Touched... by the hand of god!
I have to say that I do love the Brits. I got a link to this in the Guardian about a production that the BBC is putting together for an easter celebration in Manchester.
The BBC plans to mark the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ this Easter with an hour-long live procession through the streets of Manchester featuring pop stars from The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays and featuring songs by The Smiths and New Order
In the programme, called Manchester Passion, a character representing Jesus will sing the legendary Joy Division anthem Love Will Tear Us Apart before
dueting his arch-betrayer Judas on the New Order hit Blue Monday, according to senior church sources involved in the production.
Now, I can't say that I've been very engaged as a Christian in, well ages (I've been practicing as a
Budhist... almost religiously)... And perhaps it's because of a lack of this type of thing. While I find it pretty exciting... I can imagine whack jobs like Pat Robertson decrying this as blasphemous and sacreligeous. Maybe he can blame the next natural disaster that occurs there on it...
In this case, Jerusalem will be represented by Manchester's gay and red light area near Canal Street and the Passion scene will pass via Chinatown and St Peter's Square to culminate in Albert Square.
Eeek! Scandalous. But what I have to love about the Brits:
While the event is likely to raise eyebrows among more traditional-minded Christians, it has the broad support of both the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in the area.
Church of England spokeswoman Gillian Oliver said:
"We are working with the BBC on this and are very pleased to be taking the good news of the gospel onto the streets of Manchester. If anything, something like this can translate the old story into new terms.
Canon Robin Gamble, canon evangelist at Manchester Cathedral, has been tasked with encouraging churchgoers to attend the event.
"I wouldn't know a Buzzcock from a ballcock so I couldn't really comment on the music. All I can say is that they are not doing a Christian service, it is a piece of contemporary theatre and that is going to get people to think about the story in modern terms," he said.
It doesn't seem like this even phases them... I'd imagine the announcement of something like this here in the States to either yield:
- Cries of blasphemy and sacrelige. A boycott of the broadcasting company and any products that advertise during it.
- The religious right taking this and running with it, and sucking any remaing concept of novelty out of it and turn it into spectacle akin to a Superbowl halftime show.
Joy Division, New Order, the Buzzcocks, Happy Mondays: File under Religious music.
