Post by Barb on Sept 3, 2005 16:08:49 GMT -5
Churches start war on Crusci-fiction
Liam Houlihan, religious affairs reporter
02sep05
AN ARTWORK that shows Star Wars characters nailed to crosses has sparked controversy before its public debut.
The controversial piece called Crusci-fiction consists of a roomful of 25 replicas of robot C3P0 hanging on crosses.
Church leaders and Christian groups have condemned the exhibit as ridiculing and trivialising their beliefs.
They said it was only a matter of time before Christians started to use Victoria's religious vilification laws to defend their faith.
Catholic Vicar-General for Melbourne Monsignor Les Tomlinson, said the crucifixion was very sacred to all Christians because it depicted Jesus "in the very act of winning salvation for mankind".
"To trivialise it is offensive," he said. "It's disappointing that Christian symbols seem to be able to be ridiculed, but those of other religions or groups are not."
He said people offended should peacefully contact the gallery to express their views.
Australian Christian Lobby head Jim Wallace said Christians were becoming impatient with their views being mocked in art and advertising.
"If we don't have a reasonable response Christians are going to start to use these laws. There's a real groundswell there," he said.
But artist Jud Wimhurst, whose exhibition False Idols contains the contentious piece, defended his work.
"We weren't doing it to offend anyone," he said.
"We're talking about products and the fact that everything's for sale.
"Both technology and religion are for sale today."
The False Idols exhibition, which opens at Fitzroy's Intrude Gallery in a fortnight, is described as an exploration of pop culture, religion, science fiction, music and film.
Not all church representatives were upset by the display.
Anglican spokesman David Richardson, who is Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, was unfazed by the artwork.
"On first glance, as an image of crucifixion, Crusci-fiction seems fairly inoffensive," he said.
"It makes an interesting contrast to Mel Gibson's take on the Jesus event.
"Christians don't have a monopoly on crucifixion so I don't see this as especially blasphemous."
Liam Houlihan, religious affairs reporter
02sep05
AN ARTWORK that shows Star Wars characters nailed to crosses has sparked controversy before its public debut.
The controversial piece called Crusci-fiction consists of a roomful of 25 replicas of robot C3P0 hanging on crosses.
Church leaders and Christian groups have condemned the exhibit as ridiculing and trivialising their beliefs.
They said it was only a matter of time before Christians started to use Victoria's religious vilification laws to defend their faith.
Catholic Vicar-General for Melbourne Monsignor Les Tomlinson, said the crucifixion was very sacred to all Christians because it depicted Jesus "in the very act of winning salvation for mankind".
"To trivialise it is offensive," he said. "It's disappointing that Christian symbols seem to be able to be ridiculed, but those of other religions or groups are not."
He said people offended should peacefully contact the gallery to express their views.
Australian Christian Lobby head Jim Wallace said Christians were becoming impatient with their views being mocked in art and advertising.
"If we don't have a reasonable response Christians are going to start to use these laws. There's a real groundswell there," he said.
But artist Jud Wimhurst, whose exhibition False Idols contains the contentious piece, defended his work.
"We weren't doing it to offend anyone," he said.
"We're talking about products and the fact that everything's for sale.
"Both technology and religion are for sale today."
The False Idols exhibition, which opens at Fitzroy's Intrude Gallery in a fortnight, is described as an exploration of pop culture, religion, science fiction, music and film.
Not all church representatives were upset by the display.
Anglican spokesman David Richardson, who is Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, was unfazed by the artwork.
"On first glance, as an image of crucifixion, Crusci-fiction seems fairly inoffensive," he said.
"It makes an interesting contrast to Mel Gibson's take on the Jesus event.
"Christians don't have a monopoly on crucifixion so I don't see this as especially blasphemous."