Topic: Stephen Colbert Tells Fordham Students: 'I Love My Church'

[Jetavan]

NEW YORK — In a rare public moment out of character, actor Stephen Colbert told students at the Jesuit Fordham University on Friday that he loves the Roman Catholic Church no matter its human flaws.

The host of "The Colbert Report" talked about his faith in a discussion on humor and spirituality with New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rev. James Martin, author of Between Heaven and Mirth and the official chaplain of Colbert's show.

Colbert, who has taught Sunday school classes to school-age children, said people in comedy often don't understand how he could remain Catholic. But he said he views the church as teaching joy, which he called the "infallible sign of the presence of God."

Have any Orthodox appeared on Colbert's show? I wonder.

[choy]

We should 'dox Colbert.  I love him.

[choy]

If there is a good book by an Orthodox writter that is targetted for a secular audience, they may get on his show.  He usually guests authors but of course given his very secular audience, he wouldn't really promote theology books.

[88Devin12]

If there is a good book by an Orthodox writter that is targetted for a secular audience, they may get on his show.  He usually guests authors but of course given his very secular audience, he wouldn't really promote theology books.

One could argue that Bart Ehrman's books are theology books, but an agnostic theology.

[Cyrillic]

If there is a good book by an Orthodox writter that is targetted for a secular audience, they may get on his show.  He usually guests authors but of course given his very secular audience, he wouldn't really promote theology books.

Somehow I think Orthodoxy would be bad at converting secularists. Orthodoxy is focused on mystery and apophatic theology, which I think doesn't appeal to the reason-worshipping secularists.

[choy]

If there is a good book by an Orthodox writter that is targetted for a secular audience, they may get on his show.  He usually guests authors but of course given his very secular audience, he wouldn't really promote theology books.

Somehow I think Orthodoxy would be bad at converting secularists. Orthodoxy is focused on mystery and apophatic theology, which I think doesn't appeal to the reason-worshipping secularists.

We're not converting them, just Stephen Colbert

[Cyrillic]

If there is a good book by an Orthodox writter that is targetted for a secular audience, they may get on his show.  He usually guests authors but of course given his very secular audience, he wouldn't really promote theology books.

Somehow I think Orthodoxy would be bad at converting secularists. Orthodoxy is focused on mystery and apophatic theology, which I think doesn't appeal to the reason-worshipping secularists.

We're not converting them, just Stephen Colbert

Why just one when we can convert them all?

[choy]

Why just one when we can convert them all?

Colbert is all that matters! 

[choy]

If Colbert converts and becomes hyperdox, Herman would lose his job

[vamrat]

I respect him standing up for his faith in a time when that is unfashionable, and not doing to in a parody manner. 

But all the same.  I think his show sucks.

[Shiny]

I respect him standing up for his faith in a time when that is unfashionable, and not doing to in a parody manner. 

But all the same.  I think his show sucks.

Yeah I've never liked Colbert either, but was rather shocked to see him as a devout RC.

[choy]

But I love how he subliminally catechizes his audience.  Often he will come in a tone as if mocking Christianity but in fact delivering theologically correct staments (per RC theology).

And one time he had this scientist who was talking about those particles that come in and out of existence.  He says that this proves that there is no God.  And Colbert ended the interview with, "so if these things come from nothing, and you say God does not exist, can something come from God?"

[Jetavan]

But I love how he subliminally catechizes his audience.  Often he will come in a tone as if mocking Christianity but in fact delivering theologically correct staments (per RC theology).

And one time he had this scientist who was talking about those particles that come in and out of existence.  He says that this proves that there is no God.  And Colbert ended the interview with, "so if these things come from nothing, and you say God does not exist, can something come from God?"

I seem to remember it a bit differently.

"so if these things come from nothing, and you say God is nothing, then these things come from God?"

[choy]

But I love how he subliminally catechizes his audience.  Often he will come in a tone as if mocking Christianity but in fact delivering theologically correct staments (per RC theology).

And one time he had this scientist who was talking about those particles that come in and out of existence.  He says that this proves that there is no God.  And Colbert ended the interview with, "so if these things come from nothing, and you say God does not exist, can something come from God?"

I seem to remember it a bit differently.

"so if these things come from nothing, and you say God is nothing, then these things come from God?"

My memory is not the best, perhaps you may have remembered more accurately.

[KBN1]

If there is a good book by an Orthodox writter that is targetted for a secular audience, they may get on his show.  He usually guests authors but of course given his very secular audience, he wouldn't really promote theology books.

Somehow I think Orthodoxy would be bad at converting secularists. Orthodoxy is focused on mystery and apophatic theology, which I think doesn't appeal to the reason-worshipping secularists.

We're not converting them, just Stephen Colbert

Why just one when we can convert them all?

Baby steps.

[neon_knights]

If there is a good book by an Orthodox writter that is targetted for a secular audience, they may get on his show.  He usually guests authors but of course given his very secular audience, he wouldn't really promote theology books.

NT Wright was on Colbert promoting one of his books.

[dzheremi]

While I am less enamored with his particular church, it is really good to see such a public figure actually standing up for his faith in neither a sarcastic or overbearing way. Mel Gibson could learn from this guy.

I have no opinion on his show, since I don't get cable, but when I was home visiting family last month I happened to turn on the TV one day and saw that he had banjo legend Pete Seeger (93 years old), performing a song to an audience I have to believe he was at least three times the age of on average, and I must say it was touching. If only the rest of the show were that high quality.

[Papist]

You can't have him. He's ours. 

[dzheremi]

That's fine. We have F. Murray Abraham.


F. Murray Abraham.

[Aindriú]

If Colbert converts and becomes hyperdox, Herman would lose his job

That's how to get his attention. Make Hyperdox Colbert go viral.

[Nicene]

I watched it a few times, far too liberal for me to take seriously. I do wonder how much in line with Catholic theology he is though.

[choy]

I watched it a few times, far too liberal for me to take seriously. I do wonder how much in line with Catholic theology he is though.

Sometimes I do wonder myself.  But let us not forget that his show is on Comedy Central, not EWTN.

[William]

He mocks pro-life politicians on his show.

[Asteriktos]

Lot of hate on Colbert in this thread. No accounting for taste I suppose. 

[choy]

He mocks pro-life politicians on his show.

Sometimes they do deserve to be mocked.  Not because they are pro-life, but because a lot of conservative politicians in America act like Fundamentalists.  And I believe that this is not helping the worthy causes like Pro-Life and Pro-Marriage (I don't use "traditional marriage" because that implies there are other definitions of marriage).

[orthonorm]

Lot of hate on Colbert in this thread. No accounting for taste I suppose. 

I've stated my stance elsewhere.

One joke wonder. That is all.

[Iconodule]

I admit to enjoying Colbert very much.

[Charles Martel]

I watched it a few times, far too liberal for me to take seriously. I do wonder how much in line with Catholic theology he is though.

That's his "schtick" anyway, fooling everyone he's some type of "conservative" while actually mocking them with is "act".

You people need to get a clue. 

[Peter J]

If Colbert converts and becomes hyperdox, Herman would lose his job

That's how to get his attention. Make Hyperdox Colbert go viral.

No no, it's "Catholique Colbert".

[Peter J]

I respect him standing up for his faith in a time when that is unfashionable, and not doing to in a parody manner. 

Frankly, when I clicked on this thread, I wondered if the "I love my church" comment was going to be a lead-in to making fun of Catholicism. Glad to see it wasn't.

[Kerdy]

Lot of hate on Colbert in this thread. No accounting for taste I suppose. 

Liver has taste, but I don't like it either.

[Jetavan]

Lot of hate on Colbert in this thread. No accounting for taste I suppose. 

Liver has taste, but I don't like it either.

You just haven't had the right type of liver yet.

[choy]

I watched it a few times, far too liberal for me to take seriously. I do wonder how much in line with Catholic theology he is though.

That's his "schtick" anyway, fooling everyone he's some type of "conservative" while actually mocking them with is "act".

You people need to get a clue. 

Get a clue of what?  While Colbert is a proud Catholic, anyone expecting Catholic catechesis is on the wrong show and channel.  For me, it is good enough that he slyly dishes catechesis here and there to inform the willfully ignorant about Christian faith.  But don't expect this to be EWTN.

[Jetavan]

But I love how he subliminally catechizes his audience.  Often he will come in a tone as if mocking Christianity but in fact delivering theologically correct staments (per RC theology).

And one time he had this scientist who was talking about those particles that come in and out of existence.  He says that this proves that there is no God.  And Colbert ended the interview with, "so if these things come from nothing, and you say God does not exist, can something come from God?"

This is the interview: http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/415707/june-21-2012/lawrence-krauss

You're right. He does a good job at "mocking", but actually he's catechizing.

[Charles Martel]

I watched it a few times, far too liberal for me to take seriously. I do wonder how much in line with Catholic theology he is though.

That's his "schtick" anyway, fooling everyone he's some type of "conservative" while actually mocking them with is "act".

You people need to get a clue. 

Get a clue of what?  While Colbert is a proud Catholic, anyone expecting Catholic catechesis is on the wrong show and channel.  For me, it is good enough that he slyly dishes catechesis here and there to inform the willfully ignorant about Christian faith.  But don't expect this to be EWTN.

Colbert is to be taken more seriously than EWTN these days.

[Asteriktos]

Lot of hate on Colbert in this thread. No accounting for taste I suppose. 

Liver has taste, but I don't like it either.

There are starving people in China, eat what we put on your plate! 

[lubeltri]

This interview he did with a Satan apologist is one of my favorites:

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/149094/february-11-2008/philip-zimbardo

Watch till the end!

[choy]

Another catechetical moment by Stephen Colbert with the creator of Breaking Bad 

[Cognomen]

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/149094/february-11-2008/philip-zimbardo

Watch till the end!

He let Adam off rather lightly, but nice indeed!

[choy]

This interview he did with a Satan apologist is one of my favorites:

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/149094/february-11-2008/philip-zimbardo

Watch till the end!

Any link for us Canadians?

[Jetavan]

When asked by Oprah to talk about the "genius" that is his multiple personality approach to satire, a flattered Colbert assured her that although he has influenced both people and politics, that has never been his goal or intention. He mimics pundits like Bill O'Reilly because they often tell people what to think, and in the process he makes his audience think. He calls it "parody with a point," but admits that his real feelings aren't always so far away from those of the people he mocks:

"Sometimes I agree with my character, and it's important to me that the audience not know when that is," he said.