A couple of weeks ago Thom and I saw the hit musical play The Book of Mormon at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. Written by the guys who created the South Park television show, it was no surprise that the story is a hilarious and irreverent spoof on religion—the Mormon religion specifically. And while they poke fun at the origins and practices behind the Mormons and many people of faith, the real gift of the play is how metaphor and story telling play such a huge role in most of our lives whether we are aware of it or not.
The play starts with two young Mormon missionaries who are sent to Uganda, Africa to convert the natives. (Sorry! Spoilers included.) The young Mormons are enthusiastically played by bright-eyed and idealistic young men who sing and dance perfectly while the audience is presented with a brief view of some of the more bizarre myths behind the religion. The outrageous performance is enhanced by the hilarious and vulgar song lyrics until everyone in the audience is either aghast or laughing. Even wackier is how the natives in “Africa” take some of the original Mormon stories and translate them into even funnier and unconventional tales until everyone in the audience is rolling in the aisles.
As a testament to the writing skills of the South Park creators, the story ends up revealing that the character’s lives are indeed transformed and uplifted by the experience—even when presented within the most shocking, often-offensive, uproarious narrative you could imagine. And at the core of the story is the power of myth and metaphor.
But what is metaphor and how does it support mythology? A simple definition of metaphor is: an idea or phrase that is used as a symbol of something else (without using words “like” or “as”). Two good examples of metaphors are: “God is love.” Or, “the Universe is a mystery.” Author Erich Vieth goes further by saying, “Metaphors are the lenses through which we view our world. In abstract fields like religion and politics, the use of metaphors isn’t just fanciful (although it can be fanciful); the use of metaphors is absolutely necessary to understand abstract concepts.”
So naturally that got me thinking about how the South Park boys could have just as easily written a musical comedy about any other religion on the planet and made it an equal success. All they would have to do is highlight some of the more bizarre myths and metaphors in any tradition, poke fun at anything that seems unusual to others, add some catchy song lyrics and energetic dancing, and there you have a hit Broadway musical.
Take the Christian religion for example. On a regular basis many followers gather to consume the body and the blood of their savior in a ritualistic manner. Meanwhile, Muslims teach that believing women should wear a veil to cover “their adornment” just to please God. In a Buddhist sect called the Mahayana’s it is believed that the Buddha went to outer space and spoke to angels called Devas who taught him special lessons before he brought the teachings back to earth.
In addition, some Orthodox Jewish sects practice a ritual called Kaparot where they take a live chicken, transfer their sins into him before slaughtering and then donate the chicken to the poor. Certain sects of the Hindu religion practice such rituals as fire walking to celebrate the goddess Sraupati Amman, or bull fighting as part of the harvest festival of Jallikattu. Just remember, in India bulls are sacred so the bull always stays alive—unfortunately those who seek to ride or tame them do not.
Therefore, if we are able to stay open, remain objective and refuse to become defensive, it is easy to see that every single spiritual and religious tradition sometimes asks us to put aside our rational thinking mind, accept the metaphors and myths it teaches, and just believe. And that is where we can often get into trouble. The late Joseph Campbell, mythologist, writer and speaker frequently warned that, “We must remember, however, that the metaphors of one historically conditioned period, and the symbols they innervate, may not speak to the persons who are living long after that historical moment and whose consciousness has been formed through altogether different experiences.”
The way I understand it, Joseph Campbell, most known for the book and television series The Power of Myth, says that metaphors and corresponding myths are the symbols and stories that people use to communicate the utterly ineffable, holy, and overwhelming mystery behind all life. The most powerful of those myths often become entire religious traditions. So while the original experience may have been something true and verifiable, the metaphors and the resulting myth surrounding the story can seem unusual and bizarre. This is especially true when the metaphors came from an earlier culture, background or era. So any one of the world’s religions that contain metaphors and myths—and Joseph Campbell believed they all do—can seem strange and bizarre to anyone who was not raised or converted to that tradition. And dogmatically true to those that were.
Joseph Campbell said, “It made me reflect that half the people in the world think that the metaphors of their religious traditions… are facts. And the other half contends that they are not facts at all. As a result we have people who consider themselves believers because they accept metaphors as facts, and we have others who classify themselves as atheists because they think religious metaphors are lies.” And that idea brings me back to The Book Of Mormon.
Towards the end of the performance a young Ugandan woman discovers that much of what she has been taught by the Mormon missionaries is a complete fabrication. In despair she cries to her friends that it has all been a lie. She laments that the heaven she sought—Salt Lake City—will never be part of her future. That’s when her friend comforts her by saying, “Salt Lake City isn’t an actual place. It’s an idea, a metaphor.”
That realization highlights the real genius and spirit behind the Book of Mormon. Once the characters in the play recognize that the stories they’ve been taught are a metaphor pointing to a happier life, the tale ends with them also becoming proselytizing missionaries of their own version of Mormonism. It is also likely why The Church of Latter-Day Saints isn’t fighting the performance itself. Instead, their official statement regarding the play is:
“The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people’s lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ.”
There is no denying that metaphors and myths of every religion can be helpful and meaningful for certain people in certain places and times. On the flip side, there is plenty of proof in the world that some of those metaphors and myths can be hurtful and destructive as well. However the biggest problems occur when, as Joseph Campbell warned against, those who follow or those who fight them forget that they were never meant to be taken literally in the first place.
There is something very attractive about the fearless ability to ridicule the ridiculous—and that’s what the writers of The Book Of Mormon have done. But instead of making their social commentary a tirade against the craziness of one religion, they bring out the underlying optimism, respectfulness and personal niceness of many who call themselves Mormon. And in true South Park fashion they poke fun at all of us for taking ourselves or the metaphors of our religions too seriously. After all, it’s SMART to remember that Salt Lake City isn’t a place—it’s a metaphor!
* Excerpt of article by Joseph Campbell
Thanks for the share, bookmarking the blog for the future reference. sounds like a nice play
Hi Eric! Thanks for dropping by SMART Living 365. I’m not sure I would call “The Book of Mormon” play “nice!” But it is funny and irreverent and if you like South Park you would like the play! ~Kathy
I hope it makes it’s way to Australia, or there’s some way I can ‘watch’ it, if only virtually. I really am interested in religions, and the parodies of them too. I certainly don’t take myself too seriously, but as with any faith, there’s a level of ‘just believe’ that other can and do ridicule, and you’ve got to be able to see why!
Vulgar language wouldn’t scare me – my the men I work with, let me tell you!
Hi Sarah! Nice to hear from you….and YES! It sounds like you would definitely enjoy the play. But I would definitely wait to see in a live performance. The songs work in context with the play but as I’ve mentioned in some of the other comments I can’t imagine being “pleased” with just hearing the music. And I also think that the sweetness of some of the characters help to temper some of the harshness of the humor and that might not translate to film. But beyond that, I think it is a VERY funny commentary on how religion can be viewed by those on the outside. And as long as you don’t feel your religion or your definition of God need to be defended, and like you say–don’t take yourself too seriously–then you’ll probably enjoy it. Let me know if you ever see it. I would love to hear your opinion. ~Kathy
My potty mouth was nothing compared to the sound track, which I heard and then decided not to see it. Hubby is a South Park fan, me not so much. More his type humor than mine. So, myth, metaphor, mouth–naah.
Hi Carol! Yeah, I can’t even imagine just listening to the soundtrack and being impressed. I went expecting pretty foul language and so I was somewhat prepared–but it is extreme for sure. I do appreciate a lot of the South Park satire and humor so that didn’t phase me much. As I commented to Sheryl, I do feel that the perspective of myth and metaphor might be a way that many can understand the religious perspective better–especially the younger generations. The way I see it there are so many people completely rejecting religion and the spiritual perspective because they are being asked to choose between the literal or not at all interpretations. Understanding how myth and metaphor play such a big part in it all just might help bridge the gap. Thanks as always for your thoughts on this. ~Kathy
This is such a thoughtful post, Kathy. I saw Book of Mormon a while ago, and had forgotten so many things. Thanks for the reminders. By the way, I liked it well enough, but not THAT much…I found it got a little in-your-face and tiresome toward the end. That’s not to say it’s a show that doesn’t deserve recognition.
Hi Sheryl! I’m glad you appreciated my perspective of the play. I too liked it–but I would agree that I didn’t “love it.” I would certainly never need to see it again (I saw “Wicked” twice!) but it was definitely on my must see-list just to find out what all the hoopla was about. The production is doing very, very well and selling out in most venues–but there really isn’t that much out there as far as reviews from different perspectives goes. I sort of wonder what most people expect before going? As far as a message of tolerance and love for others I thought “Second Avenue” was more endearing for sure. Of course if this play helps anyone (especially younger people) recognize that there is value in the myths and metaphors of religion, then I’m all for it. If anything, this play proves there is a fit for everyone! Thanks for stopping by. ~Kathy
Hi, Kathy. This is the second article I’ve read this week based on the subject of religion. You did well in highlighting the myths in religious practices.
When my boys were young I refused to let them watch South Park thinking it was a waste of time, but had to reconsider when my youngest and his best friend, the only children, in a CPR certification class and were the only ones to know an answer the instructor asked. After class the instructor came to tell me how impressed she was with the two homeschooled boys for knowing this information. Turns out they learned it from South Park. Since then I’ve tried to keep a more open mind and not to dismiss things before investigating. I can imagine the production you watched would be interesting.
Hi Lois! I have to admit that i would have been challenged to let my kids watch South Park had I had the choice. The language they use regularly is pretty shocking for those of us who don’t usually cuss (unless there really, really is no other word to use!) But they do have an extremely smart and openminded perspective that can be surprisingly spot on–and in this play they cover a lot of interesting territory. I would definitely be interested in what you think of it if you ever get the chance but DON’T buy or just listen the the soundtrack. Most of the song lyrics would blow you away! 🙂 ~Kathy
Excellent post! I’ve always been an admirer of Joseph Campbell, and I do also enjoy the South Park guys and their honest brand of humor. My feeling is that there are eternal truths that all humans seek to understand, and the myths of religion seek to address those. As long as people don’t take them literally, they do offer comfort for many. You make a very good point.
Hi Kathy! Thanks for joining the conversation. Yes, don’t you miss Joseph Campbell? He was such a clear voice for reason and deep understanding and I for one miss him. He understood so well that, as you say, “there are eternal truths that all humans seek to understand, and the myths of religion seek to address those.” Yet any time any of us get stuck thinking that our way of interpreting truth is better or the ONLY way, we run into trouble.~Kathy
My (then young adult) sons loved South Park so I often watched it with them. Crude and over the top? Absolutely, but often filled with powerful messages. I have not seen The Book of Mormons but I’m sure I’d like it.
Interesting timing on this article with the release of the movie Noah this weekend. It again brings up the debate around the Bible as the literal word of God versus a good story based on tradition. Your article does a lovely job of looking at how we get stuck on religion and so-called truths.
Hi Walker! Yes, you certainly described South Park well. I don’t think a lot of people our/my age are as comfortable with the in-your-face approach offered by South Park but there is indeed many powerful messages there–not always–but frequently. The Book of Mormon is exactly like that.
I have also read some early reviews about Noah and how many religious groups are up in arms about it because they say it is not true to the Biblical story. I’m sorry, but it IS a movie right? It is exactly that type of defensive reaction that can lead to not only disagreement, but violence and eventually war. I’m glad you think I explained it well. ~Kathy
I was never a fan of South Park. I thought it was either beneath me or over my head. Either way, I didn’t care for it. Like Carol, I was turned off by much of what I’d hear and read about the show. But I do love theater and will make my way there one day soon to decide for myself. Lovely review!
Hi Tammy! Thanks for stopping by SMART Living and sharing your thoughts. It would be interesting to see what you thought of the play now that you know how shocking it is in many places. While I think younger audiences (especially those that are big fans of South Park) are used to the South Park social commentary, those in middle age and older don’t normally address issues quite so bluntly or coarsely. Still as a theater lover I think you could appreciate how the writers were able to create sympathetic and likable characters within such an outrageous story. Thanks again for your comment. ~Kathy
I think myth is very powerful in our lives, and can help us see our way to benefits and changes that we might otherwise ignore … though I hadn’t expected to hear anyone saying this particular play touched on that lesson! I haven’t seen the play myself, mostly because I’m in agreement with Carol that South Park takes things too far. On the other hand, though, branching out often means I find my horizons broadened without my even intending it, and that is always a nice surprise. It sounds like what you’re saying, Kathy, is that you think the play’s main benefit is it’s reminder of the power of metaphor in our lives, and helping us apply that to things that might otherwise be taken too literally and become harmful. This, I think, is actually widely applicable … and smart. Sorry, SMART!
Hi Sarah! Oh yes! You definitely caught a big part of my thinking. I personally believe that spirituality can bring an enormous depth of meaning and purpose to life. But if we aren’t careful, it’s far too easy for us to start thinking that our way of thinking, our way of practicing is not the best way, but the ONLY way. It’s so important to remember that while certain symbols and metaphors might mean a great deal to us individually–other people can be as attached to their symbols as well. Thanks for your thoughts on this….and if you do ever see the play, check back in and let me know what you thought. ~Kathy
What an awesome post, Kathy. You must have done some research to find all of these various religious metaphors. It’s very interesting. The play sounds great! I actually quite like the humor in South Park although it can be a bit gross. Bill Mehr’s Religiouless pokes serious fun and holes in the catholic religion. It’s thought provoking as well.
Hi Lisa! Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts. I’ve been a big fan of Joseph Campbell for a long time now. He is the MASTER of myth and metaphor and spent most of his life studying religions and all their various symbols. I always considered him deeply spiritual but he never took any particular religion literally. I’m not sure what he would think of the South Park interpretation but I’m sure that he would have appreciated the focus on the metaphors behind the Mormon religion.
We too have seen Bill Mahr’s Religulous. I felt his documentary was more seriously anti-religion than The Book of Mormon. While Bill definitely has issues with anything religious, the South Park boys seem somehow more tolerant of the desire of people to find comfort and purpose within their religion. Oh they are completely irreverent–but don’t seem so cyclical. Of course that’s just my opinion but I do sense a difference. What do you think? I’d love to her your thoughts on that. ~Kathy
This was one of the most entertaining, well written and well performed plays I’ve seen in a long time — and I’m a huge theatre buff! Clearly the writers went over the top with the lyrics, but there was method to their madness. I think they were trying to show how followers can sometime adopt the dogma so literally, without any question whatsoever. There’s a reason the play is so unbelievably popular (and award winning), because it’s fresh, entertaining and hopefully gets people thinking, perhaps examining their own belief systems: i.e. do you LITERALLY believe that XX is true, or is that tenet of your faith a metaphor. As least I hope it gets people thinking… 🙂
Hi Nancy! Why am I not surprised you have seen it and liked it too? I am actually amazed at how many people have seen the play and yet there isn’t that much out there written about it. So naturally that got me thinking and writing… 😉 I don’t always agree with the South Park boys but I usually appreciate their courage to push thinking to the edge AND their sense of humor (usually!) I wasn’t sure how my readers would take this…but so far I’ve only had two unsubscribes this morning so it’s going well. Thanks Nancy for jumping in and joining the conversation. ~Kathy
Ok, this is crazy, because I’m absolutely not a prude in any way. And i’m super irreverent, myself. But I heard the soundtrack and it put me off on the play. I am not a fan of South Park humor and I was so put off by the lyrics talking about fu cking babies and stuff like that. Even the snarky stuff about God. And I’m not even religious. The whole thing hit me wrong. I love how you handled the topic in your post and I feel like I don’t have to see the play to get the message. Thank you!
Hi Carol! Oh I so agree. If I had just heard the song lyrics alone I would have reacted the same. They are definitely shocking (at least to little ol’ me!). Probably the biggest genius of the play is that they put those song lyrics mixed in with the most upbeat tempos, amazing dancing and cheerful singing so that you sort of get caught up in the satire of it all when you are present. I think the South Park boys enjoy pushing people right to the “brink” with social norms. When Thom and I saw it the theater was sold out and we were actually surprised that some people didn’t get up and walk out–especially one of the very first songs! Glad I gave you a “different” way to look at it! ~Kathy