My father was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Alberta from 1944 till they “threw the bums out” in 1971, and a Cabinet Minister beginning in 1955. He was generally treated respectfully by supporters and opponents alike but he was also, from time to time, subjected to both fawning adulation and nasty criticism. He took it all in stride and, for the most part, we kids did too. Just life in the public eye. Occasionally I was the focus of a little misdirected abuse, but it was kind of fun being a minor celebrity. And one of the things I most enjoyed was watching my friends discover who my dad really was, as opposed to the impression they had gathered through the media. Politicians are seldom as good or bad, wise or foolish, caring or uncaring as they seem on TV.
When friends got to know me, one of the things they were often surprised to discover was the cartoon wall in our family room where Dad hung the originals of many of the political cartoons that had lampooned him over the years. He loved those things, partly, I suppose, because they affirmed his significance, but also because they burst his bubble a little, and critiqued his ideas. Everyone needs critics and bubble bursters. They help you see yourself as others see you.
C. J. Peiffer, in a comment on my October 18 post last year Let God be God mentioned that she, like Mark Twain, is a religious sceptic, and recommended his Letters From the Earth and Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven. Both of these books are indeed well worth reading, especially for those who would consider themselves religious.
Mark Twain was a great social satirist and critic, and particularly so when it came to religion. And I, being what many would call a religious person, particularly enjoy him, as most sensible religious people do. You see, being a religious person doesn’t mean believing in religion, any more than being a politician means believing in politics. Religious people and politicians believe in their own religion and politics. Politicians, for example, generally think most politicians are idiots. Those in their own party are a cut above perhaps, but even there they will find plenty who need improvement. Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, etc. believe what they believe, which is generally a subset of the things believed even in their own faith community. As a Catholic I found lots of religious ideas, even Catholic ones, laughable. And this didn’t change when I became a Baptist. So, an awful lot of the things Twain ridicules, most religious people also find ridiculous. Religion, like all things human, is peculiar, to say the least.
Mark Twain scoffed at religion, not God. He was irreverent, not blasphemous. Some couldn’t and can’t make that distinction because they fail to distinguish between their ideas about God and God him/her/itself. -- See what I mean? -- There is a good biblical word for the confusion of our notions of God with God as God is. The word is “idolatry”, and the function of the religious sceptic is to tear down idols. But, if you happen to be worshipping that idol at the time, you’re not going to like it.
The Mark Twains of the world are, to religious folk, what political cartoonists are to politicians; they burst our bubbles, critique our ideas, and help us see ourselves as others see us. This is good, and it can also be fun and funny.
Mr. Deity is a great example of contemporary religious satire, but because it arises in North American culture its target is largely Judeo-Christian religion. I suspect, therefore, that Jews and Christians enjoy it most. But if you are not a Jew or Christian, don't feel left out, you can make your own. Only thing is, if a community wants to reap the benefits of having satirists and critics within it you can’t go shooting them. Not that satirists and critics won’t risk getting shot, just that the ones who will aren’t usually the really funny ones.
Oh, by the way, Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all the Irish and Irish wannabes out there. Don’t know if we have any Leprechauns left in Alberta. But I notice we don’t have any Lepre Colonies.
1 comment:
When Tracey was a little girl, she had a friend in to play one day. As they played, the news came on, with an interview of Dad. Feeling a tiny bit smug, I said, "Tracey, who's that??" She glanced at the TV, eyes got big and she said...."Grandpa!!" Her little friends looked up and said, "where??" I smugly said, "There on the TV _ that's Traceys' Grandpa on TV!!" The little girl looked at me and said, "Suuuurrre it is......"
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