Archbishop Timothy Dolan...

...gave his first homily yesterday

calling on those in his flock to build their faith on “trust in what cannot be seen,” and not only “on empirical, scientific evidence.”

Given that advice, what would prevent someone from believing that a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith had a vision in upstate New York in the early part of the nineteenth century? 13 million Mormons worldwide believe that. They also believe that Smith was called by God to found the Mormon Church and that he translated the Book of Mormon from gold plates he received from the angel Moroni. The Book of Mormon is thought to be an ancient record of the people who inhabited the American continents. Among other things, it says that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri and that Jesus visited America after his resurrection.

Sound a little goofy? I think so, but don't laugh too hard. The Mormon Church is one of the fastest growing in America. And why not? With sermons like Dolan's, what's to prevent someone from believing anything?

Are there limits to faith? If so, where is the line? What wouldn't you believe? George Carlin used to joke that he was a member of a church that taught that when you die your soul goes to a garage in Buffalo. Is that a whole lot crazier than some of the stuff the Mormons believe? And are the Mormons any nuttier than anyone else?

Why not rely on "empirical, scientific evidence?" Wouldn't that be a better approach to reality? Otherwise, you might find yourself believing some day, as the Mormons do, in magic underwear.