SACRILEGE: It is finished means it is finished!

Italian museum defies pope anger over crucified frog | Yahoo! News

What do you get when you combine a German art museum, a German artist, and a green German frog? No, not a Kermitmeister!

Just as in the case with the Danish Muhammad cartoons debacle, this is a cause for the Christians of the world to unite and burn buildings ... heck, whole cities ... well at least a few old cars.

An art museum in northern Italy said Thursday it will continue displaying a sculpture portraying a green frog nailed to a cross that has angered Pope Benedict XVI and local officials. [...]

I could find no record of Pope Bennie actually described as angry ... apparently the author (Ariel David) of this piece needed an adjective real bad.

Earlier in August the pope had written a letter to Franz Pahl, the president of the Trentino-Alto Adige region that includes Bolzano, denouncing the sculpture.

It "has offended the religious feelings of many people who consider the cross a symbol of God's love and of our redemption," Pahl quoted the pope as writing in the letter.

Pahl himself has long opposed the display of "Zuerst die Fuesse" ("First the Feet" in German), even staging a hunger strike this summer and saying he would not seek re-election unless it was removed.

And it is this that CW wants to highlight; ridicule of key or fundamental aspects of a person's orthodox faith is an extreme form of disrespect for that person and their faith.

To this end I understand Islam's negative reaction to the Danish cartoons. However, I vehemently disagree with their expression of upset.

Pahl said he was outraged by the museum's decision to keep the work, which he claims "pokes fun at the Catholic population and offends religion and the pope."

The 1990 wooden sculpture shows the crucified frog nailed through the feet and hands like Jesus Christ.

Just guessing, but I could be easily convinced that the artist had some personal issues he was dealing with.

The museum said the 3-foot (1-meter) -tall sculpture has nothing to do with religion, but is an ironic self-portrait of the artist and an expression of his angst.

"With humor and a tragicomic sense, which belongs to art since the times of Greek tragedy, Kippenberger ... faces his condition of suffering, which he expresses in many works, also, for example, in a video in which he crucifies himself," the museum said in a statement.

Nuff said!

Blasphemy, Christianity, Cristophobia,
Ridicule, Religion, Sacrilege

PARODIC SATIRE: Being Christian means being tough skinned!

A Heavenly Candidate | Washingtonpost.com

Hat Tip to - WaPo Lauds Liberal Jesus-for-Prez Novel: He's a 'Unitarian Porn Star'? | NewsBusters.org

When people mock our faith or our Lord, we, as Christians, are frequently torn between outrage and wisdom. The arrival of this book is one such time ... at least it has the feel of such a time.

I like to believe I prefer wisdom to outrage ... sadly I employ the latter more often than not. Yet wisdom is winning on this one!

American Savior is, I believe, a comedic parody (or as the publisher says a "bitingly clever satirical novel") of Christian nationalism ... an issue that I believe is fair game for non-believers.

Too many of those I call brothers and sisters claim to be Evangelical or conservative Christians, but they are, in reality, Christian Nationalists ... believing that "saving" America is a command of God straight off the pages of the gospels.

Somehow they seem to think any evil done in the USA is a direct threat to the Church and God Himself. They seem to overlook Jesus' words concerning "the gates of Hell."

We, as believers, must remember what parody ...

1. a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing ...
2. the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations
3. a burlesque imitation of a musical composition
4. any humorous, satirical, or burlesque imitation, as of a person, event, etc.

and satire ...

1. the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.
2. a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule
3. a literary genre comprising such compositions.

are! They are tools of the cultural, social and political critic.

Based on the Ron Charles review in the Washington Post, I'd say Roland Merullo's new novel America Savior is the genuine article - a satirical parody or, if you wish, a parodic satire.

American Savior is a remarkably innovative novel that challenges our perceptions and beliefs while it wags a finger at the folly of our self-righteousness. It is sure to cause controversy among those for whom politics itself has become a kind of religion. [Algonquin]

Many will see Merullo's novel as Cristophobic, I do not! I am secure enough in my faith and my Lord is secure enough in me, that I don't fear this kind of secular criticism. We should not always see darkness when there's so much light.

Merullo is obviously not trying to propagate spiritual truths or encourage others to hate Christians or Christianity; but, rather, the author seems to be encouraging us (i.e., conservative Christian nationalists, evangelicals and fundamentalists) to wake up and see the image on the Jumbo Tron.

Savior is narrated by a former newscaster named Russ Thomas who quits his job to help elect Jesus. The campaign brings Jesus into contact with Merullo's other target — the media with its bloviating superstars: i.e., the suspender-wearing Lenny Queen. [USAToday]

I need a copy of the book to review ... maybe Merullo or Algonquin will send me one?

Books, Christianity, Cristophobia,
Parody, Religion, Satire