To be really offensive about Christianity you have to be far more creative these days. RememberPopetown,a 2005 adult sitcom billed as “Father Ted meetsSouth Park”? It imagined the pope as a petulant child voiced by Ruby Wax. In one episode,a look-alike Jewish comedian played by Jackie Mason replaces him,all Prince and Pauper. Oy vey.
OrSouth Park itself,just as irreverent,after creator Matt Stonedeclared “open season” on Jesus. It had him swear and cuss and kill,with such scenes that attracted the usual handwringing from professional offence merchants and latter-day Mary Whitehouses.
Serious and committed Christians,however,ought to recognise a spoonful of satire is no threat to faith or salvation. A self-confident religion takes criticism and doesn’t rush to demand retribution against its heretics.
As the BBC’s supremely cynical send-up of PR agents,Absolute Power,put it inan episode which imagines a Tony Blair type competing to become archbishop of Canterbury:blasphemy? “What other business would complain when people shout out the name of the shop?”
In fact,Christianity has long traditions of sexualising Jesus in ways far more subtle and profound than anything Kaye’s lips can manage. Returning to the holy foreskin,Agnes Blannbekin,a 14th-century nun,used to tell her sisters about her visions of swallowing it “hundreds of times”. Renaissance portraits of Christ on the cross often show him with an erect penis – a theological point to emphasise his humanity.
Madonnas and child from that era,too,will show Mary gazing at Jesus’ genitalsor even cupping them. Same principle:he is God the son but also God the father.