Lots of people emailed me about these obnoxious and appalling cartoons depicting Jesus - on the cross - with an erection, and him kissing (presumably Judas) with more erections.
Yes, they are offensive. Yes, the cartoons fill me with revulsion. But Dave Price* at Dean Esmay’s blog has the response, and because I agree with every word of it, I’ll just let him relay it:
“…as a classical liberal, I support their right to do so.
However, as a Christian, I’m deeply offended by this obscene mockery of my Lord and Saviour. So in response, I’m going to unleash my religion’s most powerful weapon:
I forgive them.”
God is Just and Merciful - I’ll trust Him to sort it all out. Meanwhile, it is probably good to pray for a soul who can even come up with such ideas in the first place.
*Thanks, Michael for the clarification.
April 28th, 2006 at 7:17 am
In a culture that has become so saturated with sex, it’s quite probable that those who came up with those cartoons truly DON’T know what they do.
April 28th, 2006 at 9:26 am
I’m more sanguine. I don’t give a damn about the idiots that hoped to irritate me.
April 28th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Trackback for my post still does not work but I said This is a good example of the difference between the Islamists and Christians. The Islamists would burn embasies and businesses, and threaten to behead the cartoonists. This is because they are so weak in their faith that they feel violence is the only answer. But Dean and the Anchoress understand what Christ said, and while they are revolted by the cartoons, they forgive the cartoonist, and leave any further response to God. The Islamists may view that as weakness, but it is not. It takes a lot of strength to forgive someone who offends you as much as these cartoonists have. And the Islamists will see that strength first hand when Christ returns for the Final Battle.
April 28th, 2006 at 10:35 am
At the heart of islam is the notion that God, his religion, the truth etc need to be defended by we creatures. There is even the notion that we creatures must “redeem” God, his religion, his prophets etc from insult by actions in direct proportion to the offense suffered (eye for an eye). This idea has its origins in the justification that mohammed used for his turn to violence and his excuse that he had no choice. mohammed and the early muslims claimed that if he hadnt resorted to robbery and war then islam wouldnt have survived and the muslims would have died of starvation etc. In their eyes the so called light of the world would have passed from the world if they had not taken up arms to defend it.
Contrast this with the trust in the truth that Jesus, his disciples and the Church in the first four centuries of Christianity displayed. They did not fight back when they were killed and persecuted by the mightest and one of the most brutal empires even known. Jesus went meekly and mildly to the Cross knowing and trusting that his message would survive. His apostles all went to their deaths 13 martyred and one only of old age with the same trust. Martyrs after them did the same throughout Christian history. Not one Christian army was raised against the empire that could have flexed its little finger and wipe out any group it so chose.
And what happened? Christianity took that empire over without a single battle being fought.
There are many things that need defending in this world. Sometimes action is called for. But the truth which emcompasses God, Jesus Christ and God’s word through Moses, the prophets, and the apostles does not need us to win out over those who insult them. That knowledge makes all the difference in how Christians respond to threats and insults having of course learned the hard way to trust and forgive after the model revealed to us by Jesus and lived by the saints.
April 28th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Recently in the news — “There are some other religions which, if you insult their founder, will not just be talking. They will make it painfully clear,” said Cardinal Arinze of Dan Brown’s novel “The Da Vinci Code.”
April 28th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
[...] News Flash: Christians are NOT rioting over Jesus Cartoons. Here's my answer. [...]
April 28th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
I saw the cartoons and they are abominable, and abominably drawn as well. I wish I could meet the “artists” so I could laugh at them.
Foaming rage on my part would play into their hands, but laughter would disorient them.
Also, I will pray a chaplet of Divine Mercy for them.
April 29th, 2006 at 9:07 am
[...] Mr. Donohue and the Catholic League, please read your Constitution and realize that we have no right not to be offended. Then see here and here for truly Christian responses to these offensive cartoons. [...]