 |
| Jimmy Carr |
Another
question in the poll was even more revealing. When asked who faced
greater discrimination, Christians or the LGBT community, here were the
results (click to enlarge):
The
other evening, I wanted to watch something new on Netflix, and I saw a listing for a
standup special by Jimmy Carr, a comedian I'd seen once or twice and
found funny. So I tuned in. Just a few minutes into the show, he asked
if there were any Christians in the audience. One guy (!) said he was,
so Mr. Carr asked him if he'd like to buy some magic beans because he
was so "f*cking gullible." He then went on to insult what he thought was
a major belief of Christians—namely, the virgin birth—and ended up
referring to the mother of Jesus as a "slag."
Granted,
this show was recorded in England. But it was being marketed to an
American audience (as Mr. Carr acknowledged at the beginning, feeling
the need to translate a couple of terms into American English for the
people who'd be watching him later).
One
of the criticisms directed toward Christians is our intolerance—a
criticism that I agree we've earned. But as intolerant as some among us
are, I never witness this level of vitriol from Christians. But I have several times witnessed it hurled at Christians.
Members
of my own church, even those whose faith runs deep and who never miss a
worship service, would be a bit confused by Mr. Carr's hatred and his
accusations. We don't turn anybody away, and don't insult persons who
believe differently than we do. But, strangely enough, I know of no one
in my entire denomination who thinks of the doctrine of the virgin birth
as central to their belief system. Indeed, the vast majority don't even
believe in it. Yet they still consider themselves faithful Christians.
When
Jimmy Carr called the Christian in his audience "f*cking gullible," he
got the biggest applause up to that point in his routine. It was not risqué
on his part, but a safe joke to insult someone's faith. Personally, I take my cue
from my maternal grandmother who told me when I was a little child that
Mormon missionaries had visited her husband (my grandfather). She didn't
agree with them, but she didn't insult them. "Joseph Smith said he saw
an angel," she told me; "who am I to say he didn't?" Christians as a
group should be more tolerant. But we're not the only ones who are
guilty of intolerance. Others could learn a thing or two from my
grandmother as well.
