Life of Brian “Pokes Fun At Christians”

No, it’s not 1979.

No, I’m not being amazed at how this film was once picketed by Christian Lobby Groups as poking fun at Jesus Christ. I’m being amazed that rev. Canon Stuart Bell thinks that it should remain banned in the small sea-side university town of Aberystwyth.

This all started when it was realised by the mayor of Aberystwyth, Sue Jones-Davies, who played Judith Isacriot in the film (Brian’s “Lover”, the one who get the nude scene), made it known that there was still a ban on the film. It appears that the licencing division of the Aberystwyth Council wasn’t aware of it. (For those that know the town, this should come as no surprise at all).

It was decided, obviously, to re-examine the ban. To that end, of course, Christian Leaders would be questioned. One of them was Rev. Canon Stuart Bell. He states himself that he has “only seen a clip” of the film in question, and states that if there was a film that poked fun at his wife, he wouldn’t want that to be put on in cinemas either. He then goes on to say that as he loves Jesus “more than his wife”, he wouldn’t want a film that pokes fun at the Messiah to be put on.

This is not the place to re-hash well trodded ground about the legitimacy of the Life of Brian, a film by the Monty Python team. There are many challenging questions in it, but is made plain that Brian is not Jesus. For those of you that remember the gifts of the Kings being mistakenly delivered to Brian, before being removed and presented to Jesus.

I can understand Rev. Bell not wanting to see the film, but I’m not quite sure about stopping other people from seeing it. It would be like stopping people from seeing Evan Almighty, or it’s predecessor Bruce Almighty. I suppose that because those things poke fun at God, they are okay.

I have to say that it is very sad to still hear such hard, intolerant, and uneducated views coming from the clergy. If he had seen the film, and had some points to put forward, if he had produced a balanced argument based on what he had seen, then at least there would be a point for debate. Perhaps, again, I’m being a “Fundamental Liberal” about all this.

I’m trying to find the other side of the coin. I can see why you wouldn’t want to see a film because you find it offensive. I can’t think of one that I personally find offensive off the top of my head, but I’m sure there are some. Would I, however, as a respected leader of people, advise others to not go and see it simply because I disagreed with the subject matter? I’m not sure I would. I would like to think I’m one of those people that “disagree with what someone’s said, but will fight to the death for their right to say it”.

Black Xanthus

(Source: BBC)