Incompatible

[mothwing]

Religious feelings and sensitivities are funny things. I used to think I did not have any. But, odd things happen to you in the vastness of the internet.

Being raised by vaguely protestant, northern-German biologists did not help much in that department. I used to think there was really nothing, no insult to my religion which could bother me, and at times I have felt that I only declared myself Christian to be allowed to say rude things about my religion and how its practiced, because I know a lot of really hypocritic Christians out there who only will admit criticism might be true if it comes from other Christians. Well, that attitude ended long ago, but somehow, I was still thinking I did not have any particular sensitivities anyone had to worry about a great deal.... Well, not true. There are the obvious ones you get when you see someone messing up your religion by what they do with it and use it for, which I get every time they abuse a good idea for the sake of something stupid and/or inhumane. But other than that? Critical thoughts on the historical person Christ? No problem. Satire? No problem. Christ in art? No problem. Historic novels on my religion and it's key figures? No problem.
Yes, we are heading towards a "but I found out I was wrong, when" here, so here it is -

BUT - I had to notice I was wrong when I read an innocent thread on the RPG board I waste my time on, curiously. It had been written by a girl who RPs a Care of Magical Creatures class, I think, and she decided to do a special Easter lesson (completely out of context of her usual lessons, but never mind...) and explained to her class:

"Jesus was a powerful magician who lived 2000 years ago, and he used magic to..."

I have never, ever seen me flare up like this at something so trivial. I felt genuinely insulted. I just have no clue why. It is not unusual for people to make Jesus as cuddly and fluffy as possible, and usually, I just roll my eyes. It is also pretty common to yank him out of context and paste him into a story as a little unfunny extra. Somehow, it usually does not bother me, but in this case, I was so close to sending her a mail with a rant about the matter...

My religion is not HP compatible. Hm.

Comments

[lordhellebore]

Hmm.

I must say I understand your sentiments. I have absolutely no problem with satire, criticism, art, or even stuff that's done in christ_slash (on the contrary, I think Jesus/Judas is wonderful *ahem*). Which is stranger than you not having a problem with it, since I was raised Catholic (as in Catholic school and mass twice a week etc.). But THIS sentence just made me think "no, wait - this is WRONG!" in a rather offended manner. Magician...grrr. That implies he knew some kind of "tricks" (magic) and, basically, tricked them into believing he was the messiah by magic - something they didn't know but that was perfectly normal (as it is in the HP books). I guess what I don't like (and you, maybe) is that it's CHEAP. Jesus might have been many things, but not cheap.

BTW: I am planning a fic that involves Snape & his father attending Catholic Church. I think Christianity is HP compatible - but not like that person did.

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

Bah, historic figures slash! Noooes! *shudders*

Fully second your "not cheap" remark, though. That is exactly it. Bwah, those idiots...

Catholic? In England? Unusual...

[lordhellebore]

Unusual, yes, but not impossible. And practical for me for many reasons:

1) I am familiar with Catholic tardition, Mass, etc.
2) It has to be a very small church (which I guess it would be because of the circumstances ;)

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

Plus, Catholic masses are far more impressive than our happy-clappy Jesus-is-our-buddy protestant ones. :)