Why is everyone surprised that Stephen Colbert is a practicing Catholic?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Stephen Colbert
january2010 — 13 years ago(May 13, 2012 09:04 PM)
Most religious people you will meet in life are reasonably smart, nice people who don't force their beliefs down on other people's throats or wear it on their sleeves. Not to mention that 75% of the American population has a religion, and the vast majority of the United States is (still) sane.
The number of threads here going "OMG Stephen is Catholic?" makes me think that some of you do not interact with real people in the real world, but live in some sort of a bubble where you get all your information about other people through news media, where stories about crazy guys dominate.
Or you just have a stereotyped view of certain groups of people. Take your pick. -
january2010 — 13 years ago(October 16, 2012 07:22 PM)
Stormstrike, it would appear to me that characterizing 300 million people (many of whom are reasonably educated) as 'a bunch of raging lunatics' isn't exactly a sane thing to do.
I love anti-Americanists like you though. Makes me feel much smarter in comparison. -
Janus-118 — 13 years ago(November 22, 2012 01:20 PM)
Well unfortunately in the media usually it's the one's with the loudest voices who are the most heard, which is why many of these sweeping generalizations exist. Especially in the 24-hour news cycle that requires material every hour of every day, the more sensationalistic the better.
For example take the Westboro Baptist Church, they have less than a hundred members but as far as the public is concerned their actions probably speak more for the stance of Chrisitans in the US than the ones doing missionary work to help build schools and bring medicine to Honduras or Ethiopia. Islam is also another example, I know for a fact that far too many associate the faith of Islam more with the Taliban and Al-Queda than the millions of peaceful Muslims who are coexisting with their neighbors all across the globe.
But rational, educated people such as these don't make good TV so the cycle continues. And its much easier to accept what you're told and paint in broadstokes, such as with the anti-American sentiment of Stormstrike. The media understands that critical thinking is much too strenous for people with everyday life on their plate (paying bills, going to work, etc.) and they essentially prey on that for ratings.
"You're a vulgarian, you beep!" -
btsutter-609-294217 — 13 years ago(February 22, 2013 05:39 PM)
January2010 I completely agree(with both of your comments). It honestly amazes me how so many times when I tell someone I'm Catholic they act like they're amazed I'm not in a mental hospital.Goes to show people aren't as open minded as they like to believe they are.
Same with anti-Americanists like Stormstrike-not that much smarter than us raving lunatics if that's his/her view on an entire nation.
I gave up homework for lent -
!!!deleted!!! (4524359) — 13 years ago(February 23, 2013 06:09 AM)
Well how is that surprising? Mental hospitals are made partly for delusional people. And catholics are delusional. That said, as long as they're not a threat to themselves or others I suppose we can allow them to walk around freely. But I definetly keep an extra eye on religious people. Who knows what they might do if they can believe the crap they believe in.