Everybody must get stoned

Or, at least not try to engage one's mind in the pursuit of truth or anything Rolling Stone's management doesn't personally care for.

Rolling Stone rejected Zondervan's ad for a new-translation Bible on the simple grounds that for RS's parent company's general manager Kent Brownridge, "It's a religious message that I personally don't disagree with." He seems to be referring to the ad's "Timeless truth; Today's language" copy. At first, Brownridge seems to be genuine; he can promote whatever worldview he chooses in the magazine ("Beads! Balconies! Join the party in New Orleans!" proclaims Southern Comfort's accepted ad on Rolling Stone's web site.). However,

Zondervan marketing vice president Doug Lockhart said offers to change the ad text were refused and Rolling Stone would not show them a written policy ruling out religious advertising.

So the religious message is merely "Christians are advertising in Rolling Stone." Or perhaps "Christians are advertising in Rolling Stone and they're not apologizing for being bigots/gay-haters/Crusaders," take your pick.

Of course, RS has the right to refuse whatever ads on whatever grounds. No one's questioning their undyingly leftist worldview. It's disengenuous, however, to object to Zondervan's ad because they purport a truth claim, and yet to feature links to such truth-claiming organizations like moveon.org, hrc.org -- and yes, truthout.org -- all the while presenting an air of tolerance and open-mindedness.

Presumably, Green Day's Jesus Of Suburbia, listed #1 on the RS Music Store on the home page, features a more Brownridge-friendly worldview.