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Cutting: What Would Jesus Do?
Weblog has to admit a bit of discomfort a couple years ago when the Church of England's Birmingham Diocese launched a campaign of posters that said, "Body Piercing? Jesus had his done 2000 years ago." As it turns out, diocese leaders were far from the only ones comparing the crucifixion to contemporary body piercings.

Now an article in The Guardian not only connects the crucifixion to the much more horrific teen trend of self-mutilation (cutting)—it blames it. "Images of self-harm are all around us, particularly in religious iconography," writes Hilary Freeman. "Christianity is founded on the notion that Christ suffered for the world's sins and there have been sects which practiced self-flagellation and mutilation throughout history. Pain and the spilling of our own blood are seen as ways of cleansing ourselves. Likewise, when teenagers cut themselves they often say it is a release, a way of punishing themselves or others."

Whatever. Lately the cross has been blamed for everything from anti-Semitism to war to "religious intolerance, forced conversions, inquisitions and even racism." One supposes that many groups would want to tie their agendas to the pivotal point in human history. Still, it bears repeating that it was Jesus up on the cross—and that he died so that we don't have to play this victimization game.

A therapist nonreferral
Speaking of really bad articles in The Guardian, one of Britain's leading newspapers, a psychoanalysis of President Bush by Oliver James (author of They [F-word] You Up: How to Survive Family Life) is really a howler. Yes, it's an insane attack on Bush, but it's really an attack on conservative Christians.

"[Bush's] moralism is all-encompassing and as passionate as can be. He plans to replace state welfare provision with faith-based charitable organisations that would impose Christian family values. The commonest targets of authoritarians have been Jews, blacks and homosexuals." James writes. "His deepest beliefs amount to superstition."

And then there's his conclusion:

Bush's deep hatred, as well as love, for both his parents explains how he became a reckless rebel with a death wish. He hated his father for putting his whole life in the shade and for emotionally blackmailing him. He hated his mother for physically and mentally badgering him to fulfill her wishes. But the hatred also explains his radical transformation into an authoritarian fundamentalist. By totally identifying with an extreme version of their strict, religion-fuelled beliefs, he jailed his rebellious self. From now on, his unconscious hatred for them was channeled into a fanatical moral crusade to rid the world of evil.

We'll leave the fisking to more politically minded bloggers. This one's just so over the top that we almost didn't even bother linking to it.

Mr. Robertson, check your calendar
In an interview on MSNBC's Buchanan and Press, broadcaster Pat Robertson was asked about what re-election strategy President Bush should adopt. "I think he's got to cultivate the evangelicals. He's taking them for granted. I think Karl Rove takes them for granted. I think they pretty much were responsible for the demise of the Christian Coalition. And I think they don't have a grassroots force out right there of evangelicals, which means some of the evangelicals might stay away and not vote. But so far, he's strong as lye with these people. They love him."

The statement rightly surprised Buchanan. "Did I hear you say that Karl Rove destroyed the Christian Coalition?"

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September (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47