Buffalo wrote: Funny, I don't hear apologists complaining about other portrayals of Africans in modern culture. Why the sudden interest?
My "sudden interest" in African culture as portrayed in the Book of Mormon musical was simply to respond to The Nehor.
As a point of clarification, I would say that I do have a great respect for indigenous cultures and have learned some good science from working with some of its practitioners. In Central America (not Africa) for example, I helped fund and participated directly in an ethnobotanical products development project. This work (with a local company called Farmaya) resulted in the development of two phyto-pharmaceuticals that are now used in Argentina and Guatemala. Locals who wish to use these natural products can control vaginal candida for about a nickel a day and can help control maturity onset diabetes for just over a dime a day.
Very cool, DrW!
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Buffalo wrote:Funny, I don't hear apologists complaining about other portrayals of Africans in modern culture. Why the sudden interest?
Mostly because we don't discuss a lot of modern culture here so why would you hear about it?
Just like you probably haven't heard about my volunteering to help deal with child abuse, my general contempt for the inanity promulgated by postmodernists or my love of swimming. They just don't come up that often.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
Buffalo wrote:Funny, I don't hear apologists complaining about other portrayals of Africans in modern culture. Why the sudden interest?
Mostly because we don't discuss a lot of modern culture here so why would you hear about it?
Just like you probably haven't heard about my volunteering to help deal with child abuse, my general contempt for the inanity promulgated by postmodernists or my love of swimming. They just don't come up that often.
So what specifically about the portrayal of Africans in The Book of Mormon do you object to? I assume you've seen it.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Buffalo wrote:So what specifically about the portrayal of Africans in The Book of Mormon do you object to? I assume you've seen it.
Nothing, the Book of Mormon says nothing of Africans. I haven't seen it in vision yet but I hope to at some future date. I will let you know if it happens and African culture is portrayed in it.
If you meant the Musical:
The costuming was something of a caricature. Their displayed ignorance was at least mildly insulting. Including female genital mutilation in a satire is disturbing. The Africans are depicted as miserable until they find happiness in an incoherent mishmash of Mormonism, geek culture, and acid trips just like the morons they are shown to be.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
LDS truthseeker wrote:The musical isn't really that damaging to LDS beliefs. In fact the musical appears to have been very kind to the Church. If it really wanted to belittle it's beliefs with hardcore evidence the members don't know about and can't defend very well, it would have brought up the Book of Abraham, polyandry, temple/Masonry connections, blacks and the priesthood, Book of Mormon historical problems, etc.
Have you seen the musical or listened to the cast recording?
A lot of what you might think they missed - they didn't miss.
I agree that the musical was not viscous toward the LDS Church - but damaging? I think so.
If I had not been BIC, and was not otherwise a member, and had seen the Book of Mormon musical (or even heard the songs from the cast recording), I would never set foot inside an LDS Church.
What I am waiting for the the "Scientology" musical. I want to see how they do the Thetans in the stage production.
I have not seen it but haven't heard too many damaging truths from the reviews I read - nothing about Book of Abraham which is the most damaging in my opinion. But it's good to know that some truths got in there that may open some TBM eyes enough to investigate the claims.
Buffalo wrote:So what specifically about the portrayal of Africans in The Book of Mormon do you object to? I assume you've seen it.
Nothing, the Book of Mormon says nothing of Africans. I haven't seen it in vision yet but I hope to at some future date. I will let you know if it happens and African culture is portrayed in it.
If you meant the Musical:
The costuming was something of a caricature. Their displayed ignorance was at least mildly insulting. Including female genital mutilation in a satire is disturbing. The Africans are depicted as miserable until they find happiness in an incoherent mishmash of Mormonism, geek culture, and acid trips just like the morons they are shown to be.
Interesting. When did you fly out to see the show? Or do you live in the NYC area?
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Daniel Peterson wrote:"We sit by and watch the Barbarian, we tolerate him; in the long stretches of peace we are not afraid. We are tickled by his irreverence, his comic inversion of our old certitudes and our fixed creeds refreshes us; we laugh. But as we laugh, we are watched by large and awful faces from beyond: and on those faces there is no smile." (Hilaire Belloc, d. 1953)
Great quote! The trick is figuring out who is the Barbarian.
This, or any other post that I have made or will make in the future, is strictly my own opinion and consequently of little or no value.
"Faith is believing something you know ain't true" Twain.
Buffalo wrote:Interesting. When did you fly out to see the show? Or do you live in the NYC area?
I'm reluctant to share my travel plans or trips with anyone here. As DCP has learned traveling is a form of boasting here.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
Should the church let go of the long held tradition that they refrain from loud laughter and evil-speaking of the Lord's anointed? Or at least lighten it up a bit? Maybe remove it from the temple ceremony?
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)
Should the church let go of the long held tradition that they refrain from loud laughter and evil-speaking of the Lord's anointed? Or at least lighten it up a bit? Maybe remove it from the temple ceremony?
The advice against loud laughter has always bothered me a bit. Fundamentalist Muslims have the same ban on laughter. It always struck me as a little insecure.
This, or any other post that I have made or will make in the future, is strictly my own opinion and consequently of little or no value.
"Faith is believing something you know ain't true" Twain.