You want to hear some awesome hip-hop and question faith at the same time? Check this shit out (Flyentology by El-P, featuring Trent Reznor). No matter what you think of the music, the video is genius - done by the animators at Adult Swim.
Let me know what you think the video is trying to say. I think the video is criticizing religious institutions for exploiting people's desperate situations to gain followers. Please, please let me know what you think.
It's some deep shit. I do know that.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Religulous
When should be considered offensive to criticize God? Tough to say. Some people would say, always, God is perfect and holy and who the fuck are we? Some people would say never, The Big Guy probably doesn't exist anyway; criticism is giving God more credit than he even deserves.
Another related, but more seldomly asked question: When is it offensive to be offended by someone criticizing God? I am excited about Bill Maher's new documentary, Religulous, as it may raise some of these questions. Plus Bill Maher is hilarity.
In our politically correct day and age, it is generally assumed that one should air well on the side of not criticizing God, as such supposed blasphemy may offend people. Many will likely condemn Religulous to hell for taking what appears from the preview to be a critical or even downright mocking view of religion. I wonder though, what is more offensive, Religulous, or offense taken to Religulous?
I think two main factors will determine the answer. First: is Religulous mocking a personal God or a political God? If Religulous is simply mocking people for believing in God, calling people that like God crazy, or even jeering people who speak in tongues, whirling dervish, or other seemingly bizarre, but benevolent practices, then Religulous should be called out as offensive. Making religious people the but of a joke because their practices may seem odd to the outsider is nothing short of intolerant. On the other hand, if the beliefs that Maher lambasts are beliefs that implicate people besides the believer, then Bill gets free reign to say what he wants. In other words, if someone believes in a God that might put Bill Maher in hell, then Bill has a right to mock this God because its apparently Bill's God too whether Bill likes it or not. People don't get to have intolerant views cloaked in religious rhetoric and then scream 'religious intolerance' when someone punches back.
The bigger question: does Bill Maher believe in God? If Bill believes in God and he is criticizing his own God, as far as I'm concerned, he's off the hook. In one blog, I called God a 'strange motherfucker' because I jokingly believed God's grace made me drink Fresca. In my relationship with God, I can jokingly call God a motherfucker. You're offended? Tough shit. You're beliefs about God don't get to subsume my relationship with God. On the other hand, if Bill doesn't believe in God or doesn't believe in the God he is criticizing, then his criticism should be looked at more closely. Again, if Bill is just making fun of people, not cool. But if he's making fun of people because they're religious beliefs are fucking up the world, then Bill, go nuts.
I'm sick of people using 'religious tolerance' as a shield for religiously inspired intolerance, and I'm sick of people using 'satire' and 'humor' as an excuse for offensive cheap laughs. Which side of this line will the movie fall? I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Another related, but more seldomly asked question: When is it offensive to be offended by someone criticizing God? I am excited about Bill Maher's new documentary, Religulous, as it may raise some of these questions. Plus Bill Maher is hilarity.
In our politically correct day and age, it is generally assumed that one should air well on the side of not criticizing God, as such supposed blasphemy may offend people. Many will likely condemn Religulous to hell for taking what appears from the preview to be a critical or even downright mocking view of religion. I wonder though, what is more offensive, Religulous, or offense taken to Religulous?
I think two main factors will determine the answer. First: is Religulous mocking a personal God or a political God? If Religulous is simply mocking people for believing in God, calling people that like God crazy, or even jeering people who speak in tongues, whirling dervish, or other seemingly bizarre, but benevolent practices, then Religulous should be called out as offensive. Making religious people the but of a joke because their practices may seem odd to the outsider is nothing short of intolerant. On the other hand, if the beliefs that Maher lambasts are beliefs that implicate people besides the believer, then Bill gets free reign to say what he wants. In other words, if someone believes in a God that might put Bill Maher in hell, then Bill has a right to mock this God because its apparently Bill's God too whether Bill likes it or not. People don't get to have intolerant views cloaked in religious rhetoric and then scream 'religious intolerance' when someone punches back.
The bigger question: does Bill Maher believe in God? If Bill believes in God and he is criticizing his own God, as far as I'm concerned, he's off the hook. In one blog, I called God a 'strange motherfucker' because I jokingly believed God's grace made me drink Fresca. In my relationship with God, I can jokingly call God a motherfucker. You're offended? Tough shit. You're beliefs about God don't get to subsume my relationship with God. On the other hand, if Bill doesn't believe in God or doesn't believe in the God he is criticizing, then his criticism should be looked at more closely. Again, if Bill is just making fun of people, not cool. But if he's making fun of people because they're religious beliefs are fucking up the world, then Bill, go nuts.
I'm sick of people using 'religious tolerance' as a shield for religiously inspired intolerance, and I'm sick of people using 'satire' and 'humor' as an excuse for offensive cheap laughs. Which side of this line will the movie fall? I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Monday, June 2, 2008
You Killed My Father, Prepare to Die
Yesterday I attended a celebration of Israel's 60th Anniversary on the National Mall. As I walked to the event, I saw some cars driving by with signs on their windows reading: Celebrating Israel is Celebrating the Destruction of the Palestinian People. Maybe so, maybe not. But what these signs should have said is: Celebrating Israel is Celebrating Inigo Montoya!
That's right, Inigo Mon-fucking-Toya. The event was hosted by the one and only Mandy Patinkin, and, omg, he said THE LINE. And I had a killer orgasm.
Also, fyi, my uncle played baseball with him in grade school. So how do you like them apples?
That's right, Inigo Mon-fucking-Toya. The event was hosted by the one and only Mandy Patinkin, and, omg, he said THE LINE. And I had a killer orgasm.
Also, fyi, my uncle played baseball with him in grade school. So how do you like them apples?
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