I may be the one that is in the minority here and I am definitely ashamed of my own unbalanced priorities; but sometimes I just don't understand what the big deal is with some of the latest controversies. Specifically I want to write about the controversy with South Park.
First of all, I have 2 confessions.
1. I love Jesus. He is my God, Lord, and Leader of my Life. He is everything I strive to become.
2. I love South Park. It is intelligent, challenging, and hilarious.
With that said, I slap my forehead when I watch all the talking heads interviewing religious commentators crying foul because South Park shows a cut-out image of Jesus pooping on Americans and, specifically, President Bush.
My question is what is the heart of the controversy?
Is it the portrayal of Jesus pooping? Yknow, Jesus did have a digestive track and he did have a colon...so it is very realistic to accept the fact that Jesus pooped a lot. Is it the public portrayal of Jesus pooping? Now, I'm not a fan of watching anyone dropping a deuce; but I don't remember such a controversy surrounding Dumb & Dumber and its bathroom humor.
Is the controversy the image of Jesus pooping on Americans and specifically President Bush? If so, then there shouldn't be so much outcry from religious commentators as much as there should be outcry from political and/or patriotic commentators. From a spiritual standpoint, though, let me point out that the Bible is very clear that when Jesus is disgusted when it comes to people's deeds, he is not so much a pooper as he is a spitter. See Revelations 3.
You won't hear any outcry from political and/or patriotic commentators on this subject...or at least you shouldn't. Why? Because of the beauty of the 1st Amendment. The 1st Amendment has both a bright side and a dark side that we see lived out every day; but as an American Christ Follower, I think the 1st Amendment is beautiful no matter how she looks.
8 comments:
Neil,
Much to learn you have my young padawan! Wait until you have kids and then we'll have this discussion!
Your bro,
Joe
What you do in moderation...others will do in excess!
Joe,
My good man, I think you are missing the point or we are two different wave-lengths or perhaps I'm missing the point...I have been known to do so from time-to-time. However, I fail to see becoming a parent would make this topic clearer.
And to Anonymous, first of all, I usually don't recognize comments without names attached to them...but I'll let you go this time. Again, I fail to see the connection with your comment to this specific post.
In no way do I want to come off as brash; but I do ask you to actually say something meaningful to the subject at hand. Your comment could be meaningful but without context, your comment negates itself.
Sincerely Yours,
Neil
Neil,
Satan is portrayed as the homosexual lover of Saddam Hussein and is portrayed as a sensitive, loving and caring being while the One who cast him into Hell clearly tells the Truth about him: that Satan's only interests are to steal, kill and destroy [John 10:10]. Hussein waves his disembodied male member around. And it was not a cardboard drawing like most other images of the movie -- it was of photographic resolution. The most foul of the foul words was clearly spoken by the children at least 131 times and many other times in a muffled or garbled way as well as in rapid uncountable succession in song [Col. 3:8]. The three/four letter word vocabulary was used at least 119 times, also mostly by children. God's name in vain was used 11 times without the four letter expletive and 6 times with it [Deut 5:11]. And many times the child characters were saying things like "What's the big deal" (about the foul language). "Suck my --", "Let's ([homo]sexual intercourse)", and repeated questions about a female private organ were but a very few of the vulgar expressions used by the kids.
Angels were portrayed as females - nude, very nude. God was called many vulgar and hateful names. Satan was glorified. Jesus was equated with sexual anatomy. A child was graphically incinerated by igniting his flatulence, then another kid tried to beat out the flames with a stick and was concerned about the stick catching fire. Body parts dripping with blood were ripped from a child by a surgeon who expressed shallow concern. The dead child was then seen with an exploded chest. The dead child, after being rejected from Heaven (by nude female angels) and cast into Hell (which is a violation of Scripture in and of itself), was then presented as a ghost trying to influence the other kids. An all-male chorus line wore pink bikini briefs. Homosexual acts were described. Decomposing burned bodies were cast as live occupants of Hell. "Big brother" electronic shock control of a child was used to prevent his use of foul language (each time he cussed he was shocked -- he used this shock later to defeat Hussein by shouting every known and several unknown foul words). A man committed suicide by jumping out of a window. And throughout the movie was script to promote licentious belittlement of wholesome life and entertainment: rationale to lessen even further the threshold of acceptance. [Rom. 16:17 - 18]
And you want your kids watching this crap? Okay so you take out the kids factor...why would anyone want to watch that crap? The Word tells us to keep our minds on what is holy and what is pure and what is noble! I have to keep myself accountable as well everyday brother, and it's a struggle. So your not comparing yourself to me or my standard...I'm just reminding you of His standard!
still love ya man,
Joe
Holy Balls, Joe! Are we talking about the same TV Show?! More on your comments later...can't let the cupcakes burn! :-)
You're always a stud in my book!
Neil
My comments are on the movie! But is there really a differernce? I've watched the show a couple of times, to check out what it was about and then I realized I would never get that wasted 45 minutes of life back so I turned the channel! But hey man, whatever your into, I know you were going with a more political stance but I just had to nail the show/movie in general! And who the heck is annonymous...thats our line with the whole moderation and excess...I agree with it but just wondering who the masked blogger is??? Hey I got some McLaren stuff on my blog, and I will be posting about the emerging church soon! I would like your take on the current post and some posts to come!
Signing of for now,
1995's most eligable bachelor,
Joe
Your bro,
Joe
Emmett,
I've never seen so many grown men defend a cartoon? How sad!
Hi Neil!! Remember me? Thought I would chime in...
Oh my! All this for South Park? One thing that does bug me about cartoons with adult content is that kids will watch anything animated. We as parents now have to monitor CARTOONS!!!! Outrageous! I mean really, does ANYone find South Park acceptable for a 5 year old to be watching? I would hope not. I think that's the point Joe was trying to make, plus the show is crap!!! But that's only my opnion, so don't hang me for it. Also, I'm not sure there were any "insults" or "trying to belittle" amoungst FRIENDS!! Right?
So, Neil, I just went through Marion 2 weeks ago. From what I hear, I should have stopped in for some cupcakes! But Julie was in a hurry to get home to Joe. Plus, there was a tornado on our tail!!! Maybe next time!
Hope things are going well for you, Neil!!
Bye,
Val Gal
P.S. "Neil said hi by the way!!!!"
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