I am always a bit weary to discuss religion, but last week’s commotion about a school art project had me wondering about the narrow-mindedness of some of our religious leaders.
And the arrogance of them imagining that they can take offence on behalf of an all-knowing deity.
As part of his end-of-year submission, a matric pupil in Kwazulu-Natal produced some controversial art, to which one of the other parents took great exception.
He made a video showing some of the pieces, calling it “blasphemous” and “satanic”.
I watched the video, and instead found the pieces to be incisive commentary of modern times and the commercialisation of religion.
How can we expect our kids not to interpret it that way, when preachers practically have harems and use tithes for private jets and holiday homes?
So while depicting Jesus as a clown may be an upsetting thing to do, isn’t it more upsetting that our society condones, and even buys into certain holy men clowning with their religious convictions?
If I’m not mistaken, ordinary people were tortured to death in the dark ages for questioning certain things about religion; or owning Bibles that they dared to read for themselves.
Let’s not even talk about trying to interpret the Bible back then.
Throughout the ages, religious intolerance has been most vehemently practised by religious people, it seems.
But we live in open societies now and while questioning can be done gently, the right to commentary shouldn’t even be up for debate.
I think Jesus would have split his sides with laughter at the art, unless you believe he didn’t have a great sense of humour.
I would like to think that the deities of all religions would find this young man’s commentary very insightful and welcoming.
In fact, I find him to be more of a holy man than any of the preachers who attacked him and his art, especially the one who first exposed it with the social media video.
VIEW: The school art project suggests commentary of modern times, and the commercialisation of religion. Picture: Supplied.
The man criticises the school for “allowing” the “demonic” art, without once considering that art doesn’t have boundaries that determine what is and isn’t allowed.
It wouldn’t be art, otherwise!
At one stage he is almost in tears, as he criticises the school and proclaims his love for God, while also calling for parents to boycott the school and stage protests against it.
He even compares the awards ceremony where the young artist received many accolades, to the crucifixion, saying he felt like one of the crowd standing by, while the executioner was being celebrated.
To him, the entire thing is a disgrace worthy of harsh action from all parents, many of whom agreed with him on social media.
Here’s what I would love to see in a world where art is a reflection of reality:
I want to see a world where young people don’t interpret the actions of adults in such a demonic way, that it finds expression in their art.
If that matric pupil lived in a beautiful, compassionate and loving society, then his highly artistic brain would’ve had very different things to say.
Instead of criticising his attempts at opening our eyes, we should be thanking him, and encouraging him to show us more.
As for all the negative comments from preachers and lay people, I would love to see videos and commentary that’s just as passionate and raw and angry.
EXPRESS: Highly artistic work. Picture: Supplied.
But I want to see it about racism, rapes, murders, xenophobia and the devastation of poverty.
I don’t see enough pastors speaking out about these things with as much passion.
My social media timelines are not flooded with people of the cloth lashing out about it.
It’s just easier to attack a young man’s view of the world expressed through art, which has been done millions of times throughout human history, or criticising government policies that aim to make us all more compassionate beings.