopalian: "An Acceptable Prejudice?" In it, Terry builds the case that prejudice against Mormons is fashionable in ways that prejudice against other forms of religion would not be. I agree with his overall thesis, though I would quibble with some of his examples, and a few of them I would call "CFR." However, this one had me scratching my head:

Thomas C. Terry wrote:Mormons are excoriated in popular culture (see: "The Simpsons") for the way their church was created by someone who was kind of a con man.

Since when did excoriation of Mormonism become a prominent recurring theme on The Simpsons? I'm aware of two jokes that reference Mormons:

(1) When the aliens Kodos and Kang approach Homer's house, and Homer says, "Aw, great. Mormons."

(2) The other one I haven't seen; it's summarized here: "Another episode: Homer is on trail for fraud related to a company he won in a poker game. After saying something particularly ignorant, Homer's attorney says to him 'You, sir, are a Moron!' Homer replys 'A Mormon? But I'm from Earth!'"

Two jokes on a show that's been running for 23 years isn't exactly a lot of attention. But I haven't kept up on the series much in recent years. Have there been other jokes and references to Mormons? Was there a significant Mormon-themed episode?

As far as religion goes, The Simpsons has always been equal-opportunity with its teasing. The show pretty much pokes affectionate fun at evangelical Christians every time Ned Flanders is on the screen. Same for mainline Protestants with Reverend Lovejoy. So it would have to focus an awful lot of attention on Mormons and Mormonism before I would call it a show that "excoriates" Mormons, as opposed to what it does with all other religions. (A very good read on the subject of religion in The Simpsons is Mark I. Pinsky's The Gospel According to the Simpsons.)

Is it possible that he mixed up South Park with The Simpsons?

Ms. Jack wrote:Is it possible that he mixed up South Park with The Simpsons?

That's what it sounds like to me.

I think you're right - he was mixing up South Park with The Simpsons.

Of course the Stonecutters episode made me pretty uncomfortable as a believing Mormon, but I was aware the intended target was actually the Masons.

There's an episode of The Simpsons where a woman Homer married in Las Vegas comes to his house in Springfield. A judge rules that Homer's marriage to this woman and Marge is valid: "Mr. Simpson, under Nevada law, bigamy, or 'Mormon hold-'em,' is perfectly legal." http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Brawl_in ... ily/Quotes

Considering that Las Vegas was originally founded by Mormons who were sent there by Brigham Young, that polygamy is still the doctrine of the LDS Church, and that members of the FLDS Church self-identify as Mormons, this joke was actually pretty insightful.

The article in the OP is another step toward what Mormon Voices is trying to accomplish: making it socially unacceptable to criticize Mormon truth claims by crying "Bigotry!" and "Discrimination!" whenever Mormons or Mormonism are discussed in any way that is not faith-promoting, or at least without mentioning how wonderful Mormons and their church are.

From what I remember of the South Park episode they were pretty brutal to the claims of Joseph Smith. But they still portrayed Mormon family as decent people.

Of course the Stonecutters episode made me pretty uncomfortable as a believing Mormon, but I was aware the intended target was actually the Masons.

I love that episode.

We Do!

[Shhhhh Shut up!]