Blog Spotlight on Peter Mooney of the Smoking Christian

"Peter Scott Mooney is one of the most-sought after and well known 'Uninspiring Speakers' in the country," quips blogger Peter Mooney on his blog, The Smoking Christian, a witty and irreverent collection of ramblings from the B-list blogger.

An ex-advertising executive, Peter writes that "at the age of 23, a team of Harvard trained psychologists told him his analytical intelligence was so astronomically high, chances of anybody he would meet in normal life understanding a word he said were too close to nil for his own well being."

The Fullerton, California, blogger posts that the same psychologists warned his family that a lack of psychiatric care would force Peter to end up "in a room by himself."

Peter Mooney did not get psychiatric help. Today, three decades later, Peter Mooney sits in a room and writes The Smoking Christian…by himself.

It's full-circle observations like these that have garnered The Smoking Christian a growing fan base, along with entries like 'Genius is Pain,' wherein the author laments that "it's funny just how many times in my working life I found myself working for world famous corporations with very deep pockets who thought I was seriously mentally ill."

I decided to contact my namesake for an exclusive interview, and in true Peter Mooney fashion, the responses I received were witty and irreverent:

Paula Neal Mooney: Hey Peter…Interview, Please?

The Smoking Christian: All I can say is that if this is an Internet scam to extract personal information from me, it's the best ever! Glancing around with the help of your links, you've gone to great trouble to appear legitimate and deserve every penny you can extract from my vast personal financial empire.

That being said, I'm very happy to answer any and all questions for a member of the Mooney clan. Even though, as I was just telling my lovely wife, you really don't look 100% Irish in your picture. Apparently somebody finally got around to improving our Mooney genetic pool, something I've been urging for years.

The classic 'Mooney look' was rather plain, incredibly forgettable, white and a tad puffy in the face from years of heavy drinking. Inexplicably, many of us had the full-blown 'look' by the third grade. Of course, you might have married one of these classic types I just described and this is only your married name. If so, I truly feel sorry for you.

Paula Neal Mooney: No sympathies. Just call me Paula X! IQ?

The Smoking Christian: I honestly don't know. I don't believe it was ever tested. After college I was sent for testing by the number one executive testing center of its time and found to be in the top 10% in analytical intelligence of anyone who they'd ever tested in history.

I was 23 when I took this test and the youngest person they had ever tested. I was told I would never find people in normal life who would be able to understand me because I would be "over their heads."

My employer at the time, The Sea Island Company of Sea Island, Georgia, was advised I would need regular psychiatric counseling to be able to handle the loneliness my vast intelligence would cripple me with. I chose drinking and pot smoking instead. This may not have been the wisest choice. But, it was my decision at the time.

Paula Neal Mooney: Closet skeletons?

The Smoking Christian: My father was raised in foster care here in California. He never met his father and his mother was always a mystery. I point this out to explain why I feel related to all Mooneys everywhere because I have no clue one way or the other.

I didn't even know Mooney was an Irish name until the man I was named after was appointed our Ambassador to Ireland by President Ronald Reagan back around 1982. This other Peter then called to tell me that the name Mooney is more common in Ireland than Smith is in America. So, suddenly I had some sort of heritage I could bore people with, a true blessing for certain.

Paula Neal Mooney: Married with kids?

The Smoking Christian: I have been married for 13 years and have a boy (10) and a girl (8). Yes, I could be their grandfather and many times would prefer that. Children have too much energy and it is against the law in California to drug them.

Paula Neal Mooney: Excitingly dramatic Damascus Road-type conversion experience to share and thrill readers?

The Smoking Christian: Just the fact that you know the story of the Apostle Paul tells me you're no stranger to the Bible. So, maybe you'll understand when I tell you that when you're raised in a strict Christian Fundamentalist home, you often miss having such an experience.

I have no idea when I signed up, or exactly how often. You know, my grandfather started Wycliffe Bible Translators, the largest protestant missionary organization in the world, over his garage. Billy Graham used to stop by our home in Fullerton for lunch. I grew up so immersed in this stuff, it's pretty much all a blur. Fortunately, my mother believes that once you're a Christian, you are saved for eternity! Otherwise, I'd be pretty nervous about now.

I suppose that pretty much wraps it up. I must now go read some of your attractive blog. It looks cool and interesting. So far I admire you for putting up your college GPA. Mine was similar. My excuse is that I never went to class except to take the midterm and the final.

At Westmont College, which only had 850 students, I was actually called into the Dean of Student's office to see if I really existed. Once I showed my face, I was told I would be graded down one full grade in every one of my classes for nonattendance. This seemed to be a pretty good deal to me so I took it.

Later, at UCSB, I became somewhat of a celebrity as "the genius who never bought a book or went to class and was still passing all his classes."

It's really too bad you can't put this kind of stuff on a resume, don't you think? So long from your fellow Mooney and mad blogger, Peter S. Mooney, The Smoking Christian