I got this email earlier today and wasn’t going to bother posting it since its smugness is so utterly typical of the stuff I get every day. But then, I changed my mind. First the email:

Jonah,It is interesting to see all the bru-haha generated by Mitt Rimney’s Mormonism among conservatives. But it should come as no surprise to a conservative like yourself – bigotry is second nature to conservatives all over the country – regardless if they are wailing about Mexicans, gays or Mormons. Go down to Alabama & see for yourself – many consevatives there even believe (literally) the biblical story of creation – including many of the candidates the GOP is fielding; who claim evolution is ‘just a theory’. No surprises there – ignorance & bigotry often go hand in hand. Joe

Me: So why bother? Well, if for no other reason than to point out that according to polling data, Democrats are somewhat more likely to be prejudiced against Mormon politicians than Republicans are. For what that’s worth (See table 4). Update: Sigh: From a reader:

Subject: Does this mean you think anti-Mormonism = bigotry? Your post “Second Nature Bigotry” suggests so, to the extent you accept your correspondent’s prejudice. I thought conservatives limited bigotry to immutable characteristics like race or sex. As an evangelical, I have concerns about Romney’s belief system but don’t consider myself a bigot.

Me: My intent was merely to note that on the readers own terms, the world is not how he thinks it is. However I certainly do think that “anti-Mormonism” can be bigotry. And it can be something more benign. I think it matters on where the individual person is coming from, what’s in their heart, how it manifests itself, etc. I certainly don’t think it’s bigotry to refuse to hire a Mormon as a Rabbi. Beyond that, I must say I am exhausted by the Mormon talk. Update II: Yes, yes: I know, evolution is only a theory. I didn’t say otherwise. And I didn’t think I had to rebut the first emailer’s jackassery on every point.