2/13    I just saw South Park's episode on Mormons and how Joseph Smith
        translated the bible twice using two different translation plates,
        that Adam&Eve came from Missouri, and that the native Americans
        came from Jerusalem and God made them Red because they had sins.
        I'm a bit bothered by the way South Park disses at other religions...
        I don't know anything about religion and I'm wondering how much of
        South Park's story is really true, and how much of it is made up for
        entertainment value. Any religion expert who would comment on this?
        \_ Disses at "other" religions?  As opposed to what, christianity,
           where Jesus has a talk radio show and screwed Cartman's mom?
           Please identify the religion you think they're not making fun of
           in South Park.
           \_ don't forget that Cartman tried to eliminate Jews because they
              killed Jesus. They haven't really made fun of Buddhism and
              Shintoism yet...
              \_ "Hey there, mister shintoist, merry fucking christmas..."
                 -Mr. Garrison
        \_ I saw this episode about a year ago.  As I recall, it was about
           what you would expect out of SP.  For the first 15 minutes,
           from a 50,000 ft view, the big events were more or less
           correct.  ie, Joseph Smith was directed by an angel to a set of
           gold plates containing the religious history of a people
           formerly on the continent; which he translated by the power of
           God.  As much can be read in the introduction to the Book of
           Mormon.  The details, however, were all completely confused,
           made up, or twisted beyond recognition.  The history of the
           church is recorded in a number of first hand accounts, if you
           are interested.  Currently I'm reading an account by Joseph
           Smith's mother, which is a pretty good read. Unfortunatly,
           the LDS church is a point of contention, and anything you find
           on google would either be all for it, or all against it.
           Usually the latter. -jrleek
           \_ Religions don't easily lend themselves to objective analysis.
              At some point you're always going to find something that you
              will try to explain or discount using methods, either through
              critical heuristics or unquestioning belief, which someone else
              will take issue with.  I'm not religious in any sense;  I wish
              that both people who aren't and those who are would just keep
              it to themselves (and good fucking luck with that.)  -John
           \_ were you offended by South Park?