PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS SONG CHRISTIAN MOVIE

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS SONG CHRISTIAN MOVIE

If you are familiar with the movie BabetteвЂ™s FeastВ youвЂ™ll know what IвЂ™m pointing to. Now IвЂ™m possibly over-stating the situation, but I do think that an over-emphasis on Good Friday вЂ“ on the crucifixion and death of Jesus вЂ“ has created a religious culture that is too-often miserable. And before long, we find ourselves worshipping the motifs of sacrifice, self-deprivation, self-deprecation, even (historically) self-flagellation вЂ“ often to the extent of glorifying misery! The early Christian Church so idealised вЂ“ even idolised вЂ“ Good Friday that they adopted its cruel, horrific, jarring emblem вЂ“ the cross вЂ“ as their logo! It is probably no surprise that a religious organisation that gathers around such a symbol would move, over time, in the direction of solemnity and sorrow, of seriousness and piety. How did that happen? How did a faith system founded in justice and love, a faith system intended to be life-giving, end up being so apparently life-denying? My theory: it all started with Good Friday! Or, more accurately, with the early churchвЂ™s unhealthy fixation on Good Friday and its themes of sacrifice, atonement, judgement for sin, and death. The Church can be such a serious place, can it not? Known more for what itвЂ™s against than what itвЂ™s for more for its вЂthough shalt notsвЂ™ than its вЂjust do itsвЂ™ more for its rules than its love.

It happened again this past week! HereвЂ™s the brilliant and topical cartoon that appeared on the Michael Leunig Appreciation Group Facebook page last Monday:

IвЂ™ve lost count of the number of times my theological reflection has been sparked by a Leunig cartoon.

Pursuit of happiness song christian