An interesting article from GetReligion.org came across the wires today. I know there are lots of people who play the “which celebrity is Mormon” game. This is a celebrity I never knew about; seems Katherine Heigl spent a good part of her youth in the Church.
According to the article (which is based on a Washington Post feature article), her family joined when she was seven, after the death of her brother. Even though she doesn’t practice her religion now (is it still her religion? the article doesn’t say), she still speaks fondly of the tenets of Mormonism.
Of course, this may be old news to some people. I have, after all, been accused by some of being a charter member of the “What Rock Have You Been Hiding Under” club. (Usually the charge comes from my children, who think Dad isn’t always too up-to-date.) I don’t normally give much attention or credence to the cult of celebrity, and I’ve never been a fan of Grey’s Anatomy, so the name Katherine Heigl didn’t ring any bells with me, nor merit any notice until it was paired with “Mormon.” Then I started to take notice.
What does this have to do with apologetics? I just thought the portrayal of Heigl as someone who has fond feelings for some beliefs of Mormonism was refreshing. The story at GetReligion.org refers to her as an “ex-Mormon,” but if she is really an ex-Mormon, she seems to be one that doesn’t carry the emotional baggage and possess the “Church is evil incarnate” attitude that many ex-Mormons do.
That is, indeed, refreshing.
-Allen
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