Play's Authors Point out that Christians are More Dangerous that Muslim Extremists

Oh, those non-Christians, having to live under that fearful cloud created by those violent and oppressive Christ-minions. You should be heartened to know that some brave souls are fighting back against the savage believers with a new play, Cash in Christ, being unveiled at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. From the Independent:

The show – pitched as "putting the fun into fundamentalism" – features fundraising evangelical preacher Fanny Comfort and her husband Bob singing songs such as "Christian Rock (Is Cool)" with lines about "guitars exploding like a bomb".

The writers said that, while there is public discussion about the dangers of radical Islamic groups, the influence of the Christian far right is underestimated. "I've been very sensitive to extremists in other religions, particularly Islam, being demonised."

Yes, we are certainly all sensitive to the demonization of Islamic fundamentalists that, in the first four days of August have already murdered 249 people and injured at least 310 others in at least 34 separate attacks within eitht countries--all for the glorification of their God. We wouldn't want these people being demonized!

Continues Van Badham, co-writer of the play:

"I find the Christian right groups that are enormously powerful in our own culture a larger numerical threat than extreme Islam. They are somehow removed from public criticism, and that is one of the reasons we did the show.

"Bush is from the religious right and he has the bomb; that terrifies me far more than the potential of other extremists to get their hands on nuclear weapons. In the religious right it is the self-appointed moral majority that sets its own rules, and anybody opposing them is labelled unpatriotic and shouted down."

With all the false labeling and shouting down, it is curious that Badham was able to utter these words of enlightenment.

Badham said the Wisepart/Jews and Communists co-production is entirely fictitious, but reflects wider political concerns. "It terrifies me that a few religious groups were able to cause a furore around Jerry Springer – The Opera in Britain. What I find frightening about the war in Iraq is that Bush and the people around him speak about it as if it's the crusades again."

What pure unadulterated bullshit. The only persons saying that Iraq is a crusade are people like Badham that want to link Iraq to the Crusades. Where I come from, in religiously oppressive America, people are bending over backwards to avoid any such comparison--particularly those in government that have stated for years that this is not a war with Islam and that Islam is a religion of peace.

She said that although people they met at church services were kind, she felt their attitudes might foster religious intolerance. "The propaganda is intense. We have been going to these megachurches to be told: 'Christianity is not a religion. It is the work of God to rescue all of humanity.' So everybody else can basically get stuffed."

So, despite three months of kindness and the fact that no one measured shoe sizes for a bomb-fitting, the Badham argument boils down to her fear that Christians believe that God wants to rescue humanity? No wonder she is scared to death.

Gary Clarke, pastor at Hillsong Church, London, said he wouldn't apologise, but that he might well laugh. "If you can't laugh at yourself then things have probably become far too serious, and keeping a good sense of humour about things is one of the most important components in having healthy conversations with people from all walks of life," he said.

I seem to remember a different response from the Muslims that objected to the Mohammed cartoons. Remember those "Behead those who mock Islam signs"?

I'm a "free expression" sort of guy, so I'm not going to sweat the opinions of misguided artists that think that the corner preacher is more evil than the car-bombing Islamic fascist. I'm with pastor Clarke when he says that you have to be willing to laugh at yourself. Still, I think it is this core belief that we Christians have that makes us the target of parody--our willingness to accept the comedy being aimed at us. We don't threaten murder whenever our pride gets a little stab.

Which makes me wonder if Badham's next play will tease Mohammed or the local cleric.

h/t to Brussels Journal