A frog’s right to crucifixion

When i first saw the painting below, i laughed so hard that i spilled a qurater of my coffee on my blouse. Then, ofcourse, i read the rest of the news and got enveloped in an all-consuming meditation (Didn’t, but I love the sound of that). I asked, like i did hundreds of times before, how far religion should be allowed. Whichever temple we worship at, we will all admit nothing has stood in the way of Science (and art) like religion. If it weren’t for rare souls who appear on our planet every hundreds of years, who dared say “no” & paid dearly for it, the world would have continued being flat and we’d perhaps have stayed in our caves.

Religious leaders don’t seem content in calling people with new ideas “Blasphemous” or “GuDu Kassa” anymore. They have started demanding for blood inspite of the love and harmony they are “called” to preach. Only in the last couple of years, we have heard of artists/writers whose head, detached from their bodies, suddenly became worth million of dollars the minute they produced something related to a religious leader of some kind. These works of art don’t seem to need be offensive to make frantic mobs out of religious followers neither. A remote resemblence, and out they go, smashing windows and burning flags.

Don’t get what i’m about to say wrong. I’m all for respect and boundary. When it’s both ways. Which is why I can’t help ask “Who the f do these people think they are?!” whenever one of these dramas take place on some unfortunate street of some unfortunate part of the world. By the look of them, you’d would think you owe them something, inspite of the heavy mission their respective gods cast on them to save our ass from hell fire & gnashing of teeth in either “Gehanem” or “Gehanna” and migrate us, if possible, to either “Gennet” or “Janat” and it’s blessings. That, perhaps, may sound too naive. But common decency dictates that whatever entitled them to their religion, should entitle the non-believer to his or her lack therein. Or is that too ideal too?!

Pope Benedict XVI, like many of his predecessors, has revealed it’s his turn to rap the table and call the art world to order. The subject under controversy is the above painting the undersigned labled “crucifrog” before realizing somebody else has thought of it too. His Holiness being from that part of the world in which religious leaders are far from calling the shots, thank God, he isn’t exactly calling for the death penalty. But he has breathed so heavy down somebody’s back that the museum who owned the sculpture has decided to “defy” him by refusing to remove it. I’m well aware the Vatican would frown on any cheerful-looking pope given to smiles, it’s mission being spreading the message of Christ, who might have worn the most sour face in the world. But i’m sure even the spiritual father of the people can afford to have a sense of humor from time to time!?

Read more here.

If Hey-Zeus was alive..

“He told the jews not to pay taxes”, that was the response of, not a Pharisee or Herodian, but a hip Rasta online friend of mine upon enquiry [by the sister] as to why he considers himself Jesus’ biggest fan. I didn’t want to disappoint him by telling him that was, infact, the opposite of what Jesus did. We all need heroes, especially the down-trodden and confused. He went on trying to discuss how Jesus would act if he was alive today. Who he’d tell to go to the gutters and whose ass he’d kick (between shopping at Melrose Avenue & saving the world, i can only imagine).

Anywho, herebelow is what the folks at everything2.com believe Jesus’ live would resemble if the good man was a citizen of our world in the 21st century. Enjoy!

If Jesus (or whatever other name you’d like to label Him with) were with us today, the first thing He would do would be to sign a book deal and sell the film rights. The talk show circuit, cocktail parties and merchandising would all follow in quick succession. He’d probably become a regular guest on Larry King Live. He’d have a house in the Hamptons, and one in Beverley Hills. He’d marry some second-string Hollywood actress, have a child or two and then get divorced after all the tabloids each published “exclusive” photos of Him cavorting with Russian call girls. He’d develop a cocaine addiction, spend the next few years in and out of rehab, and slowly fade into obscurity, while still earning millions each year in royalties. He’d occasionally be spotted in far-flung locales and at film openings, but would be considered by the industry to be nothing more than a footnote, a has-been, only profitable for them to cover on their “Where are they now?” features. His only continuing claim to fame would be the occasional blatant publicity stunt, aimed at selling a few more copies of his books and films.

Read more here.