Do these kinds of jokes constitute sacreligiousness?

[DreadVandal]

Okay. I hope this is the right forum. When does one commit a sacreligious sin when telling a joke or making fun of something? For example? I was making fun of the football Jesus and Kung Fu Jesus artwork. If you don’t know about this; then I’ll explain. There are little art pieces of Jesus doing kung fu with the kids; playing football with the kids; playing baseball with the kids, etc. I even heard that there is a Kung Fu movie out there where Jesus goes to Canada and uses Kung Fu to defeat Canadian Vampires (I’m not kidding). Then there are the depictions of Jesus on South Park and on other shows.

How would you determine what is sacreligious. There is a part of me (most likely the correct part) that wants to consider any use of the name of figure of Jesus in a non-reverent context as sacreligious. The other part of me, (most likely the wicked part) wants to laugh it up and say, “its just a joke, its no big deal.”

As I write this post, I become suddenly sad. In fact, its almost depressingly sad. I’m sorry. I feel as though I’ve failed as a disciple. Oh my God please forgive me and my brothers and sistsers forgive me. How can I possible remember the number of sacreligious crimes I’ve commited? Please help me. What do I do when I can’t remember or when I feel my whole life has been an embodiment of sacreligious wickedness? I can go to confession, but I can’t possibly remember the exact number of instances when I’ve sinned. Also, the minute I do, it will be when some hippie priest is in the confessional and through his lack of using a proper formula, makes my confession invalid.

Please forgive me. Perhaps this is just my depression acting up. But whenever I resolve to get everything just right so that nothing is left unturned; something happens to cause doubt. Either the priest does something weird like he makes up his own words of absolution or I forget some grave sin. Sometimes I think that perhaps I’m predestined to hell. Oh God help me.

 

[Hyfrydol]

Peace, Vandal…

Remember that God loves you more than you could ever know! Remember that even when *you *think that your sin is boundless, so is God’s mercy, and indeed it far surpasses even your sin. We all do terrible, horrible stuff, and while an honest repentence is important, so is trusting in the love and mercy of God.

Look around for a priest who will do things right, but at the same time remember that God isn’t waiting for the priest to screw up and scream at you, “Ha! Now go to hell, sinner!” He will know if you truly repent, if you’re truly seeking His forgiveness, and He *will *grant it. (I’m not trying to impugn a properly done sacramental confession, or anything, but there are other factors, too.) And don’t fall into scrupulosity… in confession, if you honestly don’t remember a sin but would have confessed it had you known, it’s still forgiven. (mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupulosity.htm)

Do like you’d do with anything else… take that sin and work on it. Understand and despise your failings, but above all hold the love and the mercy of God before you as your inspiration. God doesn’t predestine anyone to hell… we ourselves have turned from Him and thus taken a couple of steps down that path, but that’s not the end of the road for any of us.

He loves you. I’ll pray for you. Peace!

 

[dafalax]

I have a lot of trouble in this area because sometimes things like the Kung Fu Jesus figurines upset me a bit because i don’t like to see Jesus hypercommercialized. I think jokes reacting to the silliness of the commercialization, while disrespectful to our Lord, may not be as bad as just outright mocking Jesus. I don’t know. I am guilty of the occasional irreverant comment, and i also need to mind my tongue about unorthodox bishops and priests, as they are Christ’s earthly representatives, even when in error, and must be prayed for and complained about only to Christ in prayer. Apologize when it happens and avoid the proximate occasion of sin (i.e. watching South Park).
Praying for us both,
dafalax

 

[blessedtoo]

Friend,

In the early stages of my re-conversion, I purchased one of those “football Jesus” figurines, stuck it on the dashboard of my car for all to see, and had a yuck with all my friends. I thought it was hilarious that “crazy” religious fanaticism could produce something so ridiculous. A dear friend of mine, a non-Catholic, actually liked the little statue and found it endearing. After driving around with it for a few weeks, my heart began to hurt when I realized that I was the one doing the mocking, and that it wasn’t fanatical Christians I was making fun of, but Christ. So I gave that little statue to the dear friend who was fond of it, and he placed it on a shrine he has in his bedroom.

Find small ways to atone for these indiscretions, ask the Holy Spirit to keep your mind and conscience sharp and alert for slip-ups, and know that your remorse and sadness pleases God.

 

[DreadVandal]

Thanks all for your kind remarks and advice. Each of you has said something helpful to me. God bless you. I will also say that I am thankful that the Holy Spirit works in the conscience convicting us of unrighteousness that we commit, often thoughtlessly. Being more thoughtful about these things is a part of sanctification. I have found some prayers that serve as an Act of Reparation for blasphemy. I find them helpful as well.

 

[steveandersen]

DreadVandal:

…How would you determine what is sacreligious. There is a part of me (most likely the correct part) that wants to consider any use of the name of figure of Jesus in a non-reverent context as sacreligious. The other part of me, (most likely the wicked part) wants to laugh it up and say, “its just a joke, its no big deal.”…

Vandal, no need to beat yourself up.

God can take a joke. He knows if your intentions are joyous and not harmful. Our sense of humor is part of what sets us apart from the other animals.

However, that being said, you should be mindful of others. The human sense of humor is wide, varied, and complex. What one person thinks is funny another will be highly offended by. The prime rule of comedy has always been know your audience (and timing too).

 

[MrIrish]

DreadVandal:

As I write this post, I become suddenly sad. In fact, its almost depressingly sad. I’m sorry. I feel as though I’ve failed as a disciple. Oh my God please forgive me and my brothers and sistsers forgive me. How can I possible remember the number of sacreligious crimes I’ve commited? Please help me. What do I do when I can’t remember or when I feel my whole life has been an embodiment of sacreligious wickedness? I can go to confession, but I can’t possibly remember the exact number of instances when I’ve sinned. Also, the minute I do, it will be when some hippie priest is in the confessional and through his lack of using a proper formula, makes my confession invalid.

Please forgive me. Perhaps this is just my depression acting up. But whenever I resolve to get everything just right so that nothing is left unturned; something happens to cause doubt. Either the priest does something weird like he makes up his own words of absolution or I forget some grave sin. Sometimes I think that perhaps I’m predestined to hell. Oh God help me.

DV, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and relax. Next, I want you to do me two favors. First, you need to find a good, solid Catholic priest and tell him about your troubles. You are suffering (and I use that word suffering deliberately) from a condition called scrupulosity, which is an irrational fear of committing mortal sin or seeing mortal sin where it does not exist. You are most certainly not alone in this struggle. I was where you were once, and I know it is not a nice place to be.

Second, I want you to visit this website: mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupanon.htm It contains free newsletters of a group called Scrupulous Anonymous (run by Catholic priests) who help people with your affliction. If you have a few dollars to spare, buy the book “Understanding Scrupulosity,” which contains extremely helpful advice from the same priests at Scrupulous Anonymous (amazon.com/gp/product/0764803735/002-1574689-4292023?v=glance&n=283155). I received my copy of this book today, and it is fantastic. It will address ALL of the issues you raised in your original post.

So, to summarize. You are not alone in your torment. There are many people who suffer from the same condition. Second, you can be freed from this personal hell but it will require effort from you. Get yourself to a priest you trust and talk to him. Once you find a priest you trust (and this is extremely, extremely important) confess your sins to him, and him alone. Don’t go around priest-shopping. Read those newsletters, and if possible, get a copy of that book. They contain so much good, practical advice that will help you become free from your tormenting thoughts and doubts.

God bless you!

 

[Penny_Plain]

We know Jesus wept. He must have laughed, musn’t He have?

Can’t you imagine Him and the apostles walking through the fields, picking grain on the sabbath and telling jokes about the sanctimonius Pharisees? You think he didn’t imitate thick ol’ Peter or ambitious John?

Lord, they were men. Men tell jokes and make fun of things they think are stupid. Jesus probably told fart jokes. He was a man. They do that, although I really wish they wouldn’t.

Lighten up. The kitschy picture of Jesus taking the rock hard to the hoop against an 8-year-old isn’t Jesus; it’s one person’s vision of Jesus, and it’s funny because it’s so … tacky. Don’t make the mistake of confusing the image with the Real Thing.

If Jesus were among us today, he’d probably make fun of the kung fu grip Jesus, too.