Rainn Wilson on the Late Late Show

[rascally5]

he is part of baha'i! just like sabzi!

[9bahai9]

A lot has been written here defending Mr. Wilson for his behavior. Lighten up people! Fanaticism is forbidden in the Faith. One of the best defenses against fanaticism is a good sense of humor and Rainn Wilson has one! I was a bit shocked with his sheep comment until he said, "Sheep have nothing to do with the Baha'i Faith!" Good point.

[roughryder5]

LOL i never knew how open he was outside his character in The Office

[alienzandzombiez]

I have no problem with the way that Mr. Wilson acts because hes not disrespecting the faith in any way. Yeah he may be going against some of the teachings but hes not being any disrespect...

[madcat48]

I've grown up a second generation Baha'i and I have no issue with how Mr. Wilson acts, I think he is hilarious!

Baha'is are real people who vary a great deal in all sorts of ways, just like the members of any other group...

Some of us are conservative and old fashioned, some are tree hugging hippies, some are serious minded professionals, and some are crude and crass comedians, all of us are unique individuals. None are perfect, we are however very honestly human. I'd have it no other way.

[Moiez101]

@madcat48

damn, that was perfectly said, as a human. I commend you for being such an open-minded and passionate individual. If only everyone in any faith was like you..

[traptinlove]

i am a Bahai and i dont see anything wrong with how Rainn talks about it, in my opinion its good to let others know about it, as long as hes not bashing it which he doesnt then everythin is fine...

[thbxy]

Thanks for your reply. I'm still curious to hear what more Bahais think about Rainn's behavior. You wrote that you don't see anything wrong with how "rainn talks about it." But I'd like to know how you, as a Bahai, feel about the crude things he says and does in interviews, television, and movies? Do you see any contradiction between those things and the teachings of your religion?

[belyear]

As a Baha'i, I have no problems with Rainn's behavior. While his humor may be crude and sarcastic, providing he does not do something blatantly immodest, then it OK with me and I believe most Baha'is.

[thbxy]

On an ESPN awards show Rainn did a skit wearing only a diaper. When Rainn hosted the Independent Spirit Awards awards he used profanity throughout the show. On Real Time with Bill Maher a couple years ago Rainn said he was oddly sexually aroused by Hillary Clinton. And he makes sexual innuendos in just about every interview I've read or seen. Are you aware of these things and don't consider them to be blatantly immodest?

[belyear]

Rainn is a comedian! His comedy is very physical similar to Jim Carrey. Kike so many things Baha'i, things should be taken in context. I stick to my orginal opinion, that Rainn's behavior is not offensive to me.

[Farzad9]

not at all!

he's down to earth.. and uses humour very well to convey his message!

[Dave2006jour]

Hi, I think you brought up good points. I am Bahai, personally i didnt see anything wrong with him talking about the faith, except with one or two things he said during an oprah interview, which werent bad just i wouldnt have said them in that way. With that being said its also my duty as a bahai not to judge anyone, we all make mistakes and my perception of something could be flawed anyway

[thbxy]

Thanks for your reply. I'm always interested to hear what Bahais think about Rainn, seeing as how he is the biggest Bahai celebrity to date.

You wrote that you don't see anything wrong with him talking about the Bahai Faith, and I agree that he is free to say what he wants. That was never my point of interest. What I'm interested in are Bahais responses to how his crude words and actions contradict the moral and behavioral standards in the religion.

[pinabarryscott1]

thbxy I am very concerned but I still love him. He is doing what he can to teach our faith, but his approach is not appropriate many time, but I still love him.

[pinabarryscott1]

check out the ophrah terview that is the real Rainn Wilson. on You tube: Rainn Wilson talks about the Bahai Faith with Oprah Winfrey

He is a comedian and we must see it as that. When he talks about the faith he is very serious check out the video above.

[KoRntastic]

As a Baha'i I'd just like to say its great to see Rainn Wilson moving up in the movie world what with his starring role in "The Rocker" and giving a shout out to the Baha'i Faith too Peace on earth brother and the unity of mankind and the religions of the world! Thats what we are about!

[thbxy]

From what I've seen, most Bahais seem to like Rainn and are happy that he is famous. Since most people are not familiar with Bahai, are any Bahais out there upset or concerned by what Rainn says and does sometimes? Since he is the first Bahai a lot of people know, are Bahais worried about how he represents their relatively unknown religion when he does or says crude and lewd things in interviews, television, and movies?

[KoRntastic]

Good question man, one worth answering and if i may be so bold....Just because we are Bahai does not mean we are all "holier than thou" bull we are human beings like you and me and I personally see nothing wrong with some of the more lewd things he does or says. If you look at the characters he portrays they all have some struggle they must over come which is in everyday life. And Baha'u'llah encourages the arts in every form including acting!

[KoRntastic]

plus...The biggest thing that differs the bahai faith from others is the personal relationship we have with god as we have no clergy or churches this relationship is important. So yes it is important to behave according to the laws but hollywood is a tricky business. As long as some of the things he does in his movies arent happening in real life there is no real problem here. hope that answers your question some feel free to ask more :)

[thbxy]

Thank you for your reply. I understand not all Bahais are "holier than thou," but I imagine some are, as in any religion. In all the internet commentary by Bahais I've come across, I've read only one person who was displeased with things Rainn has done or said. I don't think one has to be "holier than thou" to be offended or unhappy with some of his behavior either. It's ironic that a religion with a high code of morals apparently has a lot of believers who enjoy and promote juvenile humor.

[KoRntastic]

It's not really that ironic, as i said before we are still human and to deny something that is amusing to ones-self just because it is against moral standings is not being true to your self. What Rainn does is fictional and one person cannot represent the Bahai Faith. Please do not take my next comment to offense for i mean none, but i'm sure you have your own morals that you uphold and you may find things funny that others may find crude but that does not change how you stand morally correct?

[thbxy]

Since it's not "that" ironic, I assume that means you do actually see some of the irony in the situation. I find it incredibly ironic, especially based on some of the Bahai writings I've read. I understand we are all human, but I thought a major point of all religions is to elevate human conduct and not debase oneself for the amusement of others. And Rainn's crude humor is not confined to the land of fiction, what about this interview and his countless other interviews and public appearences?

[cannabL1sS]

What specifically do you think he says wrong ?

[TeKoha]

Hey, I think that it's a really personal thing, how one chooses to portray themselves, or to be seen by the public, and i also think that it'd be difficult for anyone to make a statement of what they are, and then be expected to never waiver from that. We're all learning, all the time, and just because your life is public doesn't change that. So if Rainn ever does or says something rude, A) it's his choice and B) one action can't fairly represent who he'll be forever. :)

[cannabL1sS]

By the way I just want to let you guys know that I am not a bahai, nor have I ever heard of bahai, but hearing Rainn bring it up on 2 interviews now (this and chelsey handler) I am interested and I have a great impression of the religion from what rainn said.

Sarcasm is an integral part of Rainn's humor, and you have to understand that to fully comprehend his jokes. I'm sure you already know that.

Be careful of your puritan roots my friends, they run deeper than we can imagine :)

[thbxy]

I'm not accusing Rainn of saying something wrong. My point is that he says and does things in front of large audiences that contradict the teachings of his religion. My original question was how do other Bahais view his words and actions.

Before you accuse me of puritan roots (which I don't have) you should closely examine the Bahai Faith for their own puritan beliefs. They have a very high moral standard for their believers, and that is why I find Rainn's public behavior so odd.

[Skydivingkittens]

By the way I just want to let you guys know that I am not a bahai, nor have I ever heard of bahai, but hearing Rainn bring it up on 2 interviews now (this and chelsey handler) I am interested and I have a great impression of the religion from what rainn said.

Sarcasm is an integral part of Rainn's humor, and you have to understand that to fully comprehend his jokes. I'm sure you already know that.

Be careful of your puritan roots my friends, they run deeper than we can imagine :)

[hobocation]

I think you guys are reading into this waaay too much. He was kidding.

[thbxy]

I think you missed my point completely. But thanks for letting us all know that Bahais don't do weird things with sheep. We might never have figured that out.

[hobocation]

Lol. Pleasure's mine.

[SkylerAnne2012]

*Rainn lifts his leg in the air*

"What was that?"

"...the Cobra."

:D

Rainn is my hero.

[Wildness744]

The Two Funniest Peeps on tv

[WarpedTour07]

i absolutely agree 100%!!!!!

[elppen]

BAHAIS are the nicest people on earth. hands down. IF you dont agree, you havnt met enough of them, and hopefully you will.

[stifmeizter]

I want to agree with everyone here who said "If you want peace on earth, don't join a religion." But let us suppose, for just a second, that political ideologies are considered as religions (and they are, if you notice the fanatical zeal of which some of the 'faithful' adhere). Then, a faith that purposes peace isn't all that silly at all. A cohesion of men and women (women and men, however you want it), in the name of whatever, would be ... more than enough to convince me to become religious.

[stifmeizter]

*proposes, whatever :)

[mowa7edabellah]

it will happen dear rainn , it will happen even if others don't belive in peace or belive in them selves , YABAH'U'LLAH

[swim4china89]

it is soooo werid to see rainn wilson outside of dwight's character. its like i see him as dwight rather than himsself

[bmisaghi009]

haha.. peace on earth..

kind of old fashioned

Baha'i Faith..... makin' it happen

[nerice6]

SCREW COMMERCIALS!!! I want me some DWIGHT.

[kdeej]

dude...

he hugged him.

how righteous is that?

i think craig ferguson has a soft spot in his heart for peace on earth.

honestly, this is great, though.

you have to think it's pretty inevitable, though, right?

as the Faith grows, there will be more celebrities and other "influential" people counted among the ranks.

wOOt!

[pegah10]

well its nto ALWAYS their choice to fight.. but what i'm trying to say is that people know what is right and wrong, and they can choose wisely themselves,, and the people that say religion is the reason for their warfare, they are jus misunderstanding God's true teaching,

i hope that made sense.. lol

[pegah10]

hey 80s4life just so you know Baha'u'llah ( the prophet of the bahai faith) said that if Religion is the cause of war there should be no religion,

People need to stop their urges for war, it is there own choice.

[cjtraub]

He said a lot in a short time about the Baha'i Faith and with few words. Excellent!

[ceci2176]

"Sheep...really have nothing to to with the Bahá'í Faith." Absolutely hilarious, considering that the Bahá'í Writings tells us to independently investigate truth and not just idly follow anyone else... ;-)

[HannahDiary]

Baha'u'llah Woot

[80s4life]

If people want peace on earth then get rid of RELIGION! That's pretty much what started all the wars!!

[petersokolov120]

The foundation of all the religion was that simple; peace. don't disrespect your brother and... . But wars should not be attributed to religion, because it is not what it started the wars. But it was the wrong interpretation of the holy scriptures, nationalism and other forces that influnced on the minds of the people to start a war.

[80s4life]

True. Power and stupidity also start wars too.

What started the war between Irac and the USA? The US want to control everything. Eventually that's going to bite them in the ass sooner or later. I think sooner. It might have already happened too.

[SpringSauce23]

not trying to bash, but i feel if you want to discuss stupidity, iraq is with a Q

[smashingpumpkins18]

i'm afraid that greed and jealousy underlies the case of religion, aswell as injustice. Religion has sometimes been used as a reason but people have been able to live together peacefully regardless of whether they're religious or not.

[kusztar]

Only true religion bring a peace in the world!!!

[SteveMarshall]

Obviously we haven't yet had one of those then. :-)

[doddyf3]

Not really. Stalinist Russia - possibly the greatest examples of a state which eradicated religion - was one of the most brutual regimes ever

[byronmc2]

wow it is neat to hear Baha'i mentioned on national tv.

[redletteryear]

If you want peace on earth, don't join a religon. That simple!

[slicedtoribbons]

agreed