People who shouldn't be in cults.

[Bud]

I've just found out that Jon Heder, who played the eponymous character in Napoleon Dynamite, is a Mormon. I'm very disappointed.

Got similar experiences with people you liked who turned out to be into nutcase religions?

[verte]

...at least he's not a Scientologist.

[Goldie]

Yea...Just about everybody except Bill Maher.

[Pyrogenesis]

Got similar experiences with people you liked who turned out to be into nutcase religions?

...at least he's not a Scientologist.

The two main actors in My Name Is Earl are Scientologists.

[Wet Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Pyrogenesis

The two main actors in My Name Is Earl are Scientologists.

I'm still struggling to understand how anyone could be stupid enough to join Scientology.

Anyway, I used to be a big Mel Gibson fan, until he showed his true colors as a bigoted, anti-semitic "Traditionalist Catholic". Not that I have anything against Catholic people in particular, I just think he takes it way too far.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by verte

...at least he's not a Scientologist.

I'm not sure. Scientologists may be nutters, but at least they're equal opportunity nutters. They don't claim non-white skin colour to be a punishment from God.

[slideyfoot]

Beck.

[disgracian]

The only celebrity worth caring about is William Shatner, and he rocks.

Cheers,

[verte]

Originally Posted by Bud

I'm not sure. Scientologists may be nutters, but at least they're equal opportunity nutters. They don't claim non-white skin colour to be a punishment from God.

And the odd Scientologist who turns up dead under mysterious circumstances is usually white, according to the news reports. But still, no points for them.

[Pastafarian]

Stephen Colbert doesn't turn out to be a nutcase, but he's Catholic, and he teaches Sunday school. Strange, considering the drubbing religion takes on his show from time to time.

[apathy]

Originally Posted by Bud

I've just found out that Jon Heder, who played the eponymous character in Napoleon Dynamite, is a Mormon. I'm very disappointed.

Got similar experiences with people you liked who turned out to be into nutcase religions?

It's not celebrities that turn up with some cultish religion that has any impact on me. It's people you have to deal with in real life. A boss, a friend, a neighbor, that's what really gets under your skin.

Fortunately, I can't think of that many actually. There was the otherwise intelligent guy that turned out to be a total creationism nut. We had fun with this guy. There was the group that turned their cubicle into a fundy prayer meeting place. There's the people that kind of freak out when they realize you and your family stay home every Sunday. Those are the people that get me. Not that they're religious but that the scope and depth of their cult kind of creeps me out. Fortunately, there's not too many of them.

[Puck]

I'm disappointed whenever I find out anyone is religious.

You'd think after all these years, I'd be used to it, but I'm not.

[Dawn]

Originally Posted by apathy

It's not celebrities that turn up with some cultish religion that has any impact on me. It's people you have to deal with in real life. A boss, a friend, a neighbor, that's what really gets under your skin.

Fortunately, I can't think of that many actually. There was the otherwise intelligent guy that turned out to be a total creationism nut. We had fun with this guy. There was the group that turned their cubicle into a fundy prayer meeting place. There's the people that kind of freak out when they realize you and your family stay home every Sunday. Those are the people that get me. Not that they're religious but that the scope and depth of their cult kind of creeps me out. Fortunately, there's not too many of them.

You are very fortunate indeed if there aren't too many. I am surrounded. I agree it is the ones you know that are scary. I do hate that sick feeling I get when someone I know casually and like suddenly goes to that scary religious place out of the blue in the conversation. I want to back away slowly and leave the room before the "call to Jesus" starts when they realize I am not a believer.


BTW, I love your avatar, apathy.

[Smilin]

Originally Posted by apathy

It's not celebrities that turn up with some cultish religion that has any impact on me. It's people you have to deal with in real life. A boss, a friend, a neighbor, that's what really gets under your skin.

Fortunately, I can't think of that many actually. There was the otherwise intelligent guy that turned out to be a total creationism nut. We had fun with this guy. There was the group that turned their cubicle into a fundy prayer meeting place. There's the people that kind of freak out when they realize you and your family stay home every Sunday. Those are the people that get me. Not that they're religious but that the scope and depth of their cult kind of creeps me out. Fortunately, there's not too many of them.

Sounds like this bunch here!

We ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER?

How cool is that?

Wanna do lunch together sometime?

[Benkyo]

Beck =(

[Meathead]

Like a typical meathead, I'm a pretty big sports fan. While I don't hero-worship at all, I do find certain personalities agreeable. One of these agreeable personalities was Tony Dungy who is now head coach for the Indianapolis Colts (American football). He's beloved by virtually everyone he comes into contact with. In all his years of coaching, only one person can remember Tony Dungy ever using a curse word, which was "damn." Tony Dungy never raised his voice, which is so atypical of a football coach. Impeccable character, or at least that's what everyone says about him.

Well, a few months ago, Tony Dungy spoke in front the Indiana Family Institute, a socially conservative organization, and said that he supports the ban against gay marriage: "I embrace that stance... we're trying to promote the family -- family values the Lord's way." Ugh.

Another in a long line of examples is Kurt Warner, quarterback (again American football) for the super bowl winning St. Louis Rams of 2000. Stepping up to the podium at the post-super bowl game ceremonies, he persistently said things like, "well, first I want to thank the lord jesus for making this happen...yada yada yada." Rather obviously, there were a lot of requests for interviews that day, and every single one that I can remember began with the same nauseating message. Ugh, part deux.

And then there's Isaac Bruce. All-star wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams. An incredible football player. He had previously come out unscathed after a horrific car accident. He said that the reason why he came out unscathed is because he uttered the word "jesus" as the accident was happening, and that that was the reason why he was able to walk away from the accident the way he did. IIRC, Isaac Bruce intimated that even the most faithful christians would not be saved from such catastrophic occurrences unless they invoke jesus' name in the manner in which Bruce had done. Pardon me while I go puke out my lunch.

[Meathead]

I can honestly say that I've been deterred from listening to Beck anymore than I already have because he's a scientologist. A shame because his music is really good, imo.

[slideyfoot]

I try not to let it affect my enjoyment of music - as long as people don't start babbling about jesus in their lyrics (Stevie Wonder is prone to throwing in god, which is very annoying as otherwise his stuff is incredible) or unpleasant homophobic/racist/sexist etc type stuff (the blatant misogyny puts me off several Joe Tex songs, for example), I'll attempt to look past disturbing personalities. James Brown apparently did all kinds of nasty stuff in his private life, as did Miles Davis, but they produced some of the greatest music ever.

On the other hand, if somebody actively supported something like pro-life or anti-gay marriage organisations and the like, I wouldn't want to contribute financially by buying their work. Of course, that would require knowing about it first.

Originally Posted by Pyrogenesis

The two main actors in My Name Is Earl are Scientologists.

*refuses to read this thread any further