"Using cant to transcend cant…" (From Kevin Jones in the comments box)

The subject of Stephen Colbert and faith is getting noted more and more frequently.

Mormon2Catholic notes his reciting the Nicene Creed on the show

The Anchoress commented as well, and links to a couple of older Ann Althouse posts on the subject of Colbert’s faith.

In June, Colbert took on Bart Ehrman and had him near-speechless a couple of times.

And then, there’s the incredible amazing Colbert liturgical dance, (originally part of the Amy Sedaris show Strangers with Candy) blogged by many a couple of months ago, but I could never get it to embed here…grrr. But do watch it. I think I was going to title my post "We hate liturgical dance…unless Stephen Colbert is doing it."

The other night on Conan, Colbert reproduced the Lord of Glory dance in the context of talking about being a catechist.

A few days ago, Colbert interviews a couple of scientists on embryo-destructive stem cell research. GOP Soccer Mom summarizes and comments.

He did his show on Ash Wednesday with ashes on his forehead. Photo here, in another context.

The question with Colbert, as unpacked in the Althouse discussions is…what are the layers of this persona? Colbert is, by his own admission, a practicing Catholic who’s open and happy about his faith. The Colbert character – a play on Bill O’Reilly and other cable-type talk show guys – is a little different – a blowhard, arrogant know-it-all who at once makes us a little hostile but at the same time speaks our mind for us. The Ehrman interview expresses this pretty well. I’ve watched bits and pieces of his show, but I think I need to become a regular – I watched most of one show with David last week, and found it borderline brilliant.

Oh. And someone tell him we’re talking about him. (Even if no one’s said anything yet.) And someone tell me how to send him a copy of my Kids’ Book of Saints. Seriously.