Saturday, May 14, 2011
Asking for a parody
Apparently there is something about the sappy, left-wing idealism if John Lennon's Imagine that invites parody. Do you have any idea how many people have posted versions of "Imagine there's no liberals" and posted it on the internet?
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15 comments:
As a liberal theist, I often wonder how it is that conservatism is combined with theism, instead. Let us remember that Jesus was handed over to the Romans by the leaders of the religous right of his day. This is not to deny that the leaders of the religious left (the Herodians) wouldn't have done the same thing.
-- Bilbo in anonymous mode.
I thought the parody was pretty lame until I read, "Jesus was handed over to the Romans by the leaders of the religious right."
Lord help me, liberals do need to be mocked. Forget the parodies, just quote them.
I thought Bilbo was anonymous.
--jadoifjaos;alkjdfojasdjf in anonymous mode.
"I often wonder how it is that conservatism is combined with theism, instead. Let us remember that Jesus was handed over to the Romans by the leaders of the religous right of his day."
When is it that to be a conservative is automatically conjoined with some sort of political idea regarding the protection of power?
Such misunderstanding of a conservative and orthodox theology that would hold politics to a critical Biblical appraisal is sad.
But also understood by how much Americans especially equate theology and politics.
For the record, I'm very liberal and I can't stand that song. Actually, I can't stand lots of what The Beatles produced. Ugh. Listen to it without ear blinders and you'll see what I mean. Sgt. Peppers!?! Strawberry Fields!?!
As a proud liberal and a Catholic, (and life-long Beatles fan), I also have always felt that the lyrics to "Imagine" were the most cringeworthy ever.
I think the best parody of them was the scene in "Forrest Gump" where Forrest and John Lennon are being interviewed together on TV.
"Let us remember that Jesus was handed over to the Romans by the leaders of the religous right of his day"
LOL. Anachronism at its finest. As if there was anything like the religious "right" (or left) or "conservatism" in Jesus' day. Moreover, if the "left" would have done so too, maybe the issue was broader than right/left, having nothing to do with either. If so, what was the point of Bilbo's post? Lastly, if he wonders how it is that conservatism is combined with theism, and uses the claim that since conservatives handed Jesus over, one shouldn't conjoin conservatism with theism, then isn't he hoist by his own petard when he admits that liberals would have done so too?
>As a proud liberal and a Catholic,
That explains your hostility towards me that came out of nowhere from left field.;-)
Anyway I take this admission of yours in evidence against you when I testify at your trial during the new Inquisition.;-)
My objection isn't to liberalism, obviously, but to the sheer sappy nonsense of it. And yes, the Forrest Gump scene is hilarious.
Of course the New Atheists have actually picked this up.
Anon: "LOL. Anachronism at its finest. As if there was anything like the religious "right" (or left) or "conservatism" in Jesus' day."
Yes, there was.
"Moreover, if the "left" would have done so too, maybe the issue was broader than right/left, having nothing to do with either."
Yes it is.
"If so, what was the point of Bilbo's post?"
The forgetfulness of the religious right that their leaders were unable to recognize God and handed Him over to those who would crucify Him. The lesson should be obvious.
"Lastly, if he wonders how it is that conservatism is combined with theism, and uses the claim that since conservatives handed Jesus over, one shouldn't conjoin conservatism with theism, then isn't he hoist by his own petard when he admits that liberals would have done so too?"
Yes, and believe me it hurts.
-- Bilbo in non-anonymous, anonymous mode. ;)
Bilbo,
Comparing an evangelical-democratic political movement in the U.S. to the Sanhedrin in first century Palestine is absurd. To call the religious right “Christ killers” makes about as much sense as calling Jews "Christ killers." I think it would be more useful to critique their writings, goals, and tactics. As in all political movements there is much to criticize.
Tolkien character in anonymous mode
Let's end this argument right now. We're ALL "Christ Killers". It's our sins that sent Him to the Cross. Mine, yours, everyone's.
Anon: "Comparing an evangelical-democratic political movement in the U.S. to the Sanhedrin in first century Palestine is absurd. To call the religious right “Christ killers” makes about as much sense as calling Jews "Christ killers." I think it would be more useful to critique their writings, goals, and tactics. As in all political movements there is much to criticize."
I'm not calling the religious right "Christ killers." I'm saying that they have the same problem as their counterparts of 1st century Palestine: They confuse religious orthodoxy with always knowing what is the right thing to do politically.
And of course this applies to us religous lefties, also, since we know what God really wants, too.
By the way, I better state that I don't believe that the Jews were Christ killers, either. A small group of Jews -- including the high priest and some (but not all) members of the Sanhedrin held an illegal, mock trial, where they determined that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy and should be handed over to the Romans for execution.
There are some passages that seem to blame the crowds in Jerusalem, but my best guess is that this was a selected crowd, made up of people who the local political leaders could trust.
At worst, it would be the local Jerusalem Jews, who did not know Jesus as well as the Galilean Jews. Notice that Jesus was always safe in Jerusalem during the day, when the Galilean crowds would have been present, and that he retired to Bethany at night, probably where many Galilean Jews stayed during the evenings.
His arrest occurs on the one night He decided to stay in Jerusalem and was isolated from the safety of the Galilean populace.
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