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It's a Mormon in the 'House'

While both the misdirected barbs (House's snide commentary and questions are clearly not crafted with a knowledge of their intended target/audience) and the one presented as being "Mormon" being relatively incompetent in responding to the cookie cutter anti-theistic attacks relative to the education and erudition the role he is cast in would seemingly entitle him too all seem to clearly propagate confusion I have to say that I take Brigham Young at his word when he says--

"If the people will let us alone we will convert the world, and if they persecute us we will do it the quicker"

Persecution can be done passively. I'm not saying the writers or producers or actors are necessarily doing any of this with intent to malign us. But it is possible to passively persecute, to propagate ignorance to the detriment of some person or people.

Whenever Dr. House says something negative or offensive against the Mormon character of the show, I smile. House is an extremely offensive character who is both respected for his intelligence and despised for his views. Thus, it is not a bad thing to have House bash your faith. House makes a habit out of bashing the good in the world, this is part of the premise of the show. I have not yet seen anything that would portray the LDS church in a negative light on this show. On the contrary, I believe the writers of this show are depicting a good man, who is trying his best to do the right thing, being persecuted by a despicable man no one likes anyway.

I have loved the show, but am wary about this development. Surprisingly, many TV guide forum fans appreciate the Mormon character for being different and interesting.

I have to defend TV guide though--House called the character both "Big Love" and "Dark, Religious Nut," rather than the website itself. They covered the possible outrage at this by having someone in the room with him completely appalled at his behavior.

I agree that should this continue, they need to get an actual, practicing Mormon to consult. They are throwing in a bunch of things that aren't actually true, while missing some big opportunities. At least he isn't fanatical and unstable, which is how most people like to portray Mormons.

I think it's time for us to just realize that people are going to make fun of us and get over it. We have more important things to do than complain about such things.

Wow! interesting take. I have never watched House and dont plan too. I still think this is a push in the right direction for the Mormon church.

Though I have found some of the treatment of this character in the show offensive, it still gives the church exposure at different levels. Yes the facts are incorrect but at the same time- this is exposure for the church. I think if we study or interpret anything too much you are on a course to obsessive compiusive behavior. Lets just accept this for what it is- free advertisement for the church on prime time. Twenty to twenty five million people watch this show each week. I would say from a missionary standpoint that is pretty good.

So why does the creator of all things care what we put into our digestive tract?

The last few episodes of house have been pretty good. I don't care about factual errors; they make the character more believeable. Yes, i also believe he'd take after the pope with the same venom.

So, calm down and get over the persecution complex. House hates you. Maybe take that as one of the signs of becoming mainstream which mormonism so desperately seeks all the time. Besides, in the show I think he is trying to establish whether Cole's character will act on science, rather than faith, because they're in the science business.

House is one of those shows where I have tried numerous times to watch and have only made it through a handful of episodes. As a Mormon I am certainly not offended by this new charecter, however, it is disappointing that "smart" people can't seem to get a clue about polygamy not being part of the LDS church for over a century. Sure it was part of our "history" but again that was over 100 years ago. On a positive note, the LDS has recieved a ton of free advertising with shows like this, from Mitt Romney's presidential run, etc...The great thing about the church is that if someone is REALLY interested to hear about our beliefs and what we are really about, they will be pleasantly surprised. Of course there are a few weirdos in the church and some of our beliefs may seem strange, but that is the beautiful thing about this gospel...if someone is really looking for truth, it's all here.

Publicity of any sort is just that...publicity. Years ago I thought Don King (promoter of boxer Mike Tyson) was crazy when he said any publicity was good publicity, even bad publicity. But, over the last few years, in this intensly media-driven country I've actually come to think Don King was right. Therefore, I don't worry about it. (And I like the 'House' show.) The missionaries will get 'em!

hopefully there are no Docs in and around your community who act like "Dr. House". he gives medicine a bad name and rap.
it's very interesting that since Gov. Romney is running for president there is suddenly all this "interest" albeit sideswiping interest in the LDS church. perhaps it is because the writers know they won't be called to repent by the NAACP, Rainbow PUSH coalition, the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Clintons, or NOW or other special interest groups. The LDS folks and leaders will just turn the other cheek. In the end, "any publicity is good publicity" is the modus operandus.

We teach kids not to bully and then we do it as grown-ups - unless it is somehow perceived as politically incorrect. Mocking religion and Mormons in general is always in season for the those who consider themselves to be intellectually elite.

The writer at TVGuide didn't make up the term "Dark Religious Nut". He used it in the recap because during one episode that's what House called the Mormon character. It was hardly a case of bigotry on the part of the TV Guide writer.

Overall, I think the writers have done a pretty good job of portraying a Mormon character on the show. While most of what House has said about the Church has been pretty infuriating, the Mormon doctors responses, I feel, have been fair at showing that we should turn the other cheek, so to speak, but we also can be human.

There is an old saying, "Bad news coverage is better than no coverage at all." I personally believe that with all the coverage the Mitt Romney is getting, and his religion being scrutinized, that anything said about Mormons only heightens peoples curiosity and for those seeing the truth about what Mormons really believe it is a good thing. For those who are looking for anything negative to support their ideology this kind of misinformation becomes just another arrow in their quiver. You know, you do not have to believe what I believe for what I believe to be true. It is only important that you know I that I believe it.

I would like to be accurately portrayed. If someone on TV is going to pretend to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I would hope they would consult an active member of the church to get it right and not someone who "was" a Mormon or "grew up around" Mormons or some such. There is much they could intellectually explore and ethically challenge without cheaply targeting what is sacred.
I have been a fan of the show and would like to continue to be, but will be very disappointed if they take the low road on this instead of what I've come to expect from them. And, by the way, my friends and I speak quickly with wit with no writers.

I think your review is way off the mark. My thought after watching several episodes this season was, "wow, they must have a very sharp mormon writer on the show." Yes, the things House says are offensive, but what mormon hasn't heard them before? Cole's responses to House's behavior are intelligent and fair, and I think that they help correct a lot of misconceptions people have about the LDS church. Dr. House may be critical of mormons, but the show is actually quite complimentary of the mormon way of life.

In a few short years "House" will be gone and forgotten, as almost all TV shows are. In a few short years, where will the LDS Church be?

Mormon is the new minority. You need a querky person to be on your show. Make them a mormon. Being just black, gay, or a vampire isn't good enough any more, make him or her a black mormon, a gay mormon, or a gay vampire that is black and a mormon. This kind of writing and casting = Emmy or Golden Globe.

Hopefully gone and forgotten.

We are not alone! One of the most hilarious TV shows mocking our Catholic friends came from the old country. The show was called "Father Ted" and featured several unorthodox characters - and Irish at that! Thousands upon thousands of people, perhaps even millions, the world over tuned in to watch the humorous antics. So I don't believe for a moment that unorthodox Mormon characters as such a bad thing. It's good to laugh at ourselves once in a while, and Richard D proved that with his movies.

House has taken on several religious beliefs, mainstream and otherwise, and frequently 'takes on' God himself. His character pushes buttons, whatever they may be. I can understand you being upset about your beliefs being portrayed inaccurately--in fact, I agree with many of the commenters that there should be a consultant for the show who is a member of the LDS Church to ensure that those beliefs are shown accurately. But since you admit to not having been a regular viewer of the show, your criticism of House's comments comes across as reactionary rather than informed.