photo #6981059

John Matthew Wakefield on July 29, 2024

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Tim smith

I am both amused and chagrined today, watching all of the right wing Christians on social media be absolutely apoplectic over the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony last night, which I trust they actually watched, and they aren't just raving because of something they heard. Clearly, this is a perfect e... View MoreI am both amused and chagrined today, watching all of the right wing Christians on social media be absolutely apoplectic over the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony last night, which I trust they actually watched, and they aren't just raving because of something they heard. Clearly, this is a perfect example of why these sorts of people need a proper education in the classics, and should not be allowed to disassemble the public school system. Not wanting to leave these people in ignorance all weekend, please let me, a former professor of ancient and medieval humanities (and a Christian, to boot), explain what they saw, and try to educate them. The original Olympics games took place in Ancient Greece during the period roughly between the 8th and 4th centuries Before Christ, or B.C.E. During that same period, is was popular for the wealthier people to have banquets and celebrations honoring Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, festivity, theater, and, amongst other things interestingly enough, religious ecstasy. A big annual celebration then was called the Dionysia, held near the winter solstice, much the same as modern Boar's Head Feasts are done by Christians, especially those from denominations that originated in England. The Ancient Romans called Dionysus "Bacchus," and they held feasts similar to the Dionysia, called Bacchanalia. France, of course, was at one time a part of the Roman Empire, and bacchanalias, particularly popular during the Sun King, Louis XIV's reign, have remained a part of French culture. I recall as a college boy, attending more than one fraternity and sorority bacchanal in the highly liberal and woke cultures of Kansas and Oklahoma, and not all that many years ago, part of the festivities surrounding my installation as presiding officer of one of my fraternal organizations included a Boar's Head Feast. (Interestingly, the Boar's Head Carol was written at my college at Oxford University.) So, what the Paris Olympics was portraying was a bacchanal, not the Christian "Last Supper." It was Greek, not Roman/Italian. The Olympics are Greek, ok? Wine, feasting, partying, and theater are important parts of modern French society. And, Jesus Christ, people, why must you always hate on someone, right now, most popularly, transgendered people? I'm not an expert on drag queens, but it sure didn't look like a drag show to me. Stop hating. Jesus said (remember him?) to love one another. And He also said judge not lest ye be judged. If you're going to be a Christian, please try to follow the example of the namesake of your religion, ok? You're the type of people who led Mahatma Gandhi to say, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Here is some art for you to view. First, is a painting by Titian, called The Bacchanal of the Andrians, painted about 1523–26. Titian was particularly known for his Catholic-oriented religious paintings, and some have even called him an apologist for the Catholic Counter-Reformation movement. Second is a carved stone sarcophagus from Rome from about 200 B. C. And, finally, the third picture is a screen capture of the "scandalous" alleged mockery of the Last Supper. Looks Greek to me. My apologies for being "judgey." I'll mention it in my confession tomorrow before I receive [real] communion at Mass.

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July 29, 2024