Chickafinty ~ A Life in the Laundry

First one for 2009

Law and Order CI Series 4 Episode 5

A prominent athiest is murdered.  Athiest has a Christian son who deliberately disrupts her funeral service, showing blatant disrespect to all concerned and invited the media along for good measure.  The good and kind athiests are badgered and hounded by the thoughtless and rude 'Believers'.

There may well be "Christians" who would behave in such a manner, but it is by no means typical behaviour.  Nothing was said out loud on the programme, but it didn't need to be.  The overall impression was antagonistic and stereotypical towards Christianity.  Like all stereoypes it generalises and it's not fair.

Ultimately, the episode had nothing to do with either atheism or Christianity, but there were enough hidden messages in there to warrant a message in Brainwash Watch.

Every person is capable of being kind and good and equally capable of being mean, unkind, unfair and disrespectful.  To pigeonhole is unfair.

A new category for a new year

Yesterday I was watching the early news on Channel 9.  The final story was the lighting of the Christmas tree in Bethlehem where "Christians believe that Jesus was born".  What the??  That's the equivalent of saying "Republicans believe that George W Bush was born in Connecticut".  Whether you are Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or whatever Bush is an historical figure and he was born in Connecticut.  His existence doesn't depend on your political affiliation.  And yes, it was Connecticut - I checked it on wikipedia.

Likewise, Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem.  He was a real, historical figure.  Whether you believe him to be the Son of God or not, he was a person who really lived in the first century AD.  He was really crucified.  His birth and crucifixtion are a matter of public record, and not just in the four Gospels of the Bible. Check out Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ - the most comprehensive examination of who Jesus was that I have come across.  His existence as a person is not actually under any doubt.  Jesus of Nazareth was a real human being who lived on earth.

But phrase it the way the newsreader did and it's a subtle, brainwash.  "Only Christians believe that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  The rest of us know that he's an invented figure.  We will let them have their little bit of fun at Christmas."

It's insulting, offensive and false.

Keep an eye out for Brainwash Watch posts.  There will be lots.