Religious satire


Religious satire is a form of satire that refers to religious beliefs and can take the form of texts, plays, films, and parody. From the earliest times, at least since the plays of Aristophanes, religion has been one of the three primary topics of literary satire, along with politics and sex. Satire which targets the clergy is a type of political satire, while religious satire is that which targets religious beliefs. Religious satire is also sometimes called philosophical satire, and is thought to be the result of agnosticism or atheism. Notable works of religious satire surfaced during the Renaissance, with works by Geoffrey Chaucer, Erasmus and Albrecht Dürer.
Religious satire has been criticised and at times censored to avoid offence, for example the film Life of Brian was initially banned in Ireland, Norway, some states of the US, and some towns and councils of the United Kingdom. This potential for censorship often leads to debates on the issue of freedom of speech such as in the case of the Religious Hatred Bill in January 2006. Critics of the original version of the Bill feared that satirists could be prosecuted.

Notable examples of religious satire and satirists

Films and documentaries

St. Jorgen's Day, by Yakov Protazanov Elmer Gantry, by Richard Brooks Heavens Above!, by John and Roy Boulting The Holy Mountain Monty Python and the Holy Grail Monty Python's Life of Brian Pray TV Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Orgazmo by Trey Parker and Matt Stone Dogma by Kevin Smith Saved! by Brian Dannelly Religulous by Larry Charles and Bill Maher Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs The Invention of Lying by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson OMG – Oh My God by Umesh Shukla How to Lose Your Virginity PK by Rajkumar Hirani The Last Hangover

Characters

Literature and publications

Al-Fuṣūl wa Al-Ghāyāt, a parody of the Quran by Al-Maʿarri

Plays and musicals

Tartuffe by MolièreLe fanatisme, ou Mahomet le prophète by Voltaire, notable for its critical depiction of Muhammad, described as a self-deceived, perverted religious fanatic and manipulator, and his hunger for political power behind the foundation of Islam. Inherit the Wind, which fictionalizes the Scopes Monkey Trial of the 1920sMistero Buffo by Dario Fo.Jerry Springer: The Opera, notable for its irreverent treatment of Judeo-Christian themesA Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, which makes fun of L. Ron Hubbard and ScientologyAltar Boyz Off-Broadway musical about Christian BoysbandSaturday's Voyeur is a parody of life in Utah and Mormon cultureThe Book of Mormon A broadway production about two young Mormon Missionaries sent to Uganda, written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt StoneLetting Go of God, Julia Sweeney, an autobiographical monologue taking aim at Catholicism and Mormonism

Television

The Barchester Chronicles, 1982 television serial produced by the BBC, from the Anthony Trollope novels satirizing Victorian clergyFuturama episode "A Pharaoh to Remember" features a religious ceremony in which a priest chants, "Great Wall of Prophecy, reveal to us God's Will, that we might blindly obey!" and celebrants answer, "Free us from thought and responsibility."

Characters

On the web

Sinfest, an internet comic strip by Tatsuya Ishida that frequently stresses religious issues

People

  • Betty Bowers plays a character called "America's Best Christian". In the persona of a right-wing evangelical Christian, she references Bible verses, using the persona to point out the inconsistencies in the Bible

Parody religions

Miscellaneous

Reactions, criticism and censorship

Religious satire has been criticised by those who feel that sincerely held religious views should not
be subject to ridicule. In some cases religious satire has been censored – for example, Molière's play Tartuffe was banned in 1664.
The film Life of Brian was initially banned in Ireland, Norway, some states of the US, and some towns and councils of the United Kingdom. In an interesting case of life mirroring art, activist groups who protested the film during its release bore striking similarities to some bands of religious zealots within the film itself. Like much religious satire, the intent of the film has been misinterpreted and distorted by protesters. According to the Pythons, Life of Brian is not a critique of religion so much as an indictment of the hysteria and bureaucratic excess that often surrounds it.
The issue of freedom of speech was hotly debated by the UK Parliament during the passing of the Religious Hatred Bill in January 2006. Critics of the original version of the Bill feared that satirists could be prosecuted, but an amendment by the House of Lords making it clear that this was not the case was passed – by just one vote.
In 2006, Rachel Bevilacqua, a member of the Church of the SubGenius, known as Rev. Magdalen in the SubGenius hierarchy, lost custody and contact with her son after a district court judge took offense at her participation in the Church's X-Day festival.

Works cited

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