They also say, “m Than you,” instead of “Thank you,” whenever possible. This is interpreted as a mumbly “Thank you,” but is shorthand for “More godlike THAN YOU.”
The practice of ending posts with commas is a sign of their belief in their own divinity. They assume that they will always be around, & always have more to say.
[/snark]
Can we do a survey here?
a) What possible reason can the theater have for asking any patron the patron’s religion?
b) Is that reason really acceptable in American society?
c) Is the question offensive?
As Diogenes has already pointed out, there’s a significant difference between praying to Mary and worshipping her. Catholics venerate Mary, and ask her to intercede on their behalf before God, but that’s not the same thing as worshipping her.
The same thing with statues of saints–Catholics don’t worship them, either (even the “huge” ones–although it’s not clear which statues of Mary your professor is referring to. Most of them are about life-size, although many are “huge” in the figurative sense of being popular objects of veneration–again, not objects of worship).
Fundamentalist theater owners or workers might think that they should “protect” unsuspecting patrons from material that might appear to be of a fundamentalist Christian point of view, but which actually presents another perspective.
It might be welcome by 25% of American society. Another percentage might not care one way or another. and still another percentage would be outraged.
I find it offensive in the extreme. I am sick to death of people who think they need to protect other adults who have not asked them to do so.
I’m going to avoid the Christianity vs. Mormonism discussion, as I do not think whether or not the “truth” about Mormonism being or not being Christianity is important to OP. What is important is that there is a debate at all. And furthermore, that it is a “hot button” issue for many people.
That said, I don’t see any evidence from the article that points towards any particularly malicious intent on the part of the movie theater, so I’m inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. I think this is a case of the heart being in the correct place, but an completely ignorant and misguided implication of that sentiment. The theater, in what appears to be an attempt to avoid controversy by “protecting” its more conservative Christian patrons, has stirred up an entirely different issue. What was it that someone brilliant once said about not being able to please all of the people, all of the time…?
I wonder if this issue could have been avoided by a slightly different phrasing: “The movie is Mormon, not orthodox/traditional/etc Christianity.” While there may be a debate over whether or not Mormonism=Christianity, I think both factions can at least agree that it is not traditional Christianity. That’s actually one of its major claims, is it not?
How about this one?
Admittedly, it’s from a Utah paper, but it’s not the Deseret News.
Anyway, whether the Deseret News is biased in favor of LDS doesn’t strike me as having any bearing on the story. After all, I wouldn’t expect them, being a reputable paper after all, to make up the story.
And, yes, you used the term LDS correctly.
My understanding of the Deseret News (and someone should correct me if I am wrong) is that it is wholly owned and controlled by the LDS Church.
This has been around ever since the Mormons first appeared, just as there have always been some Protestants who insist that Catholics aren’t really Christian.
a) As I and others have said before, my guess is they were afraid non-Mormon Christians would go see the flick not realizing it was Mormon, and be offended, or feel deceived.
b) Do you mean is the reason valid? IMHO, no, it was completely unnecessary. If they were so afraid of non-Mormons feeling offended/deceived, the most they should have done was simply mention to the ticket-buyer that the movie had a Mormon viewpoint, without asking the patron anything at all. Even that is kinda dumb, but at least it doesn’t involve asking personal questions.
c) IMHO asking someone’s religion is too personal a question, but not offensive. I assume telling Mormons that they are not Christians is offensive to them, though.
One time I tried to go to this stpid church and there was no room in the parling lot! WTF!!!11111
It is. And that has any bearing on whether it’s a reputable newspaper exactly how?
Sounds like fear to me. Fear that “regular” Christians might find something worhtwhile in the message from the LDS community.
Worthwhile pitting. I’m a non Christian and the intolerence of so many really irks me.
Aeschines Moving from devil’s advocate to actual devil? What religion are you?
I think this is a great idea, and should be extended widely:
Ticket taker: You may have the impression from the ads that this movie has degree of entertainment value. That is incorrect.
Ticket taker: What is your age?
Patron: 25.
Ticketaker: You should know that this movie insults the intelligence of anyone over 5.
Ticket taker: What was your last Biology class?
Patron: Freshman Bio
Ticket taker: I must inform you that this movie has an incorrect and wild idea of what a mutation is, and has clones coming out fully grown, and might be offensive to anyone with the slightest bit of scientific knowledge.
Should do wonders for ticket sales.
Is it, though? I’m not inclined to dismiss everything they say on sight (after all, the Christian Science Monitor is owned by a religious group but it’s nothing if not well-respected) but, while I’ve heard of it, I’ve never heard that it’s a particularly good newspaper. I mean, I simply have no idea if it’s a reputable news source or not.
I’m guessing that this would be asked at any of the X-Men movies?
I was thinking Evolution, but X-Men would work also. Or any of a number of '50s monster movies. Not to mention Perry Rhodan.
Well, the idea that Jesus was the physical manifestation, in human form, of God on Earth is a far cry from saying that a human created the universe.
To answer the OP, yes, I would be offended if a theatre employee asked me what my religion was. I would probably give a smartass reply. But it seems that it only happened a few times, and that the managers of the theatres put an end to it.
I spent my time in Idaho Falls (a hop, skip, and jump from the Utah border) in the summer of 1991. I’ve spoken to other non-Mormon parents who raised their kids in heavily Mormon areas about that same circa and they had similar impressions. Non-mormon kids were marginalized to a great degree in the public schools. This bred a lot of resentment vs. Mormons.
No dog in this parlour, I just wanted to say that it’s nice to see athiest spelt correctly more than once in the same thread.