We have fallen upon hard times in the rhetorical question business. At one time, these questions could be safely asked because there was no risk of going intellectually bankrupt.
No longer.
Consider these three common* rhetorical questions.
1. Is the Pope Catholic?
Ok, for obvious reasons, we at ABE Ministry have ruled that question is no longer rhetorical.
2. Must a TV series of at least two years duration be required at some point to feature Jimmy Smits as a character?
Jimmy Smits. Like an incurable VD, he seems to flare-up every so often.
3. Did Mahomet drink camel pee? *
ABS teaches that drinking animal pee leads to violence.
* “Narrated Anas: The climate of Medina did not suit some people, so the Prophet ordered them to follow his shepherd, i.e. his camels, and drink their milk and urine (as a medicine). So they followed the shepherd that is the camels and drank their milk and urine till their bodies became healthy. Then they killed the shepherd and drove away the camels. When the news reached the Prophet he sent some people in their pursuit. When they were brought, he cut their hands and feet and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron.” (Sahih Bukhari 7.71.590)
Hey ABS, why didn't you ask, Has the bottom fallen out of the girdle market?
Because we have very high standards around here.
* Does ABS just make-up stuff on the spot?
That's a rhetorical question.