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July 29, 2008

Fox News Mocks Jesus

First things first. Watch this video:

I was very offended by this piece for a number of reasons. I'm enough of a grown-up, however, that I can set aside my irritation and see the overt point being made. That point is that it's ridiculous to believe that Barack Obama can make all our problems go away. He is not the Messiah.

But there's a second, more subtle message in there, too.

A lot of Christians watch Fox News because they've bought into the idea that it's somehow more honest, good, and godly than the other networks (a lot of Christians believe their faith is only compatible with Republican views). But this video, in my opinion, mocks the entire concept of a Messiah. Its tone, and consequently its message, is actually very reminiscent of Monty Python's "The Life of Brian." That film so offended Christians it was picketed and banned as blasphemous in various locations all over the world (for the record, the members of Monty Python claimed, however unconvincingly, that they were not mocking the concept of a Messiah, only the practices of modern organized religion).

But once again I see support for my solidifying thesis that conservative Christians these days are more partisan in their beliefs than they are spiritual. I have every expectation that this little film from Fox News will be embraced by the network's largely Christian audience (I fully expect it won't be long before some of my Christian friends forward me a link to it), and that these viewers' desire to find fault with a charismatic Democratic candidate will blind them to what I see as a blatant attack on the very foundation of their religion.

Posted by Becky at July 29, 2008 09:06 AM