# What is Cecil's religion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 17, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956 "2010-11-17T06:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/21 "2010-11-17T22:26:32Z")
[Fixed link](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1338/did-jesus-have-siblings) from my previous post > [@kayaker](#): > > I can’t see how someone could “fight ignorance” and be religious at the same time. And I can’t see why so many Dopers apparently believe that religious people can’t be intelligent, rational, well-educated, and erudite, despite all the evidence there has been to the contrary. (For example, “Jesuits believe that you can never learn too much.” —quoted by Alphagene, who boasts a Jesuit education, in [this Staff Report](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1851/how-are-jesuit-colleges-different-from-other-schools)) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/22 "2010-11-18T00:28:17Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I always assumed he was Jewish. I’m not sure I can articulate why. Same here. I feel certain it’s been mentioned before. But maybe as a mistake? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/23 "2010-11-18T01:32:34Z")
Why do people think Cecil si Jewish? What is the logic? Jews are smart. Cecil is smart. Therefore Cecil is Jewish. Even assuming the premisses are true, surely the fallacy is clear. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/24 "2010-11-18T01:33:38Z")
Double ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/25 "2010-11-18T01:45:13Z")
It’s pretty clear that Ed/Cecil is Catholic. Plus, Zotti is a pretty big clue as it’s an Italian surname. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/26 "2010-11-18T01:48:26Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Here’s the column for that one: > > [Do decapitated heads briefly remain conscious? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/200/do-decapitated-heads-briefly-remain-conscious) Thanks—I guess I was about 13 when I read that one (I got turned onto the Straight Dope paperbacks as a kid) and I remember well how much I loved Cecil’s snark and sharp wit, even when I was just a kid here in Salt Lake. I hate to say that Cecil’s columns don’t usually entertain me like they used to, although once in a while the old wit and wisdom comes shining thru. I still would enjoy splitting a six-pack of Olde Style with Cecil sometime, and we could talk about the lyrics to “Hotel California” and all the different things that MD’s find up people’s keesters… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/27 "2010-11-18T14:22:18Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > And I can’t see why so many Dopers apparently believe that religious people can’t be intelligent, rational, well-educated, and erudite, despite all the evidence there has been to the contrary. Of course religious people can be intelligent as well. I have known many that fit that description. I’ve also known people who seemed very intelligent and were hard core racists as well. It would just be cool for someone who espouses fighting ignorance to also not be someone who is into magical thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/28 "2010-11-18T15:08:03Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Why do people think Cecil si Jewish? What is the logic? > Jews are smart. > Cecil is smart. > Therefore Cecil is Jewish. > > Even assuming the premisses are true, surely the fallacy is clear. Yes it is. Cecil is not smart enough to be Jewish. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/29 "2010-11-19T03:24:11Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Why do people think Cecil si Jewish? What is the logic? > Jews are smart. > Cecil is smart. > Therefore Cecil is Jewish. > > Even assuming the premisses are true, surely the fallacy is clear. Thus why make the assumption that we are making it? Especially when it implies racist assumptions? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/30 "2010-11-19T15:56:48Z")
Cecil has said, on several occasions, that he was raised Catholic. I’ve not discussed religion with him, per se, so I can’t say about his current practices, but they for sure ain’t Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/31 "2010-11-20T02:18:22Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Cecil has said, on several occasions, that he was raised Catholic. I’ve not discussed religion with him, per se, so I can’t say about his current practices, but they for sure ain’t Jewish. Actually, I think I may have conflated him with you. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/32 "2010-11-20T02:39:06Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Actually, I think I may have conflated him with you. [C K Dexter Haven](http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/protectedimage.php?image=NatTunbridge/PHIL_CARY.jpg) [Cecil Adams](http://photos.friendster.com/photos/14/37/16287341/944708009626m.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/33 "2010-11-20T13:24:55Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Actually, I think I may have conflated him with you. Wow. Well, yeah, I _am_ Jewish – was raised that way, and am still practicing (Conversative towards the liberal side.) However, I am not now, and never have been, Cecil. I handle his mail, but I work mostly with Ed because Cecil is… well, “not very sociable” is the polite term and he’s the Boss. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/34 "2010-11-20T20:59:08Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Wow. Well, yeah, I _am_ Jewish – was raised that way, and am still practicing (Conversative towards the liberal side.) However, I am not now, and never have been, Cecil. I handle his mail, but I work mostly with Ed because Cecil is… well, “not very sociable” is the polite term and he’s the Boss. In the depth of our being, we are all Cecil - and Cecil is us. This is the ultimate truth. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/35 "2010-11-20T21:23:52Z")
Cecil is married to a Jewish woman, and my sense is he just kind of rolls with it. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/36 "2010-11-20T21:36:34Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Cecil is married to a Jewish woman, and my sense is he just kind of rolls with it. No, he’s not married to a Jewish woman. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/37 "2010-11-21T00:49:48Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Cecil is married to a Jewish woman, and my sense is he just kind of rolls with it. > [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > No, he’s not married to a Jewish woman. Nor should be discussing his sex life anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/38 "2010-11-21T02:33:42Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Nor should be discussing his sex life anyway. If he’s married to a Jewish woman, he doesn’t have a sex life. See the difference, BigT? ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/39 "2010-11-21T02:39:14Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > If he’s married to a Jewish woman, he doesn’t have a sex life. > > See the difference, BigT? I was going to say that, but I figured being one of the unwashed goyim, I should STFU. However . . . . my understanding was this applied mainly to BJ’s. IDK. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956/40 "2010-11-21T02:41:47Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > In the depth of our being, we are all Cecil - and Cecil is us. > > This is the ultimate truth. This was along the lines of what I was going to post (basically answering a question with a question): “What religion is Santa Claus?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cecils-religion/560956.md?page=3)