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"All this makes me wonder..is there some way we can convince complete religious zealots outside of Appalachia to stop shooting doctors, bombing clinics, beating up gay kids and flying planes into buildings and start handling poisonous snakes?"
Is this your observation or were you quoting someone?

I think Mr Ellis is a mite confused ...

I would think the LDSers would use the
calendar as a recruiting tool. I would be tickled to see one of those shirtless hunks on my front porch - even if he was an annoying pita waving a Book of Mormon at me.

Not in the least confused, Alice.

If I had read the post and questioned the statement on the day it was posted, it would have been patently obvious to the most casual observer what my concern was.
Because I don't read this blog frequently, I chose to post my question on the "topic of the day". I don't really care if it's chronologically linked to the original post- the simplistic broad brush strokes of stereotypical charges needed to be addressed.
I would think that Ms. Mclaughlin would be especially sensitive to the destructiveness of such petty minded views.

But Ma , following the standard format is HARD!!! Waaaaaah!!!!

Alice, I could stand one of those shirtless hunks on my doorstep as well!

Shalom

Darryl, I think we could work together and set a trap - like a free bicycle repair stand or something- but likely all we would catch would be some oooogly and old pasty-white LDS BIshops.

Alice........uh sorry sir, no service today!

Shalom

Mr. Ellis:

I think you were addressing my post about snake handling.

That was, indeed, my observation and not a quote.

I think "complete religious zealots outside of Appalachia to stop shooting doctors, bombing clinics, beating up gay kids and flying planes into buildings" is actually pretty specific. Anybody read that sentence and not know precisely who I'm talking about? Anybody confuse any of those people with the occasionally annoying but basically good hearted Ned Flanders?

But if you think I'm painting that group with broad strokes, I'm happy to cop to it.

My generation was definitely raised to believe in tolerance above all -- but those of us who like to think are still careful not to be so tolerant we're all right with violent religious zealotry. You don't tip-toe around these people - you call them what they are.

Nancy's one of the best examples of a true, kind-hearted, productive, intellectually curious committed Christian I know -- so while I don't think you should be surprised she didn't jump up to condemn my poking fun at violent fundamentalists, you shouldn't confuse her posts with mine.