Anthony Licari
Underlying religious mockery
Preciously ridiculous
(Apologies to Les précieuses ridicules)
Some great writers like Voltaire and Molière have used mockery as a pedagogical tool even against religious pomp and hypocrisy.
Some countries are very fertile grounds for religious mockery, though people do not always distinguish between pedagogy and obsession resulting from imposition. A mocking hostility against religion may be a reaction to religious imposition. Thus, one finds that religious swearing is most common in countries where the infamous Inquisition reigned supremely and attempts to remain alive in modern times.
I have come across a number of phenomena of religious imposition which, consequently, invite mockery of a sarcastic or aggressive nature.
During a discussion among Maltese and foreigners, an Englishman said that he was born in Malta. Someone asked him if he was Maltese and he replied: "If a person is born in a stable that doesn't make him a horse". Which is quite logical. However, a gaffing Maltese lady added: "Or Jesus". Everyone stared at her incredulously as, in this lady's mind, all words are related to religion. (Which reminds me of the story about the psychologist's Rorscharch test and his sex-maniac client.)
Persistent bell-clanging and religious loudspeakers in streets are two types of religious imposition on those who are not interested. A religious hobby or practice becomes an imposition when we force it on others.
I heard a story about a confessionist head of department at a foreign University who blocked all attempts at promotion of a deserving lecturer. No rational reason was given until finally it was explained to the lecturer that the religious head of department disliked the fact that the lecturer had many girlfriends before getting married.
Some time ago Cardinal Vingt-Trois of Paris was nominated macho of the year by women's organisations after he said: "It's not enough to have a skirt. You must have something in your head as well".
Sometimes an e-mail goes round explaining some religious mystery or event. As a conclusion, you are admonished to forward it to 10 others or something terrible will happen to you. It seems to me that this is a kind of threat and naïve people who send these things do not realise their possible illegality.
There are periods in the calendar of some religions when members eat less than usual. These faithful sometimes scold people who eat whenever they like. This is intolerance at its best.
Finally, sometimes people in conversation with others speak of "Our father St Paul" to people who are not Christian, let alone Catholic. You have no right to impose your dad on others.
All the above examples are typical of religious imposition. And most imposition deserves mockery. This does not mean that religion deserves mockery. If a group of people decide to practise religious activities euphorically while bothering no one, mocking them is not only out of place but definitely intolerant. If religious symbols and personages are important to someone minding his own business, I have no right to mock him as I would hypocritically be practising imposition myself. As far as I am concerned, while having no gregarious faith, if a person wants to pray upside down or wishes to adore a particular person, the sun, a cactus or whatever, I will leave him alone and feel happy that he is having a good time.
I see the mockery of Christ as ignorance. Christ's life and ideology include no imposition and his messages are totally positive. I see no reason for mocking a rational humanitarian. It would be plain ignorance. Ignorance, however, should not be criminalised but combated by social education. Imagine if we had to throw all ignorant people into prison!
Blame it on the WEC
The global warming cliché is being given a break as the WEC has taken its place. WEC means world economic crisis - a terrible misfortune now hounding all countries and invading all media. You switch on the radio and the speaker, who is analysing why tomatoes this year are a bit flatter, explains that it's because of the WEC. After him a DJ will come and explain that this year's songs are a bit strange because of the world economic crisis.
Switch on the TV set and you will see a group of people discussing sports and explaining that the usually excellent centre-forward missed the goal because of the world economic crisis. Someone else will come after him to say that lampuki will be late this year because of the WEC.
Open a newspaper and in big letters you will see WEC, WEC and definitely WEC. Sometimes I feel brainwashed enough to suspect that recession itself is due to the infamous WEC.
Dr Licari teaches psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and geolinguistics at the Department of French of the University of Malta.
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Joe Zammit
Apr 14th 2009, 16:55
Those who are with God are never afraid of any problem. In his providence God helps them to overcome all problems. The nearer we are to God, the stronger we become to spread his Word as taught to us by his one Catholic Church. We encounter difficulties but we overcome them. I can say that by God's grace in us the whole of hell cannot prevail against us. Hell knows perfectly well what I am saying. Christ's love in us burns very strongly that we HAVE to spread God's Word to all. Along with this Word, God gives his grace. Those who are against the Church, poor fellows, are overlooking the power grace is exerting on the hearts of many Maltese and Gozitans. They think that we are just expressing our opinion. Our opinion for them but God’s truth for us is being accompanied by God's grace and is leaving a great impact on many.
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Apr 14th 2009, 01:00
Thank God that Jesus has a sense of humour....................................................
Joe Xuereb
Apr 14th 2009, 00:52
Joe Zammit. I do not think you need St. Paul's prayers. You faith is steadfast, undiminished and, like Malta, rock solid. I guess St. Paul could intercede so that we do not start to get an influx of Angolan illegal immigrants. They might bring with them something we do not allow, namely witchcraft. The Pope, Benedict, only last week exhorted them to discontinue to practise this tradition. I would not hold my breath. After all, indigenous people in Central America were told to cease their voodoo practices hundreds of years ago. But voodoo lives. I guess, like the massacre of birds on Malta, tradition as socio-cultural ritual is as difficult to eradicate anywhere it occurs. I guess we will have to pray harder. I personally should give up exhorting. My prayers are never heeded. Maybe they are too half-hearted. After someone advised me that I should be careful what I pray for lest the prayers are answered. I cannot win Joe. I am floundering. In a cesspool of my own making.
Joe Zammit
Apr 13th 2009, 20:42
St Paul, father of all Maltese and Gozitans, sent to us by God 2000 years ago, we thank you most heartily for the great treasure you have brought us, namely the Catholic Faith. We still deeply embrace this Faith and promise you that, by God's all-powerful grace, we WILL continue to live the faith you have brought us in our private and public life. We shall see that all legislation in our Catholic islands will be according to the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church. We know, dear St Paul, that you are looking after us from heaven to remain faithful to Christ for whom you have shed your blood. Your martyrdom has accounted for millions of new followers of Christ. We shall publicly continue to give testimony to our Catholic Faith before all people who find themselves on our Catholic islands.
Joe Zammit
Apr 13th 2009, 20:23
On the cross a dying man (the good thief) asked a dying man (Christ the Saviour of all humanity) for eternal life; a man without possessions asked a poor man (Christ) for a Kingdom; a thief at the door of death asked to die like a thief and steal heaven. One would have thought a saint would have been the first soul purchased over the counter of Calvary by the red coins of Redemption, but in the Divine plan it was a thief who was the escort of the King of kings into Paradise. God’s plan is wonderful for all of us! God’s ways are not our ways!
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Apr 13th 2009, 16:31
I have to admit that I found the woman's quick repartee about JC with regard to who and what is born in a stable very funny. Maybe it was the way it was written but had I been there and someone added ' Or Jesus' just like that, I would have howled with laughter......................is it just me?
Joe Xuereb
Apr 13th 2009, 13:13
Some believe that Heaven starts here on earth and continues after death. Delusion of course knows no bounds. From close observation, the turmoil of those who buy into this delusion, one that needs not an ideology it seems, is there just below the surface Glaringly obvious to all but the person disintegrating below the surface, a disintegration that often surfaces when it calls for serious intervention.
The Church/es are indeed strong and growing. This will continue as long as people continue to deal with the human condition by investing in superstition. Life and its consciousness is difficult. They want Nirvana, Utopia. The Church cannot deliver this (there are earthquakes to contend with for a start). So it offers a Nirvana after death. But of course it cannot prove this state. But people's insistence on an 'easy life' ensures the continuing growth (?) of established religions. Simply because they cannot cope with the Human Condition. In their arrogance, they want to live forever. Problem solved. They think. But they refuse to deal with the ramifications of their belief system. So the conflict goes on and on and on. Clear as limpid running water. To me anyway.
Joe Zammit
Apr 11th 2009, 13:02
We need no ideology. In our great majority we are Christians and Catholics. We follow the teaching of the Catholic Church in order to follow Christ. We need no ideology. Christianity itself is victory over all evils. We need Christ every single second of our lives. We die with Christ and we rise from the dead with him. We shall continue to spread the salvific teaching of the Catholic Church to one and all. We have succeeded and we shall continue to succeed by God's all-powerful grace. Blessed are those who deny themselves to please God because they start living in heaven right from here on earth.
Joe Xuereb
Apr 11th 2009, 11:45
Thank you for a very insightful take on the oft quoted 'live and let live'. This makes the dissemination of information very important. So that people can make up their own minds in their own good time. The good news is that a sound ideology will win the day eventually, after the slow but unrelenting drip drip effect has run its course. Change without lifting a finger is what I call it.