An interesting article from GetReligion.org came across the wires today. I know there are lots of people who play the “which celebrity is Mormon” game. This is a celebrity I never knew about; seems Katherine Heigl spent a good part of her youth in the Church.
According to the article (which is based on a Washington Post feature article), her family joined when she was seven, after the death of her brother. Even though she doesn’t practice her religion now (is it still her religion? the article doesn’t say), she still speaks fondly of the tenets of Mormonism.
Of course, this may be old news to some people. I have, after all, been accused by some of being a charter member of the “What Rock Have You Been Hiding Under” club. (Usually the charge comes from my children, who think Dad isn’t always too up-to-date.) I don’t normally give much attention or credence to the cult of celebrity, and I’ve never been a fan of Grey’s Anatomy, so the name Katherine Heigl didn’t ring any bells with me, nor merit any notice until it was paired with “Mormon.” Then I started to take notice.
What does this have to do with apologetics? I just thought the portrayal of Heigl as someone who has fond feelings for some beliefs of Mormonism was refreshing. The story at GetReligion.org refers to her as an “ex-Mormon,” but if she is really an ex-Mormon, she seems to be one that doesn’t carry the emotional baggage and possess the “Church is evil incarnate” attitude that many ex-Mormons do.
That is, indeed, refreshing.
-Allen
Wow, is this really post-worthy? People leave the church all the time (or go inactive) but do not become hostile to the church. Are you running out of post ideas, or what?
Easy there, Mitchell. Not every post needs to terribly deep. That’s part of the enjoyment of the bloggosphere. Besides, sometimes it can be fun and interesting to see where Mormon and pop culture intersect. I found Aaron Eckhart’s (Thank You for Smoking) interview with Terri Gross similarly interesting when he talked about his past Mormon experiences and relationship with BYU.
Easy there, Mitchell. Not every post needs to terribly deep.
NorthboundZax, I have yet to see a post on this site that is “terribly deep” or noteworthy. While I agree that noting intersections of religion and pop culture can be intriguing, I imagine Mitchell didn’t recognize Allen’s post as “fun and interesting.” Instead, he most likely noticed that Allen asserts that most ex-Mormons “carry … emotional baggage and possess the ‘Church is evil incarnate’ attitude,” and felt that was an unfair characterization.
The reality is that many, many people leave the Church and remain fond of major aspects of their Mormon past, as well as on good terms with Church members. There’s nothing noteworthy about this. Not everyone is out to “get” Mormonism, something FAIR cannot admit or else it would have no reason for existing. Welcome to the Bloggernacle. Here you will find “Mormons” of all stripes (active, inactive, orthodox, conservative, liberal, former, cultural, gay, straight, etc.) that get along very well and try and leave insulting insinuations (like Allen suggests here) to themselves in an effort to learn and grow.
Wow, Patrick. That’s quite the comment. I would like to address a few of your assertions, if I might.
I never said that most ex-Mormons carry that baggage or attitude, but that many do. (Go back and read the post.) I would never say that most do, because I don’t believe that. However, many really do have those feelings. (Ever been to ironically named Recovery from Mormonism board lately, or subscribed to one of the ex-Mormon mailing lists, or been to one of the many post-Mormon get-togethers that regularly occur? The feelings and attitudes abound, are reinforced, and are fostered.)
Agreed.
I agree that not everyone is out to “get” Mormonism. But if you think that such a belief is the reason why FAIR exists, then you really don’t know anything about FAIR. The fact is, there are criticisms made against the beliefs and practices of the Church. Not everyone makes them, but some do. And, in the marketplace of ideas, such criticisms should be examined and addressed. That is what FAIR does.
-Allen
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