When jokes about religion go too far
In the 1930s, cartoons depicting Jewish people were used as propaganda. These were grotesque caricatures with oversized features which displayed false and unfair stereotypes.
They convinced lots of ordinary Europeans to allow Hitler's politics to thrive. More recently, riots resulted after a derogatory cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed made its way into a Danish newspaper.
Some jokes about religion are funny, so much so, that American Jesuit Father James Martin SJ has just written a book about it called Between Heaven and Mirth.
However, sometimes, jokes when considered more carefully, are interesting reflections on how far a society will go to "entertain" at the expense of a group, culture or denomination.
In a modern, secularised country like Australia, it is understandable that the media takes liberties. We are blessed to live in a country where the internet is not banned. Journalists and media professionals are able to report objectively and accurately without fear for their lives – some of them even choose to do so!
It also makes sense that Aussies will understand certain jokes and take them with a grain of salt. As a collector of joke books, I always try to see the funny side in a situation. However, on occasion, I have cause to wonder at our modern media.
The other night, I sat in front of the television. It was late – about 10:30 – and I was watching Channel 10. A new show hosted by Paul McDermott called Good News World was on.
I was pleased enough initially to see a puppet of Jesus Christ next to the host. Good start. Jesus is certainly my reason for being, and for Catholics, we are hopeful that our message will be picked up and shared in a positive way.
Unfortunately what followed left me cold, and frustrated, so much so that I got straight on the phone to Channel 10.
The purple Muppet-like Jesus character launched into a tirade which made a few failed attempts at humour. He began by advertising his "book tour", and discussed how he had changed the "Bible" to try and take it out to the streets. So far so good. That's certainly what we want to learn about, how to proclaim the message of Christ in the world.
Sadly though, instead of promoting anything which resembled a Christian message, or share any ideas on how we might take Jesus to the "Real people", "Muppet Jesus" proceeded to tear apart tenets of the Christian faith which have endured 2000 years.
From stories of getting drunk on "blood wine" and waking up in Mexico with a tattoo of Lucifer on his bottom to confiding in McDermott that he has converted to Scientology, "Muppet Jesus" in his obnoxious Australian accent failed to be even a little bit funny, and simply came across only as insulting and for Christians, blasphemous.
He signed out by telling the audience that "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst signing copies of my book."
For Christians, Jesus is not just some other celebrity who can be parodied, he is the Son of God. Jesus is not just an option for Christians, he is their conviction. Christian faith leads us not only to hope and love, but also moves us towards a deep respect for the dignity of each person.
I suspect that same is true for followers of Islam and Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism and all people of good will who try to live a life of faith in Australian society.
Christianity calls on us to be our better selves, and this was not demonstrated at all in the arrogant and smug segment on Good News World. It showed a disturbing lack of understanding about what faith means in the life of Christians and more who the person of Jesus Christ is for them.
With an increasingly hostile and uninformed media, the Catholic Church finds it harder and harder to get her positive message heard amidst reports of abuse. The Church is present at the margins of society on so many levels and for many Australians, the Christian message remains the plainest truth of their lives. This however is rarely reported in a positive light by the secular press.
Programs such as Good News World feed popular criticisms of Christianity in a way which is irresponsible and at worst, defamatory. Most intelligent people would realise that the inaccuracies in this segment were numerous and would not pay much attention to it.
However, my concern is for a generation of people who come to see this kind of humour as normal, people who begin to grow accustomed to this kind of programming and feel that it is correct or even fashionable to bag Christianity.
I worry that people might start to believe, like those Europeans in the 1930s, that Christianity is just another political opinion and Jesus Christ just a figurehead, and as history tells us time and time again, this could potentially lead to a disastrous end.
They convinced lots of ordinary Europeans to allow Hitler's politics to thrive. More recently, riots resulted after a derogatory cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed made its way into a Danish newspaper.
Some jokes about religion are funny, so much so, that American Jesuit Father James Martin SJ has just written a book about it called Between Heaven and Mirth.
However, sometimes, jokes when considered more carefully, are interesting reflections on how far a society will go to "entertain" at the expense of a group, culture or denomination.
In a modern, secularised country like Australia, it is understandable that the media takes liberties. We are blessed to live in a country where the internet is not banned. Journalists and media professionals are able to report objectively and accurately without fear for their lives – some of them even choose to do so!
It also makes sense that Aussies will understand certain jokes and take them with a grain of salt. As a collector of joke books, I always try to see the funny side in a situation. However, on occasion, I have cause to wonder at our modern media.
The other night, I sat in front of the television. It was late – about 10:30 – and I was watching Channel 10. A new show hosted by Paul McDermott called Good News World was on.
I was pleased enough initially to see a puppet of Jesus Christ next to the host. Good start. Jesus is certainly my reason for being, and for Catholics, we are hopeful that our message will be picked up and shared in a positive way.
Unfortunately what followed left me cold, and frustrated, so much so that I got straight on the phone to Channel 10.
The purple Muppet-like Jesus character launched into a tirade which made a few failed attempts at humour. He began by advertising his "book tour", and discussed how he had changed the "Bible" to try and take it out to the streets. So far so good. That's certainly what we want to learn about, how to proclaim the message of Christ in the world.
Sadly though, instead of promoting anything which resembled a Christian message, or share any ideas on how we might take Jesus to the "Real people", "Muppet Jesus" proceeded to tear apart tenets of the Christian faith which have endured 2000 years.
From stories of getting drunk on "blood wine" and waking up in Mexico with a tattoo of Lucifer on his bottom to confiding in McDermott that he has converted to Scientology, "Muppet Jesus" in his obnoxious Australian accent failed to be even a little bit funny, and simply came across only as insulting and for Christians, blasphemous.
He signed out by telling the audience that "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst signing copies of my book."
For Christians, Jesus is not just some other celebrity who can be parodied, he is the Son of God. Jesus is not just an option for Christians, he is their conviction. Christian faith leads us not only to hope and love, but also moves us towards a deep respect for the dignity of each person.
I suspect that same is true for followers of Islam and Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism and all people of good will who try to live a life of faith in Australian society.
Christianity calls on us to be our better selves, and this was not demonstrated at all in the arrogant and smug segment on Good News World. It showed a disturbing lack of understanding about what faith means in the life of Christians and more who the person of Jesus Christ is for them.
With an increasingly hostile and uninformed media, the Catholic Church finds it harder and harder to get her positive message heard amidst reports of abuse. The Church is present at the margins of society on so many levels and for many Australians, the Christian message remains the plainest truth of their lives. This however is rarely reported in a positive light by the secular press.
Programs such as Good News World feed popular criticisms of Christianity in a way which is irresponsible and at worst, defamatory. Most intelligent people would realise that the inaccuracies in this segment were numerous and would not pay much attention to it.
However, my concern is for a generation of people who come to see this kind of humour as normal, people who begin to grow accustomed to this kind of programming and feel that it is correct or even fashionable to bag Christianity.
I worry that people might start to believe, like those Europeans in the 1930s, that Christianity is just another political opinion and Jesus Christ just a figurehead, and as history tells us time and time again, this could potentially lead to a disastrous end.