Great article! I have to admit, in a twisted way, it all makes sense. With so many shared formative experiences and a common frame of reference, people of faith “get” each other in ways that non-religious people might not be able to get them. In a case like this, they’d certainly understand each other’s moral misgivings. If one should suffer an attack of conscience and decide to call off the affair, the other will at least appreciate his dilemma, and hopefully, not stalk him.

Back in the summer of 1991, I went door to door, selling beach toys, Nintendo games…and pornographic videos, including some starring the underaged Traci Lords. One day, in Borough Park, I found myself pitching a couple of Lubavitchers — a father and son — over the counter at their convenience store. I omitted the spicy stuff. After hearing stories about angry mobs berating women for daring to walk Mea Shearim in short sleeves, I figured these two frummer Yidden would break my kneecaps if I showed them the smallest glimpse of Traci’s cleavage.

After the old man waved me off, I thanked him and left. Before I’d walked ten paces, his son came flying out of the building, waving a hundred-dollar bill.

“Hey, man,” he said. “I noticed you got some hot videos. I want ‘em all.”

“Even the ones with Vanessa Del Rio?” I asked.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure. Black chicks rule.”

I learned two lessons that day. One, all men fall short of the glory of God. Two, hypocrisy is a synonym for civilization.

By the way, thanks for the article about tattooed Jews. It inspired me to write “The Illustrated Body of Christ: A Catholic Perspective on Religious Tattooing.”