Soul singer mainstreams Scientology

Soul singer Issac Hayes has mainstreamed Scientology, the religion based on donating a boatload of money to achieve some sort of quasi-religious nirvana. Long the province of outside the mainstream types and egomaniacal movie stars, Scientology shared a place in the religious heirarchy just up the path from worshippers of Star Trek.

But Hayes, the voice of Chef on Southpark since 1997, has moved the religion squarely into the mainstream by demonstrating, in an act intended to display principle, the three hallmarks of modern religion: hypocrisy, intolerance and bigotry. Yes, the classic misdirection play scores the trifecta.

Anyone who hasn't been in a coma for the last few years knows that nothing is sacred on Southpark. Christianity - ina all it's forms - has been pilloried mercilessly on the show. But when the show went after L. Ron Hubbards money making dynasty, Hayes decided religion was something to be respected and he quit.

Trash your religion - ok. Trash my religion - you are evil. Yep, Scientology, welcome to the fold.