Martin Scorsese, The Last Temptation of Christ and religious terrorism in Paris.

[Bluenorthwest]

I wanted to offer this piece of history to help inform discussions of the murders in Paris. I see much of the discussion veering toward discussion of the merits of Charlie Hebdo's work or lack thereof and toward discussion of Islam in particular instead of religious fundamentalism in general.

In 1988, acclaimed director Martin Scorsese's film The Last Temptation of Christ, an adaptation of the 1953 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis was released. The film featured Willem Dafoe, music from Peter Gabriel. The film outraged some Christians well before they ever saw it.
October 22, 1988 the Saint Michel movie theater in Paris was screening the film. A group of French Fundamentalist Christians hurled Molotov cocktails into the cinema. 14 people were hurt, 4 of them burned severely. Lesser attacks happened at other theaters, tear gassing, assaults. Christian Fundamental groups threatened more attacks and told the press they were willing to go to prison to stop the film.

I'll post a link to the wiki so people can read more details and how the US reacted.
There were deaths this week, but the rest of the details are very similar- religious/political fanatics attacking with intent to kill because they are offended at the artistic portrayal of a historic/literary figure they consider sacred. In Paris, no less. This time the fanatics are Christians, the work of art of a much finer form. But the important basic elements of the story are identical. I suggest discussion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Temptation_of_Christ_%28film%29#Attack_on_Saint_Michel_theater.2C_Paris
Discuss

[MohRokTah]

1. I found it a beautiful film that depicted Christ brilliantly.

To think, Satan attempts one final temptation of the Christ while he is on the cross. He offers Christ the opportunity to live as a man, to marry, to have children and live a long full life.

And the Christ, being the Christ, chooses to throw that away and die miserably via a horribly tortuous execution on a cross that all mankind could be saved and know everlasting life.

It expressed the central theme of the dying god myth brilliantly and beautifully.

Had the fundies not gone apoplectic over the film, that film could have drawn me to Christianity at the time, but since it was condemned, I wanted nothing to do with Christianity.

[KingCharlemagne]

4. The Peter Gabriel soundtrack is eerily beautiful and elevates Gabriel

far above the ranks of banal pop stars, imo. Right up there with Ry Cooder's Paris, Texas soundtrack (another cinematic gut punch).

[Bluenorthwest]

6. It is a very beautiful film, many Christians like it, but the fanatics did not.

nt

[AngryAmish]

2. Who did the arson? Was anyone caught?

[still_one]

3. I don't agree. The deaths make all the difference in the world between the two events

[Bluenorthwest]

5. The people who set others on fire with gasoline clearly had intent to kill. So yes, this week was

worse in the outcome, but the intention and acts of violence were the same thing. Had the 4 who were critically burned by the gasoline these terrorists threw at them died, you could enjoy a perfect analogy, but happily for the victims, they lived in spite of the intention of their attackers.

[progressoid]

8. Riiiiiiight.

Because religious extremists attempting to kill, but only maiming doesn't count.

[Jim Lane]

9. I don't see the difference. Would you elaborate? (n/t)

[niyad]

7. thank you for the reminder.

[KittyWampus]

10. I'd point out that NeoNazis in Europe/France are targeting Muslims specifically right now

while Christian are and have been part of the dominant power structure there.

Too many Christians like to pretend they are under siege while lashing out at minorities.

I also don't think Scorsese has a long history of provoking Christians and is probably, being Italian, of Catholic faith or descent.

Nor was his film satire which is intentionally provocative.

However, art pushes boundaries and can challenge us.

Some people can't deal with challenges to their world view or comfort zone.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

11. Absent are the endles lectures about sensitivity. If anything those lecturing us about

the crimes of Charlie Hebdo will use this as reason to criticize Christianity and those reminding us that this week's attack aren't about all Muslims will happily blame all Christians.

[KittyWampus]

12. has someone suggested the satirists or the publication were committing "crimes"? You throw out

a straw man.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

16. Legally codified crimes? No, but several have suggested that if hate crimes were codified

the cartoons would rise to that level.

A lot of people are showing their "buts" when attempting to equivocate on the murders.

[geek tragedy]

13. I didn't see anyone on the left excoriating Scorsese and telling those

adamantly horrified by such actions that they needed to be more nuanced and empathize with the aggrieved true believers.

But, that was Christianity and this is Islam . . . only the former is universally considered an agent of oppression on the secular left (of which I am a member).

[SomethingFishy]

14. I crossed a picket line to see it...

Also Life Of Brian...

Muslims don't have a monopoly on "bug up their ass"..

[Violet_Crumble]

15. Martin Scorcese? He makes the best fuckin' films!

OMG. I've just had a timewarp back to the early 90s.

Fuck censored versions of things!