Father In Law

Saturday, Jun. 11, 2005 - 11:06 a.m.

My father in law, who likes to forward things to me and who sent me the Eid Stamp Boycott email, sent me yet another missive yesterday.

I'd like to share it with you. I love the guy, but when these things land in my inbox, I feel like I put a penny in the machine and got a licorice gumball.

The title of the email was

PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING YOUR NAME TO THIS LIST

Dear all,

A disgusting film is set to appear in America later this year which depicts Jesus and his disciples as Homosexuals! As a play, this has already been in theatres for a while. It's called "Corpus Christi" which means "The Christ Body." It's a revolting mockery of our Lord. But we can make a difference.

That's why I am sending this e-mail to you all. Will you please add your name to the bottom of the list at the end of this e-mail? If you do, we will be able to prevent this film from showing in America. Apparently, some regions in Europe have already banned the film. All we need is a lot of signatures! Remember, Jesus said, "Deny me on earth and I'll deny you before my Father".

Please don't just forward it!! Please copy this message paste the text in a new e-mail then add your name to the list and send it to all your friends. When the list you sign reaches 500 names, please send it to: [deleted@deleted.com]

And then start again....... IF WE WORK TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS.

Thank You!

Attached to the mail, there was a list of about four hundred names with my FIL's at the bottom.

I read this thing and pondered it for most of a day, and then last night I sent this response:

Dear Everybody --

Okay. Show of hands -- who remembers the Italian photographer Andres Serrano?

Remember what he did? He was the guy behind 'Pisschrist', the series of photos that displayed crucifixes suspended in jars of blood and urine. As peculiar or repulsive as Pisschrist was perceived to be by so many people -- it nevertheless was artwork that made people think.

That's what art is always supposed to accomplish, isn't it?

When you first saw or heard of Pisschrist, didn't you almost *instantly* start to think about how you feel about Jesus Christ? Whether you are Christian or not -- didn't your feelings for Jesus Christ obtain more clarity, regardless of what the feelings were?

The same thing seems to be happening with movies like Corpus Christi.

Movies like this need to exist for a very important reason and that is this: They strengthen the beliefs of the truly faithful.

If you don't want to go see it, don't go see it. But suppression of ideas? Gee, that's funny --at the height of the Cold War, when we were fightning the commies 40 years ago, Free Speech was heralded as the basis of our Christian nation. Why in the world would that concept change just because the Cold War is over?

Besides, I thought faith was supposed to sustain us even though all of the weird offensive anti-Christian stuff was out there *anyway* -- not drive us to make it go away so we don't ever have to really have our faith tested. If all we ever do is try to insure that safe secure fluffy stuff surrounds us, then we'll end up as safe secure fluffy human beings with no concept of how our faith should stand up in the face of offensive material.

Anyway, Dad -- thanks for the email. Keep em coming! :-)

They are, in their own way, pieces of art which always make me think.

I haven't heard back from him yet. I hope I didn't offend, but there's just... some stuff I needed to say.

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Danica Patrick will be racing again today. Go, girl!

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I think that's it. See ya next time!

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2 of my readers commented on this entry

MissPinkKate - 2005-06-12 01:04:01
The funny thing is, "Corpus Christi" was a play (by Terrence McNally), and I don't think they're making a movie out of it, because once it opened in New York, everyone realized that despite all the controvery, it just.... wasn't a good play. Gotta love the Internet to fan flames with ignorance.
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Jamie - 2005-06-11 20:43:47
You are certainly DiaryLand's answer to Julia Sugarbaker from 'Designing Women' -- and I LOVE that about you! Muahhhh!!!
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