Joanna Brooks on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

She did a terrific job! I really loved the relaxed way Jon Stewart related her (our) Mormon experience to his own Jewish experience. Two thumbs way up!

Both Jon and Joanne did well I think.

I did not like all the talk about coke a cola BS…but really appreciated the talk about marching in the gay pride parades.

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Oh yeah…did you all Jon comment about the Jew eating a Bacon cheese sandwich?

“Ah, no big deal…you are now an unorthodox jew.”

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for clarification, he said, ‘your are now just a ‘reformed jew’. there is a real difference here. There are three main branches of judaism: orthodox, conservative, and reformed. Reformed jews have places of worship, congregations, schools, and an institution whereby they can celebrate their faith in their more adapted style: sure bacon cheese? go ahead. Not an issue. you want to have a woman cantor? sure, why not?

However, the orthodox do not recognize reformed rites except as practiced by an orthodox rabbi. They have a big tent, but it’s more like catholics=orthodox, mainstream protestant=conservative, and UU=reformed. Jews don’t have and don’t recognize a restorationalist movement such as mormonism. So…erstwhile “Jews for Jesus” aren’t jews in any real sense, and are shunned as heretics by all three of the mainstream jewish branches. Curiously, there are mystical branches that don’t quite fit orthodox, but are recognized as such: the hasidim, for example.

So, to extend the metaphor, If Mormons represent the ‘orthodox’ faith of LDS, then we would open up our temples and rites to all those who celebrate Joseph Smith as a prophet. RLDS/CoC members, as well as other restorationalist sects based in Joseph Smith could participate in Sacrament and Temple, but would not be permitted to officiate. FLDS would be considered a mystical branch, in the same way that hasidim are tolerated in judaism. As for ‘reformed’ LDS….hmm. I’m not sure where we would fit.

I don’t have a lot of time atm but I found that interview very helpful. It certainly will jolt many as to what a Mormon is or can be. I found it interesting growing up in the same place she did during the 80s with the food storage (my patents kept 1 year of canned goods and 8 100 gallon water storage bins). I had to laugh because that was a serious matter then, not do much now lol(but I do believe in being prepared as part of my boyscout/church upbringing). The coke thing I remember growing up seeing very very few drink coke and look at those who did as someone who just drank cofffee or beer and immediately distance themselves from that person(I remember the lesson in elders quorum where someone saw the priesthood leader drink what they thought was beer but turned out to be IBC rootbeer and that it was considered the preisthood leaders fault for not avoiding the appearance of evil with rootbeer that was shaped like beer and was used as an analogy for us to avoid drinking anything that could give the perception of beer).

Wayfarer I found your comments spot on about Judaism. However within the orthodox sect there are a few sub sects. Haredi, Hasidic and modern. I would liken many Mormons to that. That although orthodox have somewhat different beliefs or embraces to culture or studies, would Joanna brokes herself fall into this?

In whatever case I don’t really find it helpful to categorize labales with stigma or positive meanings but rather as just a term of understanding. I’m happy for her in her life and the positive way in which she and mormonism was approached in the interview. Although I’m still trying to understand tribal mentality in religion, especailly ours. I rather tend to relate as a human or child of god and not as a LDS, white or black or Asian, or poor class or rich class. Its like the whole east side , west side thing that I can’t see helping people but just dividing them and pitting them against each other.

Can we be as LDS followers a humanist as well? Can we culturely be a tribe together without outcasting, shunning or pitting against other tribes or elevating ourselves to another plateau as better then?

Can we recongnized ourselves as a tribe and as all children of god without trying to difference ourselves or seeing ourselves as better? I am torn by the concept since I so sincerely believe in admonition of Paul. Especially

“We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

This beautiful truth has been a mainstay to me as a LDS. I love the concept. I

Adore it. I love taking postive , lovely and virtous pratices and things from my friends various cultures and faiths and beliefs.

In that way I do not feel a part of one tribe but a part of many. Outcast in many because I only take the parts that has been proven virtuous in my life and discarding the rest that hasn’t. As that a tribe in itself within Mormonism or is it just a mush mash as it seems to be viewed by others around me. I personally don’t feel I belong to one paticular tribe in whole, but a part of many with LDS theology being the backbone or foundation. Yet this seems to be rejected constantly around me inside LDS culture to the point I feel so out of place.