What do we know about Glenn Beck's past as a drug addict?

[Erose999]

Anybody have any source material toward that end? What was he hopped up on and how bad was he on it?

Also, under what circumstances did he convert to LDS? I have never met or even heard of anyone converting to Mormonism, and some of my best friends in High School came from a Mormon families. As I understand it you are born Mormon and then if you're smart you figure out its BS in your teenage years and convert to something more mainstream, or agnosticism/atheism. Sometimes a woman will marry into it, especially if theres money. I mean... what kind of person chooses to be Mormon? lol

[asdjrocky]

1. Why judge someone on past drug use?

There's so much in his current behavior to criticize.

As far as his conversion to LDS, I try not to judge people for their religion, as much as I disagree with everything Mormons stand for, but again, there is so much to criticize with Beck that has nothing to do with his religion.

Honestly, I feel you're baiting with your post.

[Erose999]

15. I'm just trying to get a complete picture of him. Some of my heroes and mentors are recovered

addicts, and Glenn just doesn't seem like he's been through recovery. Theres a grit in the voice that these people have the Beck doesn't. He just doesn't have the mannerisms, etc. He seems like he's never used or used casually and "former addict" is just part of the act.

[Brickbat]

2. A past as a drug addict isn't worth going after, especially if he says his wacky shit when he's cold

sober. Seriously, addiction hits so many people it's not useful to demonize it.

[arbusto_baboso]

3. He just switched addictions.

From alcohol and drugs to mormonism.

[Cirque du So-What]

19. 'I used to fucked-up on drugs'

'now I'm fucked-up on the Lord!'

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Wasn't he somehow involved in the murder of a teenage girl?

[Ganja Ninja]

8. I read that on the internet so it must be true. n/t

[Iggo]

10. He's never denied it, as far as I know.

[valerief]

5. As much as we know about his past as a pedophile and gun runner. nt

[Blue Meany]

11. I think we have to take him at his word that he's not a pedophile,

gun-runner or murderer, although, he's never come right out and denied any of these rumors so you do have to wonder <sarcasm>.

[valerief]

13. And I take him at his word he's not a human-earthworm hybrid. nt

[Angry Dragon]

17. I heard someplace that he was registered on the

sexual offender list .......... not sure if this is true or not

[yellowcanine]

6. Actually a lot of people do convert to Mormanism. The Mormans aggressively proselytize.

They are particularly good at snagging high school and college age youth with programs geared specifically to those age groups.

[Ganja Ninja]

7. He seems to have damaged more than a few brain cells.

Whether it was the drugs or a pre-existing condition is hard to determine.

[ocd liberal]

9. Didn't Barbara Walters interview him last year?

Or somebody like that? His wife was with him for the interview and he kept saying that the only reason he converted to LDS was to have sex with his wife (who was not his wife yet) so if it isn't drugs, it's sex. Plus, he french kissed his sister and admitted to being in love with her.

[Quantess]

12. Being a recovering drug addict / recovering alcoholic is nothing to judge someone over.

Occasionally I think he takes a sip or two before going on camera, though. I saw a clip where he seemed tipsy.

[Erose999]

16. Not judging, see my reply in the OP. I agree he probably has a nip before the camera starts

and sometimes his guests just can't hang:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQwGFDnIVeU

[SheilaT]

14. I knew someone who had converted to the LDS

church as a young adult. I couldn't quite understand why someone as intelligent as he was could be bamboozled by them, but there you have it.

The desire to belong and the quest for understanding what the meaning of life is, to me, is underneath much of the human inclination to religious belief.

[E_Pluribus_Unitarian]

18. If you want to know a lot of background info about The Beckerhead...

...and if you have the time to listen, here's audio of yesterday's Culture Shocks radio program with Barry Lynn. Lynn interviews Alex Zaitchik, author of the book Common Nonsense, which focuses on the rise of The Beckerhead. Just click on the play button (next to download) for the on-demand audio stream... http://www.cultureshocks.com/shows/2010/08/25/alex-zaitchik/