Why is there so much outrage in the middle east over insults to Islam?

[DreamGypsy]

42. Perhaps because words are better than swords ...

We in the United States are fortunate to have free speech, widespread internet access and use, and online communities where we can express our thoughts and vent (at least some of) our rage. While the wars of words waged between factions are fierce, often offensive, and sometimes hurtful, they don't often result in deaths though we certainly have situations where words have lead individuals and groups to violence. Elsewhere in the world many battles are still fought in the street because people have nowhere else to go when offended.


After reading your question, I googled "the book of mormon protests". There weren't very many hits that appeared to be about the musical, but I grabbed the first one that did Offensensitivity and the Book of Mormon Musical–Who Offends Who? - http://improvementera.com/2011/05/offensensitivity-and-the-book-of-mormon-musicalwho-offends-who/. Since the first line of the article referenced a previous post, I went there for context “Man Up”–Applying The Book of Mormon Musical’s Message (Without the Profanity) http://improvementera.com/2011/05/man-upapplying-the-book-of-mormon-musicals-message-without-the-profanity/.

I found this article to be insightful, balanced, reasonable, and entertaining.

While the production certainly uses some of the absurdities of Mormon culture as its pawns (many aspects where, frankly, we recognize, and it's generally okay for us among ourselves to laugh about, but suddenly becomes offensive when others point it out), the underlying message actually appears to be that they feel Joseph Smith got it right, and they'd like to see more Prophets - and Mormons – like him.

Yes, this critique is coming from atheist writers that don't believe in divine inspiration.

And while certainly written from that perspective (one where there is no divine anything), what's fascinating is that the story actually still also holds up quite nicely when divine inspiration is admitted and assumed and read into it.

It's a message that is relevant for the religious and the non-religious - but, frankly, it's most likely a great majority of the most sincere and devout won't expose themselves to it.

This would certainly include my wife, my parents, and my in-laws. I certainly won't be playing it for them, or my toddler daughter to sing and dance to - no matter how catchy the music is. (and it is fantastically – and dangerously – catchy)

And again, I don't blame them for an instant for not wanting to see it. In many ways, I sort of envy that degree of sensitivity. And for sure, the presentation certainly provokes rather than invites.

The author then takes a journey through the story of the musical, explaining the basis for the conclusions above.

The follow on post (which was the hit from the search) speaks to Anti-Mormonism

...does that mean the musical, as is proclaimed over at Millennial Star, actually vitriolic "Anti-Mormon Dreck?" - or even mean spirited at all? And if not, discussions about profanity completely aside for the time being, is there still something in there for Mormons to be genuinely offended about?

Take a side trip to the Anti-Morman Dreck article if want, but I find the conclusion of the second article more appealing and representative of a better kind of protest.

We, as believers, need to understand that "just believing" isn't something that someone can simply turn on or off. That "stop trying to prove this wrong, and just believe!" does presuppose a degree of superiority, and assume that the individual isn't really honest. It is a direct value judgment.

And critics and non-believers should realize that "wake up and smell the delusion" doesn't tend to be effective or productive either.

But I also firmly believe we can disagree - and present reasons for our disagreement - without needing to assume the worst and most patronizing of the Other Side, and to demonize them and pronounce them as ignorant.

In fact, I think there are great things that each side can learn, with benefit, from the other.

In fact, that, I think, is another key take-home message of the Book of Mormon Musical.

Or you can just get offended.

Hey, we all do it. We're human after all.