You Call That Religion?

Last updated on: March 26, 2012 at 12:27 am by Leah Libresco

You Call That Religion? 2012-03-26T00:27:55-04:00 Leah Libresco

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One (possibly last) guest post at Daylight Atheism. This one is also inspired by The Book of Mormon and is focused on how the diffuse, unrooted idea of religion that emerges in Mormon and is praised by reviewers ought to be opposed by atheists as well as fundamentalists.

My last day for guestblogging is tomorrow, so please comment if there’s a topic you think I should be sure to cover for Daylight Atheism’s large (but mostly pissed off with me) audience.

You Call That Religion?

The Associated Press, in a review titled “Zany Musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ Will Convert You” said despite the sacrilege you might expect from a show imagined by the creators of South Park, the production was ultimately “pro-religion.” Or, more precisely:

Ultimately, believe it or not, this is a pro-religion musical, or at least a story about the uplifting power of stories. Far from being nihilistic, the moral seems to endorse any belief system — no matter how crazy it sounds — if it helps do good. Amen to that. Consider us converted.

It’s not often that atheists have occasion to make common cause with fundamentalists, but the increasingly diffuse definition of religion the AP and others are using is actually bad for both sides. For religious people, the danger is clear enough: the vague moral therapeutic deism embraced by these dull heretics offers an out from every hard teaching or structure of religious authority.

[Read the rest at Daylight Atheism]

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