Despite it not being based on the Last Supper. It was an interpretation of Dionysus.The French Catholic Church "profoundly deplores" the Olympic opening ceremony, describing it as blasphemous.
In particular the scene featuring an obese drag-queen with a halo, surrounded by his "disciples" was cited as mocking Christ's Last Supper.
View attachment 80264
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/19076/french-church-criticises-paris-olympics-opening-
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/upset-bishops-mixed-reviews-paris-121927419.html
Despite it not being based on the Last Supper. It was an interpretation of Dionysus.
Reverend Benjamin Cremer, who is also a pastor, shared Rapko's post on X in a thread suggesting that the scene was not the "Last Supper."
Despite it not being based on the Last Supper. It was an interpretation of Dionysus.
Luckily I didn't see this as I only managed to watch 20 seconds of the 'ceremony', but MrsF did and, understandably, thought it was absolutely ridiculous.The French Catholic Church "profoundly deplores" the Olympic opening ceremony, describing it as blasphemous.
In particular the scene featuring an obese drag-queen with a halo, surrounded by his "disciples" was cited as mocking Christ's Last Supper.
View attachment 80264
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/19076/french-church-criticises-paris-olympics-opening-
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/upset-bishops-mixed-reviews-paris-121927419.html
Odd that no one has written The Koran Musical.
Writing it is one thing ... having it performed is another.Artists will be brave, subversive, confronting and iconoclastic. (Towards anyone who won’t push back.)
maximus otter
Despite it not being based on the Last Supper. It was an interpretation of Dionysus.
I suspect that the producers knew how it would be interpreted, and were happy with the parallels and causing offence. It may have technically been Bacchus, but they knew many would see the Last Supper, and may well have deliberately blurred the two - both for artistry and plausible deniability.Yet the video of the opening ceremony has been deleted from the official Olympic YouTube site.
Perhaps Dionysus was offended.
maximus otter
I must admit that I thought Bacchus when I watched it, and only saw the da Vinci Last Supper semblance after reading an article about the uproar.Interesting.
Two pastors have publicly pushed back against claims from conservatives that a scene from the Paris Olympic opening ceremony depicted the "Last Supper," instead countering that it represented the Feast of Dionysus.
On Friday evening, the four-hour Olympic opening ceremony showcased a blend of modern and historic French culture, featuring diverse artistic expressions and a wide representation of sexuality, identity, fashion, music, and culture.
At one point, there appeared to be a scene that many say represented famed Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper," which depicts Jesus at a long table with the Twelve Apostles. The reenactment featured drag queens and dancers behind a shimmery blue naked body on a plate at the center of the table. ...
However, at least two Christian leaders are countering claims that depicted the "Last Supper," such as Atlanta Pastor Cassie Noland Rapko who wrote on Facebook on Saturday, "It was the Feast of Dionysus. Greek God of festivity and feasting and ritual and theater. The Olympics are from Greek culture and tradition. French culture is deeply rooted in feasting and festivity and performing arts." ...
Reverend Benjamin Cremer, who is also a pastor, shared Rapko's post on X in a thread suggesting that the scene was not the "Last Supper."
On Sunday morning, he wrote on X, "I just don't think we Christians realize how fragile we make our faith look when we act as though something like artistic expression represents an existential threat to us. We have allowed fear and suspicion to overtake our public witness rather than love and understanding." ...
https://www.newsweek.com/pastors-co...over-olympics-last-supper-performance-1931202
Well, you don't want to anger those Greek gods.Yet the video of the opening ceremony has been deleted from the official Olympic YouTube site.
Perhaps Dionysus was offended.
maximus otter
Well, you don't want to anger those Greek gods.
But when it comes to ridiculing religion, that should absolutely not be criminalised.
A 61 year old retired train driver was gaoled for 18 months, not for committing actual physical violence but for "threatening gestures" and for chanting during the protests.
From what I can gather, as well as shouting at the police "you c-s aren't English any more", what ensured him widespread notoriety in certain elements of the media was that he joined in with others singing the "rude" version of "Living Next Door to Alice" (aka "Who the F- is Alice?") but replaced Alice with the name of the islamic deity.
Had he not pleaded guilty to disorder, his sentence would likely have been longer.
Whether his admittedly boorish behaviour merits clogging up our already overcrowded gaols is debatable I guess.
I expect to see a lot more cases like his, particularly if the blasphemy laws are ramped up, as is being threatened.
I'm fully aware of that Ramon and I did phrase my post very carefully not just to avoid any sanction by the mods, but also, given the way legislation appears to be heading in the UK, so as not to get my collar felt by the blasphemy police!He wasn't imprisoned for the Allah chants though. As the judge stated:
"At that point you did that [shouting and swearing at police] you must have been well aware it was a particularly volatile situation and police were doing their best to keep order. Your actions showed a complete contempt for the police at that time," said the judge, adding: "What you were doing, could and, it appears, did encourage others to threaten the police and add to the disorder."
Giving his reasons for the jail sentence, Judge Kelleher added: "Violent protests can't be tolerated, and neither can violence towards police officers who do their duty to protect the public from disorder, and those who do can expect to receive severe sentences, to punish you and deter others from disorder."
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/retired-train-driver-jailed-jabbing-102831920.html
I doubt if the Mods will take kindly to the riots discussion being resurrected.
Please just leave it at that or we'll end up having this thread deleted as well.
I'm fully aware of that Ramon and I did phrase my post very carefully not just to avoid any sanction by the mods, but also, given the way legislation appears to be heading in the UK, so as not to get my collar felt by the blasphemy police!lasphemy on a thread unfrt
The very fact that one even has to think twice before discussing blasphemy on a thread dedicated to the subject concerns me greatly.